George Miller

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Alaska has quite properly explained the legislation. The administration supports this bill, and we have no objections to it. S. 1218 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey, without consideration, the surface and subsurface mineral estates of about two acres of federal land to the Landusky School District, located in Montana. According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the school district currently operates and maintains an elementary school and auxiliary school buildings on the land and bears full financial responsibility for the property. The land currently generates no federal receipts, and BLM does not expect the land to generate any significant receipts over the next 10 years. The administration supports S. 1218. We have no objection to the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the gentleman points out, this allows for land exchange around the Cascade Reservoir north of Boise, Idaho. We have no objections to the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Alaska has quite properly explained this legislation to direct the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study to explore various options of the preservation of the Vicksburg Campaign Trail, and I urge the support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any substantive concerns with the package of fishery bills included in the amendment to H.R. 5086. In particular, I support the title that would reauthorize the National Marine Sanctuaries program. I am also pleased that this package includes legislation that would outlaw the fishing practice of shark finning. I am concerned about the disproportionate number of Republican bills that have be included in this package. There is only one Democratic bill and seven Republican bills. I believe that is unfair. I am also concerned with what this legislation does not include. It does not include a clean bill to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act, especially a reauthorization for State coastal polluted run-off programs. Nor does this package include a clean bill to authorize a comprehensive coral reef conservation program. Passage of these bills has been a priority concern for Democrat Members of this Congress. I am disappointed that the majority has chosen to schedule this package when they could have just as easily scheduled the fish package that was passed by the other body, H.R. 3417. This package contained virtually all of the bills contained here, but also includes a clean coastal zone management reauthorization and coral reef bills. Members of the other body have indicated they will not move any package which does not include CZMA in the coral reef bills. Instead of passing legislation today that could be sent to the President for his signature, we are passing a bill that may very well become a dead letter in the other body. I think that is unfortunate in the closing days of this session. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. The bill amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to increase the authorized cost ceiling for the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act by $380 million. The bill also makes important changes pertaining to reimbursable costs. The amendment affords local projects beneficiaries an opportunity to negotiate an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, allowing for local participation in the oversight of dam safety project planning, design, cost containment, and other matters. It should be clearly understood, however, that the public safety responsibilities of the Secretary pursuant to this Act are not diminished or affected in any way by these procedures allowing for full participation by the project beneficiaries. I urge adoption of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this legislation, and I urge its passage.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Lake Tahoe is owned jointly by the State of California and the State of Nevada and is one of the largest, deepest, clearest lakes in the world. Yet the lake is experiencing an environmental crisis. Water clarity has declined from a visibility level of 105 feet in 1967 to 70 feet in 1999. Scientists believe damage to Tahoe's clarity could be irreversible within a decade. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the trees in the Lake Tahoe Basin are dead or dying and pose a risk to catastrophic fire. Thirty percent of the South Lake Tahoe water supply has been contaminated by MTBE, a gasoline additive. A number of factors have contributed to the basin's and lake's deterioration, among them land disturbance, erosion, air pollution, fertilizers, runoff, and boating activity. Following a Presidential forum, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency estimated that it will cost $900 million over the next 10 years to restore the lake. Since 1980, Nevada and California contributions to the effort have exceeded $230 million. In 1997, Nevada authorized a bond issuance of $82 million over a 10-year period. California has appropriated $60 million of a $275 million commitment. In addition, a coalition of 18 businesses and environmental groups have also pledged to raise $300 million. H.R. 3388 would authorize $300 million, a third of the total cost on a matching basis over 10 years for environmental restoration projects at Lake Tahoe. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a priority list of projects to address air quality, fisheries, noise, recreation, scenic resources, soil conservation, forest health, water quality, and wildlife. The bill would require that the Secretary give priority to projects involving erosion and sediment control, acquisition of environmentally sensitive land, fire risk reduction in urban areas and urban-wildland interface, MTBE cleanup, and management of parking and traffic. This is a very healthy and ambitious agenda. These projects would account for $200 million. Another million dollars will be granted to the Tahoe Regional Planning Authority and local utility districts to address well and water contamination. Finally, the bill would authorize $1 million to local authorities for erosion control activities, water quality, and soil conservation projects on non-Federal land. Much of this activity requires extensive consultation with State, regional, and local authorities. I note that the bill is virtually identical to the one of Senator Feinstein's passed in the Senate on October 5. There is no reason why we should not be taking up that bill and sending it to the President. Although I do not support the limited acquisition authority in the bill, I support this legislation; and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I also want to say that I think that certainly the local governments and the private business community should be commended for the efforts that they are undertaking to dramatically alter the activities, many of which I think will, in fact, be enhanced when they are completed, but will provide for better transportation, for less contamination of the lake, for greater setbacks and protections of the lake, which is one of the great, great natural assets of our two States and one in which the people of both Nevada and California have a great deal of pride in. I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 748, legislation intended to encourage the Department of the Interior to improve Native hiring and contracting within the State of Alaska. As I understand it, this legislation is supported by the Department of the Interior. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as I may consume to join with the chairman in urging all Members to support this legislation. The lands contained in this legislation contain headwaters in two spectacular 13,000-foot peaks that have been studied and considered for wilderness designation for nearly two decades. We support this legislation and would note that the House passed the legislation of the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), H.R. 898, last year; and the Senate has now passed this amended version this last week. I want to commend our House colleagues for all the effort they put into working out some of the problems that were found in this legislation. We support this bill, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2872 is a needed tool for the enforcement of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 and will permit Native American arts and crafts organizations and Indian artisans access to Federal courts to protect their wares and their intellectual properties. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation conveys titles of land and facilities to the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District near Boise, Idaho. It is not controversial and is supported by the administration. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2719 is good policy, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) has quite accurately explained the legislation. We are in support of it. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In essence, Mr. Speaker, this legislation would provide training technical assistance for the development, enrichment, and enhancement of tribal justice systems. We support the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the bill is presented before us today, my understanding is it is no longer controversial, as it once was. There have been changes in the Senate to provide for a corporate management plan for commercial fisheries in the national park waters outside of Glacier Bay proper. The bill is no longer inconsistent with the previous compromise and is now supported by the Park Service, and we urge passage. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we support S. 1367, the boundary changes to Saint- Gaudens National Historic Site. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we support S. 2950 by Senator Campbell, and we urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.