Steve Pearce

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5016) to provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of Land Management land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5016, introduced by Mr. Kolbe, would consolidate lands within the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area located 50 miles south of Tucson. The area consists of 42,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This legislation would add 2,490 acres of private land to the conservation area in exchange for 1,280 acres of isolated BLM lands. The bill would also modify the boundary of the conservation area to exclude a 40-acre tract of land for a sanitary landfill. This area was inadvertently included in the original boundary. I would urge support for this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, before I depart, I would like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for his great work here. I think we have set a modern land speed record on these bills, and I thank him very much. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5946) to amend Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to authorize activities to promote improved monitoring and compliance for high seas fisheries, or fisheries governed by international fishery management agreements, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006 (H.R. 4766). I would like to congratulate my colleague from New Mexico, Mrs. Wilson, for bringing this issue forward. This is important legislation to preserve the culture and increase fluency in Native American society. Sadly, all across America, Native American languages are in rapid decline; estimates are that there may be only 20 Native American languages remaining by the year 2050. These languages are unique to our country and unique to our history. If we do not preserve them, they will disappear forever. This bill will establish a series of grants to help preserve the language and culture of our Native American people. This will help create programs that will teach our young people of the importance of learning the language of their ancestors and continuing to preserve the history and culture of their people. Finally, the language programs created in this bill are locally based educational programs that will help both children learn and preserve languages in households all across America. My constituent Dr. Christine Sims, a professor of language at the University of New Mexico, and Pueblo of Acoma tribal member says, ``The future of America's first languages, those that are indigenous to this country hang in the balance of what we do as a Nation to help tribal communities preserve them. Much has been given up by countless generations of Native people in the wake of this country's expansion and growth into the great nation that it is today. It is only right and just that Congress consider the tremendous price that America's first people paid in terms of losing so much throughout the course of this nation's history, including the loss of native languages. Among America's Native language communities remaining today, the hopes and the dreams that Native elders, parents and tribes hold for their children are those which include the maintenance and revitalization of tribal heritage languages. We can do no less in this country, therefore, than to ensure that tribal communities have the opportunity and the funding resources that will help make these hopes and dreams for their children a reality. ``Today's education for the American Indian student must open the doors for youngsters to have more opportunities to learn their own languages as provided in the provisions of H.R. 4766. This bill, so aptly named for one of New Mexico's tribal elders, Mrs. Esther Martinez from San Juan Pueblo ( who tragically died in a car accident this past week), would not only honor the memory of this renowned Native language advocate and leader, but as well, demonstrate the commitment that Congress is willing to make in support of the intent and purpose of the Native Languages Preservation Act.''. Again, I want to thank my New Mexico colleague, Mrs. Wilson, for bringing this bill forward, her hard work and dedication are a credit to her and she is a credit to our State.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2069) to authorize the exchange of certain land in Grand and Uintah Counties, Utah, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Utah Regional Land Exchange Act is the culmination of years of analysis and negotiations among representatives of Utah's State School Trust Lands, the Department of the Interior, locally elected officials, environmental groups and Members of Congress. Congressman Chris Cannon should be commended for crafting this bipartisan legislation that will convey and exchange of over 80,000 acres of State and Federal lands for recreation, scenic and development purposes. This creative and significant exchange will be of great benefit to Utah's schools, recreationists, communities, and to all Americans who care about the proper care and management of Federal lands and in protecting important natural and scenic areas. I urge passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5842) to compromise and settle all claims in the case of Pueblo of Isleta v. United States, to restore, improve, and develop the valuable on-reservation land and natural resources of the Pueblo, and for other purposes.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5842 authored by myself ratifies a settlement agreement pending between the Isleta Pueblo of New Mexico, a federally recognized tribe, and the United States. This settlement agreement is the result of many years of environmental damage to certain reservation lands by the United States Government. H.R. 5842 would establish a land restoration fund for the Pueblo to acquire, restore and improve the land and natural resources within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. Passage of this legislation settles all claims by the Pueblo pending in the United States Courts of Federal Claims. We understand that both the administration and the entire New Mexico delegation fully support this settlement and the corresponding legislation. