Tim Holden

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1002 was introduced by Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina. This bill would authorize the Forest Service to purchase privately held land and modify the boundaries of the Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina. This will improve access to Catawba Falls, a prime recreational and tourist site in the region. The Forest Service has already purchased adjacent land for preservation, and this purchase would allow for parking and trailhead expansion in the falls area. A fiscal year 2010 appropriations request was made for the funds needed to purchase this land, and the money was included in the Interior appropriations bill that passed the House on July 7. H.R. 1002 has the bipartisan support of the entire North Carolina congressional delegation, as well as the support of the U.S. Forest Service, and I support its passage today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1002) to adjust the boundaries of Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Perriello).

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Childers).

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth).

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 81 recognizes the importance of the U.S. hardwoods industry and recognizes the value of sustainable, abundant hardwoods as an important building material. In the United States hardwood trees are grown primarily by small- family forest landowners who use long-term sustainable practices to grow and manage their trees. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution recognizing the important role of hardwood producers in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this resolution.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 81) recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United States hardwoods industry and urging that United States hardwoods and the products derived from United States hardwoods be given full consideration in any program directed at constructing environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 940 was introduced by Congressman Rodney Alexander of Louisiana. This bill would authorize the Forest Service to sell certain residential parcels of land in the Kisatchie National Forest, located in Winn Parish, Louisiana. The total land sold would be just over 50 acres, and a local nonprofit group already living in residence on the site would have the right of first refusal to purchase the land at fair market value. H.R. 940 has the bipartisan support of all seven members of the Louisiana congressional delegation as well as the support of the U.S. Forest Service, and I urge its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 940) to provide for the conveyance of National Forest System land in the State of Louisiana.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman from Oklahoma in encouraging our colleagues to pass this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 511 would provide a limited authorization regarding the administration of a flood plain easement in the village of Caseyville, Illinois. The village of Caseyville and the United States Department of Agriculture executed a warranty easement deed in 1999 under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. However, differences in approach on how to best protect and restore the flood plain led Caseyville to seek termination of the easement, including paying back the entire easement purchase price of $60,000 to the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 511 would allow the National Resource Conservation Service the flexibility to release the terms of the easement so that the village can use the land for flood prevention. This bill passed the House Agriculture Committee by voice vote earlier this year, and I encourage my colleagues to support it today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 511) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to terminate certain easements held by the Secretary on land owned by the Village of Caseyville, Illinois, and to terminate associated contractual arrangements with the Village.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. HOLDEN. I will continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 3175 was introduced by Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida to facilitate the sale of 2 acres of land at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The land would be sold at market value to the county for the purpose of building a fire station in the village of Palmetto Bay, a community of 25,000 people. This area currently faces below-average firefighting response times when compared to other municipalities in the region. This ARS station was established in 1898 as a plant introduction garden on 6 acres, and it has grown to about 200 acres today. The ARS station has worked with the county and the village to identify land that could be used for the fire station, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.