Marilyn Musgrave

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cardon and Joyce Berry, the 2005 4-H Meritorious Service Award winners. At the 2005 Kiowa County 4-H Achievement Banquet on Friday, November 4, 2005 the Meritorious Service Award was presented to a couple that believe in the 4-H program and the benefits and opportunities it offers to youth. They were both ten-year 4-H members and have devoted numerous years as leaders. They raised two children who were very active in 4-H and are now assisting their grandchildren who are active members in a local club today. The Berrys made an important decision to have their children participate in 4-H, knowing how much it had meant in their youth. Cardon grew up in Kiowa County and raised his own family in the same home in which he had lived. The 4-H Club he participated in was no more, but the community had once again found itself with many youngsters. The Berrys helped to reinstate the Prairie Queen 4-H Club for the kids who benefited from the experience. The Berry family is faithful in attending numerous 4-H activities, and have sponsored many trophies over the years. They are both active in many different civic roles within Kiowa County and they make their community a better place. I am honored to be representing Cardon and Joyce Berry in the U.S. Congress. Individuals like this make 4-H and the youth who participate a valuable asset to the community. I'm sure Kiowa County will be blessed for many more years because of the selflessness of the Berry Family.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the patriotism and heroism of Mr. Mel King. Mr. King served with distinction in the Army Air Corp during the harrowing days of the Second World War. As a B-17 crew member in the 815th Squadron of the 483 Bombardment Group, Mr. King and his fellow crew members played an integral role in the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany. The crew of the Good Deal formed in November 1943 with Mr. Melbourne King of Crook, CO as one of the thirteen member crew, which included Paul E. Ray, Warren O. Griffin, Carl B. Hardy, Gerald Kramer, Foster F. Knight, James I. Korshak, Walter J. Gladieux, August O. Bresciz, Theodore Engelun, Fred A. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Dalzin, and John M. Spear. On April 12, 1944 Mr. King and the crew of the Good Deal participated in their first mission to Split, Yugoslavia. In the following months, the crew of the Good Deal saw action over Toulon, Milan, Weiner Neustadt, Vienna, Budapest, Blechhammer, Ploesti, and Memmingen. Despite the fact that fourteen of twenty-six American B-17s were lost over the German town of Memmingen on July 18, 1944, Mr. King and his crewmates successfully downed seven German fighters. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Mr. King's distinguished service and humbled by his courageous patriotism. The sacrifices he and the men of the Good Deal made to ensure the liberty and freedom of future generations will never be forgotten. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Melbourne D. Ring and the crew of the Good Deal.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, in July of this year, I introduced H.R. 3443, a bill authorizing the transfer of title of three Colorado-Big Thompson projects single-purpose water conveyance facilities from the United States to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The Colorado-Big Thompson project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource developments undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation. The transmountain water diversion system consists of over 100 integrated structures and provides multiple benefits to the people of my district. This project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The project diverts approximately 260,000-acre feet of water annually from the Colorado River headwaters on the western slope to the Big Thompson River, a South Platte River tributary on the eastern slope, for distribution to farming and communities. The water system is vital to the people of my district. It provides drinking, irrigation and recreational waters. Without this water system, many cities and towns in my district could not exist. The water that the Colorado-Big Thompson project diverts from the western slope travels through a series of storage reservoirs, pumping plants, tunnels and hydroelectric generating plants until it enters one of the two eastern slope terminal storage reservoirs, Horsetooth and Carter Lake Reservoirs. From these terminal storage reservoirs, the water is delivered to water users through distribution facilities. These distribution facilities consist of single-purpose water conveyance facilities located downstream from the two terminal storage facilities. The Northern Colorado Water Conservation District has been responsible for these facilities since the project was operational in 1957. The District has proven to be a faithful steward of operation, maintenance and administration of the conveyance facilities. The three facilities that would be conveyed to the District by this legislation are the St. Vrain Supply Canal, the Boulder Creek Supply Canal and the South Platte Supply Canal. This bill is very similar to legislation passed by my predecessor, Representative Bob Schaffer, in 2000, which transferred four single- purpose water conveyance facilities of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project located downstream of the Horsetooth Reservoir. This legislation would complete the transfer of all the single-purpose water conveyance facilities within the project. This transfer would allow the District to more cost-effectively manage the facility and reduce the burdensome bureaucracy of the Federal Government. The District has met its financial obligation of repayment of capital costs, and the title transfer is now appropriate. I believe that this transfer is in the best interest of the constituents of my district. I would like to thank Chairman Pombo and his staff for moving this bill so quickly through the Resources Committee, with special thanks to Kiel Weaver for his assistance on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 584) to require the Secretary of the Interior to allow the continued occupancy and use of certain land and improvements within Rocky Mountain National Park, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3721) to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to allow certain commercial vehicles to continue to use Route 209 within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and to allow the National Park Service to continue to collect fees from those vehicles, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 326, introduced by Congressman Raul Grijalva, reduces the boundary of the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area. When the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area was authorized in 2000, the public in Yuma County did not understand the scope of the project and were surprised by the size of the designation. Citizens originally believed that the heritage area would focus mainly around the historic district. Many private property owners were not aware that they were also included in the new designation. Concerns were raised by citizens about the size of the designation and the potential for additional Federal oversight. Local officials testified that there is now broad public support for the designation with the new reduced boundary. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1564) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1564, sponsored by our colleague Doc Hastings, conveys 9 acres of federally owned land and administrative buildings to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District in Washington State. No project facilities such as dams, diversion structures, or canals are included in this title transfer. The transfer has been in the works for almost a decade. This legislation, also introduced by the junior Senator from Washington, will enhance more private ownership and decrease the Federal Government's liability. It is a win for the local community and a win for the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 161) to provide for a land exchange in the State of Arizona between the Secretary of Agriculture and Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 318) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 323, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), designates the library on the third floor of the Ellis Island museum as the Bob Hope Memorial Library. Bob Hope arrived as an immigrant to Ellis Island in 1908 at the age of 4. Later, he became one of the country's greatest entertainers and was sometimes referred to as ``America's most famous immigrant.'' H.R. 323 simply renames the library on the third floor of the immigration station museum. The Hope family is supportive of the effort to redesignate the library. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1972) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of including in the National Park System certain sites in Williamson County, Tennessee, relating to the Battle of Franklin, as amended.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.