Wally Herger

Mr. HERGER

Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, last week we celebrated President Ronald Reagan's birthday by giving him the line-item veto. This week we will have the opportunity to give him another present. We will once again return our national defense to a level President Reagan would approve. Mr. Speaker, under the Clinton administration we have not only seen an attitude of arrogance toward the military, we have also seen a lack of respect, and subsequently, the inability to effectively command our Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, the only time we have ever allowed U.S. troops to serve under a foreign commander has taken place under the watch of President Clinton. Mr. Speaker, U.S. Troops should only be under the command of U.S. military officers, and the National Security Revitalization Act mandates just that--no U.S. troops under command of a foreign officer.

Mr. HERGER

Mr. HERGER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Young, Subcommittee Chairman Hansen, and members of the Resources Committee and Parks, Forests and Lands Subcommittee for bringing H.R. 440 to the House floor. H.R. 440 is a noncontroversial bill that passed this House on the suspension calendar at the end of the 103d Congress. Due to insufficient time, the bill did not pass the Senate. The purpose of the bill is to clear the title of 16 parcels of land, totalling approximately 30 acres, in the Stephens Ridge area of Butte County, CA. Its passage would help resolve a pressing problem in my district. In 1961 the Forest Service sanctioned a survey establishing the boundaries of the parcels in question. In 1992 a BLM resurvey demonstrated that an error had been made in the 1961 survey, thereby placing a cloud on the title of the parcels. By clearing title to these parcels, H.R. 440 provides much needed relief to the landowners, mostly senior citizens, who are affected by the BLM resurvey. Mr. Chairman, these landowners purchased property in good faith reliance on the 1961 Forest Service survey. Now, some 30 years later, they have been told that they no longer hold clear title to their land. This technical correction of the problem is a fair solution for all concerned. Mr. Chairman, the House of Representatives swiftly adopted this legislation during the last term. I invite my colleagues to expeditiously approve this bill again today.