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of my bill, H.R. 5842, the ``Pueblo of Isleta Settlement and Natural Resources Restoration Act of 2006.'' I jointly introduced this bill with the support of the entire New Mexico Delegation. While this bill is a settlement of claims against America by a tribal government, the result of this settlement will benefit the Pueblo, the State of New Mexico and all of America. By passing this bill we fulfill our responsibility for the trust and management of these tribal lands. This bill will settle the Pueblo's claims against the United States for mismanagement damages of the Pueblo's tribal lands. The final settlement to this case was reached in June between the U.S. Departments of Interior and Justice and the tribal leaders and will expire at the end of this session of Congress unless we act. H.R. 5842 in settling the claims will result in a tremendous victory not just for the Pueblo of Isleta but also for the whole of New Mexico. Specifically, the legislation provides $32.8 million from the Department of Justice judgment fund and an additional $7.2 million to be appropriated. The victory in the bill is that these funds will be used for the acquisition, restoration, improvement, development and protection of the land, natural resources and cultural resources of the Pueblo. The measure also calls for the Pueblo to invest $7.1 million of its own funds for the drainage and remediation of agricultural lands and the rehabilitation of forest and range land. This commitment of the tribe shows their willingness to work to restore not just their lands but also a key portion of the Rio Grande Watershed bringing environmental improvements to every water user on the Rio Grande River. If this bill isn't passed all we will have is more delay, more cost and a situation that benefits no one. Therefore, I urge all my colleagues to join me and help get this settlement agreement completed today. This bill benefits New Mexico, and protects the American taxpayer through a fair comprehensive settlement of the Pueblo's claim. I want to thank many people for their hard work on making this bill a reality. Specifically, I want to thank Governor Robert Benavides of Isleta for his hard work and leadership in making this settlement such a success for not just his citizens but all of New Mexico. I want to thank my colleague, Mrs. Wilson for her help and my Chairman Mr. Pombo for his leadership. Finally, I appreciate the hard work of the House Resources staff, Chris Fluhr, Matt Miller, and Todd Willens for helping bring this legislation to the House floor today. Again, this settlement is good for America and should be passed here today. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional Speakers, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4789) to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain public land located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Wells Hydroelectric Project of Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, Washington, to the utility district, as amended.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4789 would convey nearly 400 acres of small isolated Bureau of Land Management parcels of land to the Wells Hydroelectric Project located in Anzwell, Washington. The project provides power to large parts of Oregon and Washington. The small parcels being conveyed are difficult for the BLM to manage and makes management of the Wells Hydroelectric project area difficult for the utility company which manages its area not just for power generation, but also for a variety of public recreation uses. The land would be conveyed for fair market value and the legislation ensures that recreational opportunities would continue. I urge passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers and yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I would remind the Members that this is a very bipartisan bill, everything being bipartisan except the name of the river basin being studied. I would urge passage. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4750) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply and conservation project to improve water supply reliability, increase the capacity of water storage, and improve water management efficiency in the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas, as amended.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4750, sponsored by Congressman Tom Osborne, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of a water supply and conservation project in the Republican River Basin. This legislation would enact into law one requirement of the Republican River Compact Settlement negotiated between the States of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, and approved by the United States Supreme Court in 2003. The feasibility study would help clarify the opportunities to increase water storage in the river basin, and is needed to increase water availability and encourage more efficient water use. I urge my colleagues to support this needed legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), the author of the legislation.

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3626 introduced by our colleague the esteemed Rob Bishop from Utah begins the effort to expand water storage in northern Utah to meet growing demands. This legislation authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to look at the feasibility of enlarging the Arthur V. Watkins Dam for this purpose. I commend Mr. Bishop for introducing this forward-thinking and bipartisan bill. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, understanding the full risk of filibuster, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut, the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Simmons. (Mr. SIMMONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, appreciating the bipartisan nature of this, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, sponsored by Congressman Rob Simmons, which would establish the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative. This initiative allows the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to protect and restore land around the Long Island Sound in the States of Connecticut and New York. This bill acknowledges the collaborative efforts among the many public and private partners in the region and allows for a ground-up approach to managing and maintaining the long-term ecological health and public enjoyment of Long Island Sound. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 5160. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PEARCE

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

Mr. PEARCE

Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley).