Richard Pombo

Mr. POMBO

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

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

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 417) to revoke a Public Land Order with respect to certain lands erroneously included in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, California.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to strongly support this legislation introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter). He has done a superb job of representing his constituents, who, through no fault of their own, find themselves operating a concession within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This concession, known as Walters Camp, has existed since 1962, and it has provided recreational opportunities to thousands of Americans. In fact, it is one of the few places along the lower Colorado River that offers such a variety of healthy outdoor activity. About 3 years ago the concessionaire was advised by the Fish and Wildlife Service that Walters Camp was inadvertently added to the Cibola Refuge and that corrective legislation was necessary. This is the goal of this measure, to correct this mistake, and there is no opposition to returning the title of this property to the Bureau of Land Management. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the author of the bill.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 519) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the San Gabriel River Watershed, and for other purposes.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 519, introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the San Gabriel River Watershed in the State of California. While I will defer to the minority and the bill's sponsor to explain the merits of the legislation, I would express that we greatly appreciate the efforts of the bill's sponsors and the minority to address some early concerns about this bill. These concerns were addressed during the last Congress, and the bill successfully passed the body as part of a larger package, although it ultimately did not become law. This bill now enjoys the broad support of both the majority and the minority, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter). (Mr. CARTER asked and was given permission to speak out of order and to revise and extend his remarks.) Give the American People Fair Taxes

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my California colleague for all of the hard work the gentlewoman put into this legislation over the past couple of years, thank her again for working with the majority and the minority in order to work this bill out. I think it is a good piece of legislation that deserves the support of the House, and I urge an ``aye'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 699) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive study of the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer, located in Idaho and Washington.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 699, authored by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt), directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with the State of Idaho and the State of Washington to conduct a comprehensive study for the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer by preparing a groundwater model to help establish a mutually acceptable understanding of the aquifer as a groundwater resource. The tools developed by this legislation will help to better coordinate and understand the various factors that influence the quantity and quality of the aquifer and encourage better cooperation between the two States charged with its maintenance operations. I urge adoption of the measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 417, H.R. 699 and H.R. 519, the three bills just considered.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I request that the Committee Rules for the Committee on Resources be submitted for the Record. Rules for the Committee on Resources rule 1. rules of the house: vice chairmen (a) Applicability of House Rules. (1) The Rules of the House of Representatives, so far as they are applicable, are the rules of the Committee and its Subcommittees. (2) Each Subcommittee is part of the Committee and is subject to the authority, direction and rules of the Committee. References in these rules to ``Committee'' and ``Chairman'' shall apply to each Subcommittee and its Chairman wherever applicable. (3) House Rule XI is incorporated and made a part of the rules of the Committee to the extent applicable. (b) Vice Chairmen.--Unless inconsistent with other rules, the Chairman shall appoint a Vice Chairman of the Committee and the Subcommittee Chairman will appoint Vice Chairmen of each of the Subcommittees. If the Chairman of the Committee or Subcommittee is not present at any meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee, as the case may be, the Vice Chairman shall preside. If the Vice Chairman is not present, the ranking Member of the Majority party on the Committee or Subcommittee who is present shall preside at that meeting. rule 2. meetings in general. (a) Scheduled Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at 10 a.m. every Wednesday when the House is in session, unless canceled by the Chairman. The Committee shall also meet at the call of the Chairman subject to advance notice to all Members of the Committee. Special meetings shall be called and convened by the Chairman as provided in clause 2(c)(1) of House Rule XI. Any Committee meeting or hearing that conflicts with a party caucus, conference, or similar party meeting shall be rescheduled at the discretion of the Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member. The Committee may not sit during a joint session of the House and Senate or during a recess when a joint meeting of the House and Senate is in progress. (b) Open Meetings.--Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, and each hearing of the Committee or a Subcommittee shall be open to the public, except as provided by clause 2(g) and clause 2(k) of House Rule XI. (c) Broadcasting.--Whenever a meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, or a hearing is open to the public, that meeting or hearing shall be open to coverage by television, radio, and still photography in accordance with clause 4 of House Rule XI. The provisions of clause 4(f) of House Rule XI are specifically made part of these rules by reference. Operation and use of any Committee Internet broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan and in accordance with clause 4(b) of House Rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the House. (d) Oversight Plan.--No later than February 15 of the first session of each Congress, the Committee shall adopt its oversight plans for that Congress in accordance with clause 2(d)(1) of House Rule X. rule 3. procedures in general. (a) Agenda of Meetings; Information for Members.--An agenda of the business to be considered at meetings shall be delivered to the office of each Member of the Committee no later than 48 hours before the meeting. This requirement may be waived by a majority vote of the Committee at the time of the consideration of the measure or matter. To the extent practicable, a summary of the major provisions of any bill being considered by the Committee, including the need for the bill and its effect on current law, will be available for the Members of the Committee no later than 48 hours before the meeting. (b) Meeting and Hearings to Begin Promptly.--Each meeting or hearing of the Committee shall begin promptly at the time stipulated in the public announcement of the meeting or hearing. (c) Addressing the Committee.--A Committee Member may address the Committee or a Subcommittee on any bill, motion, or other matter under consideration or may question a witness at a hearing only when recognized by the Chairman for that purpose. The time a Member may address the Committee or Subcommittee for any purpose or to question a witness shall be limited to five minutes, except as provided in Committee rule 4(g). A Member shall limit his remarks to the subject matter under consideration. The Chairman shall enforce the preceding provision. (d) Quorums. (1) A majority of the Members shall constitute a quorum for the reporting of any measure or recommendation, the authorizing of a subpoena, the closing of any meeting or hearing to the public under clause 2(g)(1), clause 2(g)(2)(A) and clause 2(k)(5)(B) of House Rule XI, and the releasing of executive session materials under clause 2(k)(7) of House Rule X. Testimony and evidence may be received at any hearing at which there are at least two Members of the Committee present. For the purpose of transacting all other business of the Committee, one third of the Members shall constitute a quorum. (2) When a call of the roll is required to ascertain the presence of a quorum, the offices of all Members shall be notified and the Members shall have not less than 15 minutes to prove their attendance. The Chairman shall have the discretion to waive this requirement when a quorum is actually present or whenever a quorum is secured and may direct the Chief Clerk to note the names of all Members present within the 15-minute period. (e) Participation of Members in Committee and Subcommittees.--All Members of the Committee may sit with any Subcommittee during any hearing, and by unanimous consent of the Members of the Subcommittee may participate in any meeting or hearing. However, a Member who is not a Member of the Subcommittee may not vote on any matter before the Subcommittee, be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum or raise points of order. (f) Proxies.--No vote in the Committee or its Subcommittees may be cast by proxy. (g) Record Votes.--Record votes shall be ordered on the demand of one-fifth of the Members present, or by any Member in the apparent absence of a quorum. (h) Postponed Record Votes. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Chairman may, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, postpone further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an amendment. The Chairman shall resume proceedings on a postponed request at any time after reasonable notice, but no later than the next meeting day. (2) Notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous question, when proceedings resume on a postponed question under paragraph (1), an underlying proposition shall remain subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the question was postponed. (3) This rule shall apply to Subcommittee proceedings. (i) Motions.--A motion to recess from day to day and a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies are available, are nondebatable motions of high privilege. (j) Layover and Copy of Bill.--No measure or recommendation reported by a Subcommittee shall be considered by the Committee until two calendar days from the time of Subcommittee action. No bill shall be considered by the Committee unless a copy has been delivered to the office of each Member of the Committee requesting a copy. These requirements may be waived by a majority vote of the Committee at the time of consideration of the measure or recommendation. (k) Access to Dais and Conference Room.--Access to the hearing rooms' daises and to the conference rooms adjacent to the Committee hearing rooms shall be limited to Members of Congress and employees of Congress during a meeting of the Committee. (i) Cellular Telephones.--The use of cellular telephones is prohibited on the Committee dais or in the Committee hearing rooms during a meeting of the Committee. rule 4. hearing procedures. (a) Announcement.--The Chairman shall publicly announce the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing at least one week before the hearing unless the Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines that there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the Committee so determines by majority vote. In these cases, the Chairman shall publicly announce the hearing at the earliest possible date. The Chief Clerk of the Committee shall promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional Record and shall promptly enter the appropriate information on the Committee's web site as soon as possible after the public announcement is made. (b) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or a Subcommittee shall file with the Chief Clerk of the Committee or Subcommittee Clerk, at least two working days before the day of his or her appearance, a written statement of proposed testimony. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the exclusion of the written testimony from the hearing record and/or the barring of an oral presentation of the testimony. Each witness shall limit his or her oral presentation to a five-minute summary of the written statement, unless the Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, extends this time period. In addition, all witnesses shall be required to submit with their testimony a resume or other statement describing their education, employment, professional affiliations and other background information pertinent to their testimony. (c) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by the Committee or any Subcommittee upon any measure or matter, the Minority party Members on the Committee or Subcommittee shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by a majority of those Minority Members before the completion of the hearing, to call witnesses selected by the Minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearings thereon. (d) Information for Members.