George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume Mr. Speaker, Senate 435, introduced by Senator Lieberman of Connecticut and a companion to H.R. 1344 sponsored by our colleague Nancy Johnson, would study a segment of Farmington River and Salmon Brook in Connecticut for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 435) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. 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. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 1129, introduced by Representative Mark Udall, would authorize a small land exchange in Pitkin County, Colorado, between the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and Pitkin County. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives on December 6, 2005, but was recently amended by the Senate. The amendment simply removed a provision of the bill encumbering the land known as the Crystal River parcel with a conservation easement. The remaining portion of the bill would transfer 35 acres, once part of the Ryan Ranch in the White River National Forest to the Forest Service. This property is nearly surrounded by public land and valued by the community as open space. In exchange, Pitkin County would acquire 5.5 acres known as the Wildwood parcel from the Forest Service and a total of 45.92 acres from the Bureau of Land Management consisting of mining claims and land along the Crystal River. The exchange is strongly supported by local officials and would help to consolidate public and private ownership in Pitkin County. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1129) to authorize the exchange of certain land in the State of Colorado.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 819) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reallocate costs of the Pactola Dam and Reservoir, South Dakota, to reflect increased demands for municipal, industrial, and fish and wildlife purposes.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill now under consideration.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Senate 819, introduced by Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, reallocates the costs of the Pactola Dam and Reservoir to reflect growing municipal needs for water. As Rapid City's municipal water needs are growing at a rapid rate and demand for local irrigation water decreases, this legislation appropriately reallocates the costs associated with the changing water needs. This bill is a win for the citizens of Rapid City and a win for the American taxpayer, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, the Pactola Dam, located near Rapid City, South Dakota, stores water from Rapid Creek and is part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. This bill authorizes reallocation of a portion of the construction costs of the Pactola Dam and Reservoir from irrigation purposes to municipal and industrial and fish and wildlife purposes. The effort to reallocate Pactola Dam costs stems from the population growth around Rapid City, with corresponding increases in demand for M&I water and decreases in demand for irrigation water. Pactola Dam originally provided water storage for flood control, irrigation, and M&I uses. A 40-year water service contract between the Bureau of Reclamation and Rapid City for M&I water expired in 1991. Water for Rapid City has been subsequently provided under annual contracts. A second 40-year contract between reclamation and the Rapid Valley Conservancy District for irrigation water expired in 2001. The district decided not to renew this contract due to decreased irrigation demand and sufficient alternative water sources. Since the district no longer needs Pactola water, repayment of construction costs originally allocated to irrigation can be reallocated to M&I uses and fish and wildlife purposes. Under law, Congress must authorize this reallocation. As I close with the Resources Committee issues today, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Lisa Pittman, our chief counsel on the Resources Committee, for all her hard work during the 109th Congress. Thank you, Lisa Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. The Boise foothills provide a beautiful, open-space backdrop for the city of Boise. For decades, community members have sought a way to protect open space, and in May 2001, the citizens of Boise approved a tax to secure open space in the foothills. Roughly 7,700 acres of land in the Boise foothills is owned by the State of Idaho. The State is required to manage these lands to maximize revenue, which would likely lead to development. S. 1131, introduced by Senator Larry Craig in the Senate and Congressman Butch Otter in the House, would remedy this problem by codifying an agreement produced collaboratively by the city of Boise and the State of Idaho and the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The agreement would exchange Idaho State endowment lands on an equal-value basis with other Federal and State lands across a broad area in the State. I urge support of this important measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate James and Justine Davis on the celebration of their 70th year of marriage. James and Justine Davis were married January 3, 1937 at St. John's Rectory in Fresno, California. James Davis was born in Madera in 1914 on the same property that he lives on today. He is the son of James L. and Gertrude Davis, both long time Madera residents. James was the Madera County Agricultural Commissioner from 1964 until his retirement in 1976. He started working for the agricultural department in 1949. James also farmed cotton, alfalfa, and cattle on his home ranch. Justine Nicolini was born on a farm in Fresno in 1912 on property that is now adjacent to the Fresno Convention Center. She is the daughter of Jose Nicolini, from Italy, and Rosa Ylarraz Nicolini, from Spain. She worked for Gottschalks Department Store before marriage and held various office positions in Madera after moving to Madera. James and Justine met on a blind date arranged by friends. The Davis's have one daughter, Patricia Sunia, two grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. James and Justine live in the same house that they moved into after their marriage. Following retirement, James and Justine traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, Australia, and Great Britain. Their devotion to one another is a model for all married couples to follow. As evidence of this devotion, James and Justine have always agreed to not go to sleep angry. They have always maintained a strong love for one another and can often be seen holding hands to this day. I wish James and Justine Davis continued health and happiness in their marriage.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 409) to provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest, California, and for other purposes.

Mr. RADANOVICH. 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. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the 6 bills just considered.

