Tom McClintock

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6077) recognizing the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, as amended.

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, these historic sites provide a tangible link between our generation and those who came before us and allow us to draw inspiration from the deeds and sacrifices of those who built this country and secured freedom for all Americans. This is an important part of that story, and I would ask for adoption of the measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield such time as he may consume to gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished author of this measure.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5979, introduced by Representative Hal Rogers of Kentucky, establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System. The Battle of Mill Springs was one of Kentucky's largest Civil War battles and played a crucial role in the Union's success by securing the Cumberland Gap and providing the gateway into Tennessee. The Battle of Mill Springs bolstered the Union's morale, as it was the first major victory of the war following the disastrous defeat at First Manassas. Winning the battle enabled the Union to push all Confederate powers out of Kentucky and allowed them to advance into Confederate strongholds in Middle Tennessee. Mill Springs Battlefield was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The boundary was expanded in 2008 and now encompasses over 1,500 acres. The nonprofit Mill Springs Battlefield Association currently owns 900 acres of battlefield land and operates a visitors center at the site. H.R. 5979 establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument as a unit of the National Park System. The proposed monument would be approximately 1,500 acres, of which 900 will be donated to the Park Service. I am grateful to Mr. Rogers for sponsoring this legislation. It is the right way to create a national monument. Monuments ought to be created through the open legislative process of Congress and not via executive fiat. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5979) to establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the State of Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for bringing this bill to the House. This really is an injustice to think that the people of the territories pay the full amount of the fees and yet only get a fraction of the benefits that are afforded to the States that are paying the same fees. This corrects that injustice. Mr. Speaker, I urge the bill's adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5875, introduced by my colleague from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), addresses the existing disparity between the 50 States and the U.S. territories with regard to the formulas within the Pittman- Robertson and Dingell-Johnson conservation programs. While the territories are included in the statutory definition as States, they are not afforded an opportunity to receive an equal share of Pittman- Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funding. The legislation provides the Secretary of the Interior with greater flexibility in apportioning conservation funds and requires parity between the States and the territories with respect to funding for basic hunter education programs. Under current law, each State is guaranteed at least a 1 percent share of yearly Pittman-Robertson apportionment. However, the current statute caps Puerto Rico's share at one-fourth of 1 percent and the four other U.S. territory shares at just one-sixth of 1 percent. In other words, they pay the fees and the taxes, but they don't get equal access to the funds. H.R. 5875 specifically removes the existing caps on funds for basic hunter education programs and would mandate that each territory and State receive not less than 1 percent in any given year. The bill also removes additional restrictions on apportionments for wildlife and sport fishing restoration projects. The absence of caps will allow the Secretary of the Interior to exercise discretion in apportioning Pittman-Robertson and Dingell- Johnson funds to the five U.S. territories in proportion to their populations, as it is done currently for each of the 50 States. The user-pays approach facilitated by Pittman-Robertson and Dingell- Johnson has consistently delivered significant benefits to hunters, recreational shooters, and all citizens through the delivery of on-the- ground wildlife and habitat conservation activities. It is time we make the apportionment of these important funds fair to all 50 States and the territories. I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5875) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, to provide parity for United States territories and the District of Columbia, to make technical corrections to such Acts and related laws, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was literally one of the seminal events that produced this great Nation, spanning from coast to coast, and the completion of this full trail is an important step in recognizing the heroism and the vision of those who came before us to build this Nation. Mr. Speaker, I would ask for adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messer), the author of this measure.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3045, which comes to us by Congressman Luke Messer of Indiana, would extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Its purpose is to preserve and interpret for future generations the Corps of Discovery's important preparations for its trailblazing journey into the Western United States. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson charged Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean across the United States' newly purchased Louisiana Territory and with seeking out and identifying wildlife, vegetation, and native populations along the way. The journey contributed greatly to the scientific knowledge and helped to foster profound political, social, economic, cultural, and environmental changes to the lands and the peoples of the North American continent. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was established in 1978 and spans 3,700 miles following the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition west of the Mississippi River from Wood River, Illinois, to Astoria, Oregon. H.R. 3045 would extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail by 1,200 miles, with a new eastern boundary at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the path of the Ohio River. The Eastern Legacy Extension of the trail encompasses important history and key moments for the expedition. In February of 2018, at the direction of Congress, the National Park Service completed a study on the proposed extension of this trail. The study found the route proposed for inclusion in H.R. 3045 to be nationally significant, suitable and feasible for inclusion in the existing Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The Eastern Legacy Extension provided by this legislation recognizes the significance of the planning, preparation, and beginning preparations for the expedition, and will provide new opportunities for Americans to learn about the Corps of Discovery and the lands along the Ohio River where Lewis and Clark refined the techniques that prepared them for the hardships of the long trip west. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3045) to amend the National Trails System Act to extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I just want to compliment Congressman Lynch and thank him on behalf of the Nation for keeping this memorial alive and keeping its momentum going. This is highly deserved, it is long overdue, and this measure takes us another step toward the recognition of one of America's greatest Founding Fathers. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am ready to close.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, several of the central figures in the winning of American independence and the founding of our constitutional republic are given short shrift among the memorials in this capital city, and none among them is more deserving than John Adams. By all accounts, he was the animating figure in pushing the Continental Congress to declare independence; he was indefatigable in the prosecution of the war, both from stations at home and from Europe; and is our first vice president under Washington; and as our second President, he established many of the traditions and policies that set our course. Public Law 107-62 authorized the nonprofit Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial to John Adams in the District of Columbia under the Commemorative Works Act and to collect private donations for that purpose. No Federal funds can be used for the memorial. The foundation has developed initial design concept, it has conducted location reviews, and coordinated with Congress, the National Park Service, and other stakeholders, but it has not yet been able to select a site, design the memorial, receive the approvals, or raise sufficient funds for construction. Under the Commemorative Works Act, the foundation's authority to erect a memorial expires in December of 2020. H.R. 1220, by Congressman Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, would transfer that authority to the Adams Memorial Commission. The commission would have all the powers and responsibilities of the foundation and would consist of 12 members. Its authority to erect a memorial will expire in 7 years, consistent was the CWA timeline. Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1220) to establish the Adams Memorial Commission to carry out the provisions of Public Law 107-62, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCLINTOCK

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would ask all of the Members to consider what plight their districts would be in, their counties would be in if 95 percent of the land in that county was off the public tax rolls, with severe restrictions on its use. The effect is economically devastating. This is a small step in the direction of giving La Paz County a little more control over its economic future. It is an excellent bill, and I urge its adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), the author of this measure, the chairman of the Western Caucus of the House of Representatives.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2630, the La Paz County Land Conveyance Act, is authored by Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey 8,000 acres of Federal land to La Paz County, Arizona, at fair market value for the construction of a solar field. La Paz County is among the few counties in the United States with nearly 95 percent of its land owned by the Federal, State, or Tribal governments. Because of the immense Federal footprint in the county, a land transfer is necessary so that it can secure enough space for this type of development. The county will not only pay for the land, but all the administrative costs of the transfer as well. The county has already worked with the BLM to identify a site adjacent to preexisting and proposed electric, fiber optic, and natural gas transmission lines. A review of the proposed site by the BLM has not revealed any endangered species or historic resources in the area, and much of the proposed site already has a significant amount of surface disturbance. La Paz County suffers high unemployment, and this land conveyance will not only provide additional energy to the growing southern California and Phoenix markets, but it will also bring good-paying jobs to many families in the county. I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. 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.

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2630) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other purposes, as amended.