--After announcement of a hearing, the Committee shall make available as soon as practicable to all Members of the Committee a tentative witness list and to the extent practicable a memorandum explaining the subject matter of the hearing (including relevant legislative reports and other necessary material). In addition, the Chairman shall make available to the Members of the Committee any official reports from departments and agencies on the subject matter as they are received. (e) Subpoenas.--The Committee or a Subcommittee may authorize and issue a subpoena under clause 2(m) of House Rule XI if authorized by a majority of the Members voting. In addition, the Chairman of the Committee may authorize and issue subpoenas during any period of time in which the House of Representatives has adjourned for more than three days. Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chairman of the Committee, or any Member of the Committee authorized by the Committee, and may be served by any person designated by the Chairman or Member. (f) Oaths.--The Chairman of the Committee or any Member designated by the Chairman may administer oaths to any witness before the Committee. All witnesses appearing in hearings may be administered the following oath by the Chairman or his designee prior to receiving the testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?''. (g) Opening Statements; Questioning of Witnesses. (1) Opening statements by Members may not be presented orally, unless the Chairman or his designee makes a statement, in which case the Ranking Minority Member or his designee may also make a statement. If a witness scheduled to testify at any hearing of the Committee is a constituent of a Member of the Committee, that Member shall be entitled to introduce the witness at the hearing. (2) The questioning of witnesses in Committee and Subcommittee hearings shall be initiated by the Chairman, followed by the Ranking Minority Member and all other Members alternating between the Majority and Minority parties. In recognizing Members to question witnesses, the Chairman shall take into consideration the ratio of the Majority to Minority Members present and shall establish the order of recognition for questioning in a manner so as not to disadvantage the Members of the Majority or the Members of the Minority. A motion is in order to allow designated Majority and Minority party Members to question a witness for a specified period to be equally divided between the Majority and Minority parties. This period shall not exceed one hour in the aggregate. (h) Materials for Hearing Record.--Any materials submitted specifically for inclusion in the hearing record must address the announced subject matter of the hearing and be submitted to the relevant Subcommittee Clerk or Chief Clerk no later than 10 business days following the last day of the hearing. (i) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privileges made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or deponents in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only at the discretion of the Chairman, subject to appeal to the Committee.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, growing up in Tracy, California, I have been a fan of the Oakland Athletics ever since they first came to Oakland in 1968. I was 7 years old at the time. I remember their World Series Championship three-peat teams from 1972, 1973 and 1974, which featured players like Vida Blue, Bert Campaneris, Rollie Fingers, Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter, Joe Rudi and a young ``Mr. October,'' Reggie Jackson. Being from the northern part of California's Central Valley, just over the Altamont Pass, the fact that their 1974 World Series Championship came by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers made the victory even sweeter. And what baseball fan can forget the 1989 World Series, the ``Bay Bridge Series'' between Oakland and the San Francisco Giants? A great Oakland team, led by Jose Canseco, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire, and Dave Stewart prevailed in that series, but it was an earthquake that registered 7.1 on the Richter Scale, and the area uniting in response to the emergency situation, that we remember best. Today, Mr. Chairman, as the Major League Baseball postseason begins, I am proud that the House of Representatives is taking a moment to recognize the latest accomplishment by the Oakland A's, their amazing 20 game-winning streak. And I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution honoring this great team. Mr. Chairman, winning 20 games in a row is no fluke. It takes a sustained effort both by the pitching staff and batting line up to win 20 in a row. I'm proud to say that the fearsome Oakland starting pitching staff, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Corey Lidle won 15 of the 20 games in the streak. At the plate, the A's showed a never say die attitude, with shortstop Miguel Tejada and first baseman Scott Hatterberg each hitting an RBI at the final at bat of the game, winning the game and keeping the streak alive. This streak is the longest in American League history, second only to the 1935 Chicago Cubs' 21 game-winning streak. As we enter baseball's post season, the 20 game-winning streak serves notice to the other teams in the playoffs that the Oakland A's are a team to be reckoned with. I congratulate Manager Art Howe, General Manager Billy Beane and the entire Oakland Athletics organization.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), chairman of the subcommittee. (Mr. GOODLATTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 352) expressing the sense of Congress that Federal land management agencies should fully implement the Western Governors Association ``Collaborative 10-year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment'' to reduce the overabundance of forest fuels that place national resources at high risk of catastrophic wildfire, and prepare a National Prescribed Fire Strategy that minimizes risks of escape, as amended.