Mr. RADANOVICH

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

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

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cochair of the Congressional Croatian Caucus to draw attention to the upcoming NATO summit in Riga. One of the focuses of this summit will be the next round of possible NATO enlargement, scheduled to occur in 2008. Croatia should be at the top of the candidate list for membership into NATO and deserves an invitation for membership in 2008. Since achieving independence over a decade ago, Croatia has taken huge strides with democratic, economic and human rights reforms. They have been a key partner in the international community's efforts to build long-term support and stability in the Southeastern European region, and have been an active supporter of the global war against terrorism. Croatia fully recognizes the fundamental importance of sharing its visions of Euro-Atlantic integration with other countries in the region, and is prepared to be an example for developing democracies. Croatia has benefited greatly from the substantial investment already made by the United States in the region. This investment illustrates our belief that Croatia is a viable partner in promoting democratic ideals and peace-keeping efforts internationally. I was proud to help further solidify this support last year, with the passage of House Resolution 529, which recommended Croatia's integration into NATO. At the upcoming summit, NATO officials should be encouraged to definitively express their intentions to issue invitations for membership to qualified aspirant countries at the next summit in 2008, of which Croatia is at the top of the list. I wish to convey my strong support for the reform efforts being made in Croatia, and for an invitation to join NATO in the 2008 enlargement round. My congressional Croatian Caucus cochair, Congressman Peter Visclosky, and I have also sent letters to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense encouraging the administration to express support for this goal. Finally, many individuals have worked very hard to see that this important invitation comes to fruition. I would like to especially thank Congressman Visclosky, the Embassy of Croatia, and the multitude of Croatian nationals and Croatian Americans who have been so committed to this cause. I would also like to enter into the Record a letter in support of Croatia's membership into NATO. National Federation of Croatian Americans, September 20, 2006. Hon. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary, Department of State, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Secretary: The problems in our world today are many and the issues you are currently addressing as the leader of our diplomatic efforts, while on the right course, are extremely challenging. However, I am pleased to point out that one emerging bright spot in the problematic region of Southeast Europe is The Republic of Croatia. Since winning her independence ten years ago, Croatia has made great strides along the path to full North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership by implementing democratic processes, upholding the rule of law, partnering with her neighbors on human rights, remaining a consistent supporter of the global war on terrorism, and demonstrating stable leadership among the countries in that region. In addition, Croatia has diligently pursued her responsibilities under NATO's Membership Action Plan in adapting her military to the interoperable and readily available needs of future NATO strategies. The upcoming NATO meeting in Riga, Latvia, in November 2006 causes us to remember the great successes of this Alliance. For almost sixty years no member of NATO has ever been attacked, and all member nation-states have been blessed with economic prosperity. This is a group to which The Republic of Croatia aspires and to which she has earned the right to belong. While the NATO meeting in Riga is scheduled to discuss 2007 as a year of transformation, we must also continue to focus on 2008, which is planned as the next year for possible NATO enlargement. Croatia deserves to be at the top of the list of countries qualifying as ready candidates in the 2008 enlargement round. I write to you today to request that Croatia's membership progress be discussed and properly reviewed with regard to early full NATO membership during the November Summit in Riga. Croatia's democratic, economic, and defensive progress was recognized by the United States Congress late last year with passage of H. Res. 529 and S. Res. 342, both of which commended her and recommended that she be invited to join NATO as a full member at the earliest possible date. In addition, a delegation from the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) recently met with key representatives from both the U.S. State Department and the National Security Council and received very positive reports on Croatia's progress toward NATO membership and further integration into other western-oriented multilateral organizations. The NFCA will ensure that the Croatian American community in the U.S. continues to support all of these Congressional and Administration efforts, and we will rally our ethnic community as required. The NFCA is very pleased with President Bush's recent appointment of Mr. Robert A. Bradtke as the new U. S. Ambassador to The Republic of Croatia. Mr. Bradtke's years of service, particularly with his experiences in the last NATO Enlargement, will serve him and the Croatian people well in these history making years for the country. The NFCA will also carry on its communication with Ambassador Bradtke to assist in any way we can towards greater enhancement of the relationship between the United States and The Republic of Croatia. He understands the importance of NATO for Croatia and is committed to reaching out to the Croatian people to continue building enthusiasm for full NATO membership. Your own support, in promoting the international progress of Croatia, is critically important. The NFCA sincerely appreciates your contributions and achievements in. these difficult times for our country, and we ask that you support inviting the friendly country of Croatia to join the NATO Alliance in 2008. If I may be of personal assistance to you on this important request regarding The Republic of Croatia's goal of full NATO membership, please do not hesitate to contact me at your first convenience. If our Government Relations OffIce may be of direct assistance to you or your staff, Mr. Joe Foley may also be contacted at the number below. Sincerely, Edward A. Andrus, President.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support of H.R. 6166, the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This measure is vital in giving the President the resources he needs to bring terrorists and enemy combatants to justice. During these uncertain times of conflict and war, the United States requires established procedures to try captured terrorists and protect our troops. The justice system and rules of evidence that apply to enemies of war should be narrowly tailored within the legal framework to effectively prosecute terrorists. I fully support the compromise negotiated between the House, Senate, and Bush Administration on this important legislation. Though I was not able to cast my vote in favor of H.R. 6166 on September 27, 2006, I would like to go on record as being in full support of the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor the nation of Armenia and all people of Armenian descent. Today marks the 15th anniversary of Armenia's independence, and is a proud day for the people of a country that has struggled for so long and succeeded so greatly. The mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire was the first genocide of the 20th century. I am proud that the United States stood by as an ally to Armenia at that time and has continued to do so throughout the last century. During the cold war, the United States championed the rights of the Armenian people to be independent, and was one of the first countries to recognize that independence in 1991. As one of the first countries in post Soviet Union Europe to embrace the ideals of freedom and democracy, Armenia has taken great strides down the path of democratic change and development. All of this has been done in the shadow of the great adversity that these proud people have endured. Over the last fifteen years the Armenians have proven their commitment to democratic values and a secure and stable Caspian region. My district in California is home to thousands of Armenians who I am grateful to have worked with and become friends with during my time in Congress. They, and all Armenian people, deserve our most heartfelt congratulations on this momentous anniversary.