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, citizens in the West are bracing this year in fear of catastrophic fires. The summer is not even over, and we have seen 3.6 million acres burn on State, Federal, and private lands. These catastrophic fires are so intense the fire literally destroys every sign of life and can rage for thousands of acres. But this is not a new phenomenon or a 1-year event. During the wildfire season, 81,681 fires burned 3.5 million acres that killed 15 firefighters and threatened rural communities nationwide. Congress must take action. Our current Federal strategy to handle catastrophic wildfire is not adequately addressing a looming crisis. The Federal Government must take action to prevent loss of wildlife habitat and to protect rural communities. This is why I am here today offering H. Con. Res. 352 before the House of Representatives. This wildfire resolution expresses the sense of the U.S. Congress to fully implement the Western Governors Association collaborative 10-year strategy for reducing wild land fire risk to communities and the environment and to prepare a national prescribed fire strategy to minimize risk of escape. America needs to know Congress understands the forest health crisis is causing these fires and that Congress is taking action. It is important to keep in mind our forests are in constant transformation. A particular forest now will look much different in 10 years and in about 50 years will not look like the same forest. Sometimes a forest can get overpopulated with trees. Some of these trees become diseased, creating enormous amounts of dry timber fuel to spur a catastrophic fire. Reducing forest density and improving the ability of healthy forests to survive expansive wildfires must become the number one priority of Federal forest managers. It is time for Members of Congress to make the tough decisions necessary to end catastrophic losses of wildlife habitat, forest resources, and, most importantly, human lives on all Federal forest lands. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, as you may well know, in 1996, Congress was faced with a failing welfare program that did little to assist individuals in the transition from dependence on a government welfare check--to independence to earn a paycheck. For far too many, under the old Welfare program that American dream was out of reach. In response, the Republican Congress rose to the challenge and produced public policy with remarkable results that created hope and opportunity. In the past 6 years, the reformed Welfare program reduced poverty, child hunger, and dependency on government welfare checks for survival. Today we have a chance to build upon this success through improving our current welfare program through the passage of the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Protection Act. The challenge of making the transition from welfare to stable jobs is very difficult. Congress must make the commitment to ensure all Americans have a chance of reaching the American Dream. The actions Congress takes today will have a lasting impact as future generations will continue to break the cycle of welfare and enjoy brighter futures.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill; but it is not a perfect bill. There are problems. I have had the same problems that the chairman and the ranking member had in trying to work through this particular piece of legislation to get the best possible bill that we could to be enacted into law. For those Members who have stood up this morning and talked about how they were concerned about it being bad farm policy. I would caution them on the motion to recommit. If Members think that there is a problem with the current bill, look at the motion to recommit. That is the worst possible farm policy that we could adopt in any way. We turn it into a welfare program. We try to say that the purpose of farm policy is to support those small, disadvantaged farmers so that they can get a welfare check. Well, if that is what we really want, we should just make it a welfare program. That is a huge problem. It also transfers money into conservation title. At a time when we are fighting to open markets for us to ship into and other markets to ship into us, they want to take as much land as they possibly can out of production and ship that production offshore. Mr. Speaker, that is the worst possible farm policy that we could possibly come up with as the U.S. Congress. No matter what we do on this bill, Members have to vote, begins the motion to recommit.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, After seeing the destruction that happened last year during the fires seasons, I concluded that Congress must be prepared to respond to these catastrophic events before the 2002 wildfire season begins. When forests catch fire, a catastrophic event occurs. These types of fires are extremely intense. The fires literally destroy every sign of life and can rage for thousands of acres. The costs of fighting these fires are astronomical. During the 2001 wildfire season, 81,681 fires burned 3,555,138 acres that killed 15 firefighters and threatened rural communities nationwide. The year before in 2000, more than 7.4 million acres burned--equivalent to a 6-mile-wide swath from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA. These fires destroyed 861 structures and cost the Federal government $1.3 billion in suppression programs. Quite simply, our Federal strategy to handle catastrophic wildfire is not adequately addressing a looming crisis. The Federal Government must take action to prevent the loss of wildlife habitat and protect rural communities. This is why I am asking you to please join me in cosponsoring this Wildfire Resolution expressing the Sense of the U.S. Congress to: (1) fully implement the Western Governors Association ``Collaborative 10- year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment'' and (2) to prepare a National Prescribed Fire Strategy that minimizes risks of escape. America needs to know Congress understands the forest-health crisis is causing these fires and that Congress is taking action. In managing our forests, it is very important to remember that they are in constant transformation. A particular forest now will look much different in 10 years, and in about 50 years will not even look like the same forest. Sometimes a forest can get overpopulated with trees. While some trees become diseased creating enormous amount of fuel that leads to catastrophic fires. Reducing forest density and improving the ability of healthy forests to survive expansive wildfires must become the No. 1 priority for Federal forest managers. This is not a timber industry issue--it is a forest-health issue. Thinning practices necessary to ensure our forests are able to survive future catastrophic wildfires must begin without further delay. It is time for Members of Congress to set aside political rhetoric and make the tough decisions necessary to end catastrophic losses of wildlife habitat, forest resources and most importantly, human lives on all Federal forest lands. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be printed in the Record following my remarks.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, the endangered species program is supposed to be geared to protect endangered and threatened species and restore them to a secure standing in their environment. It is a complex balance of priorities and responsibilities that needs to be examined with all affected parties in mind. But, we all know that the current administration of the ESA is creating situations in which landowner's rights are compromised and the overzealous environmental agenda is advanced without a sufficient scientific basis, instead of actually recovering the species. Some middle ground needs to be reached in reforming the ESA rather than forcing rigorous and inflexible implementation of federal regulations that have sweeping and often unintended effects. First and foremost, the Secretary of the Interior needs to be required to use the best available science in all of the decisions made and needs to give greater preference to information that is empirical and peer reviewed. That means that we can all have greater confidence in the decisions made under the ESA. No federal agency, and certainly not the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are infallible or free from political agendas. There has to be a new emphasis on the need to use sound science in every aspect of the ESA from the listing process through recovery. Too often rhetoric and emotion are used in place of facts. One of the pieces of legislation that I am introducing today is based on sound science. It will set up an improved petition process for the potential listing of a species; it also sets up an independent review board, free of political agendas, to evaluate the evidence and scientific findings of all petitions for listing and review jeopardy opinions affiliated with candidate species; and it will set limitations on re-petitioning so that the process can be finalized and settled without a drawn out, fruitless process that bogs down our legal and political system. Also, the ESA needs to have stronger provisions to recognize private property rights. Private landowners must have the ability to voluntarily participate in the recovery of a species, and they especially need to have a stronger voice in public hearings. One of the other bills I am introducing will streamline the lines of communication and the process to convey information to all affected parties; and it will also establish requirements for conducting public hearings, namely that the Administrative Procedure Act has to be followed. Actions carried out in the name of the Endangered Species Act have had unintended consequences, especially on local growth and private property rights. We need to address these occurrences to make compliance with the ESA more agreeable and ensure that unfortunate situations that recently happened in the Klamath Basin will no longer occur. The last bill I am introducing will set requirements to designate habitat. These improved protections for endangered species habitats will help the species recover, but will also enable the Secretary of the Interior to make the best decision for all. I urge my colleagues to support prompt passage of these bills to provide common sense reform to the ESA so that we can help threatened and endangered species, but we can also provide incentives and assurances to all Americans that the ESA will not be used as a tool of the environmental movement to lock up lands. People need to believe that their Federal Government is making decisions, which affect their lives on a daily basis, are scientifically sound and have their best interests in mind. I believe that my three bills are a step in that direction.

Mr. POMBO

Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, over the years I have become very disturbed with the high levels of unethical behavior from various Federal Government officials. In the past 8 years, narrow-minded, radical environmental Federal Government employees have violated the trust of the American people. Today, we should be shocked that a recent investigation revealed several Federal and State employees submitted unauthorized control samples for analysis as part of an ongoing nationwide Canada lynx survey. The ``lynx'' fiasco illustrates just how vulnerable the public's access rights are to agenda-driven advocates within the Federal and State land management agencies: Then there is the case of Donald Fife, a professional scientist specializing in environmental mining and engineering geology, who learned from a former U.S. Forest Service official that plants listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) had been secretly placed on his property in an attempt to close about 30,000 acres of the highest mineral valued land in southern California. Then there is the case of a high-ranking official at the Northwest Regional Office at National Marines Fisheries Service (NMFS) who took the time to share her thoughts about the implementation of the Endangered Species Act. And I quote from the International California Mining Journal (January 2002): * * * when we (NMFS) make critical habitat designation we just designate everything as critical, without an analysis of how much habitat an ESU (Evolutionarily Significant Unit) needs, what areas might be key, etc. Mostly we don't do this because we lack information. What we really do is the same thing we do for section 7 consultations. We just say we need it all. The nature of all these events highlight the lack of trust with the Federal agencies that are charged with the task of managing our public lands. The Federal land agencies must be held to the same standards of truth, honesty and accountability as the private sector.