George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3897, introduced by myself, authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the study, design, and construction of the Madera Water Supply and Enhancement Project. This important water bank project in my congressional district will help improve the water supply in California's San Joaquin Valley. The over-13,000-acre ranch where the water bank is located is well suited for this project. The soils on and underneath the land are ideal for percolating water from the surface to the aquifer for storage. In addition, the land is valuable habitat for numerous species and contains large sections of the region's native grasslands. Funding for this project is under way. Madera Irrigation District, which will operate and maintain this project, issued $37.5 million in bonds to purchase the property. Also, the fiscal year 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations measure allocated $200,000 to conduct a study on the feasibility of the water bank. With increasing demands on its limited water supply, the San Joaquin Valley is falling behind in creating additional water sources. The Madera Water Supply and Enhancement Project will enable water users to store excess river flows in a nearby aquifer. This stored water bank would then be used during dry years and could prove critical to meeting demands. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to expand water supply opportunities in the San Joaquin Valley. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 122, introduced by Congressman Darrell Issa, authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in a water recycling project with the Eastern Municipal Water District in Southern California. The project will allow the district to be less reliant on imported water. As water demands grow and supply becomes more scarce in Southern California, this bill will help drought-proof this arid region. The infrastructure investment in this legislation will help the district as its customers transition from agriculture to urban uses. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 122) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project, as amended.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2563) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility studies to address certain water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5232) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to initiate and complete an evaluation of lands and waters located in Northeastern Pennsylvania for their potential acquisition and inclusion in a future Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5061) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey Paint Bank National Fish Hatchery and Wytheville National Fish Hatchery to the State of Virginia.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity to discuss the Global War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the events of the past few weeks, including the completion of a democratically elected government and the elimination of al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, we have seen the development of democracies and another strong blow against terrorism. The importance of staying the course in Iraq and standing strong is evident with every success. Steadfast determination in Iraq is key to the security of the United States and the global community. I strongly support the United States' continued military involvement in the Global War on Terror. The importance of keeping our country safe by standing up for democracy and freedom is our number one priority. I had the opportunity to visit with our troops in Iraq and felt so proud. Their determination to bring peace and hope to the Middle East and end the terrorist threat to the U.S. was humbling and inspiring. Nothing demonstrates our military families' commitment more than the family of Corporal Michael Anderson Jr. who lost his life in Iraq. They came to Washington, from Modesto, California, recently to honor is life. It was a privilege to meet such an inspiring family, who, in the face of tragedy, demonstrated unwavering patriotism. Our courageous soldiers, who are fighting for freedom and our way of life, deserve the full support of the American people. We owe it to those who have given their lives, to stay and complete this mission. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution declaring the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support H.R. 5252, the COPE Act. Today's communications networks have become national and international in nature, therefore it does not make sense to still require companies to provide video services to meet varying requirements in tens of thousands of different areas. We have seen evidence and heard stories of the months and years it takes to get any one individual franchise, and in some cases video providers must get dozens of individual franchises to service one area. All that does is slow down competition. This bill also helps get the next generation Internet to consumers with the ability to provide voice, data, and now video, telecommunications companies will be able to develop and increase their infrastructure and provide better and cheaper services. This is one of the most pro-consumer bills to come to the floor this year, and we need to make sure that the President signs video voice legislation this year. I urge all my colleagues to vote for the COPE Act.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5429, the American- Made Energy and Good Jobs Act. It is simple math: ANWR equals more oil supply and more oil supply equals lower prices; therefore, ANWR equals lower oil prices for American consumers. Under this measure, just 2,000 acres of the 19-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would be used for energy production. It is only 1 percent of the total mass of land area. Opening ANWR's 2,000 acres to safe energy exploration would create jobs in all 50 States. New research by the Defense Council Foundation estimates that over 1 million new jobs would be created by opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This act requires that the best commercial practices be used for energy production combined with the world's toughest environmental safeguards. ANWR is not the only solution for our Nation's energy needs, but it is a crucial element. A report from the U.S. Energy Information Agency shows that energy development in ANWR would increase domestic production by nearly 20 percent by 2025. Had ANWR been in 15 years ago, it would be lowering oil prices today. I absolutely support renewable, clean energy resources. However, we have to be realistic. To get the equivalent amount of energy from wind generation as in ANWR, we would need 3.7 million acres' worth of wind farms, which is the size of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined, and gale-force winds 365 days a year for more than 30 years. The American people believe we are doing the right thing by considering this bill today. A recent national poll by PacWest Communications shows that 59 percent of Americans favor oil and gas exploration and production in ANWR because our gas is at $3 a gallon now. Given this, I urge my colleagues to do the right thing for American families and support H.R. 5429.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3682) to redesignate the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia as the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3682 was introduced by two of our distinguished Virginia colleagues, Tom Davis and Frank Wolf. This measure would rename the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge after Mrs. Elizabeth Hartwell. While I never had the opportunity to meet this remarkable woman, there seems to be no debate that she dedicated her life to conservation. After nearly 20 years of tireless work to stop the destruction of the Mason Neck Peninsula, Mrs. Hartwell and her supporters were successful in their efforts to create the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge, which was the first established to protect the American bald eagle, has grown to 2,277 acres of land. In addition to one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the lower 48 States, Mason Neck is home to the largest great blue heron rookery in the mid- Atlantic region and more than 200 species of birds, 41 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 31 species of mammals. I am sure the authors of this legislation will attest that this refuge would not exist had it not been for Mrs. Elizabeth Hartwell. Despite powerful and well-financed opponents, she was successful because she lived her life committed to the philosophy of one of our Nation's greatest conservationists, Theodore Roosevelt, who reminds us that ``it is not what we have that makes us a great Nation; it is the way in which we use it.'' This legislation proposes a fitting tribute to someone who was affectionately called the ``Eagle Lady.'' I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 3682. Madam Speaker, I reserve balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1165) to provide for the expansion of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Honolulu County, Hawaii.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to urge the adoption of S. 1165, introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye. This bill is virtually identical to H.R. 2866, sponsored by our distinguished Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Neil Abercrombie. This bill would increase the size of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on the Island of Oahu by up to 800 acres of land. This refuge, which was created in 1976, provides essential wetland habitat for some 75 endangered plants and animals including four species of highly imperiled waterbirds. The birds depend on the protection of the James Campbell Refuge for their survival. The sole owner of the property is the James Campbell Estate, and their legal representative testified that the estate is a willing seller of this property for inclusion within the refuge. The timing of this transaction is critical because the James Campbell Trust, which was created over 100 years ago, terminates on January 20, 2007. By acquiring this property, the two noncontiguous existing parts of the refuge will be connected. Historical wetland habitat will be restored and a new protected flyway will be created, and the Army Corps of Engineers will have the opportunity to provide some badly needed flood protection for a neighboring community. This refuge expansion will also conserve the last remaining large coastal dune ecosystem on Oahu, preserve native strand plants and protect threatened coastal wildlife including sea turtles, migratory shorebirds, and Hawaiian monk seals. I urge an ``aye'' on S. 1165. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 518) to require the Secretary of the Interior to refine the Department of the Interior program for providing assistance for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation to extend the Secretary of the Interior's authority to approve grants for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds. The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Account was established in 2000 and has been widely popular. In fact, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the program, has received 690 grant requests to assist neotropical migratory birds. To date, the service has approved 146 conservation projects in 30 different countries. These projects have cost the Federal Government about $13.8 million, but they have generated almost $65 million in private matching funds. This is a remarkable achievement. This bill would reauthorize the act for 4 years, expand the definition of the Caribbean to include Puerto Rico and all the U.S. Virgin Islands, reduce the matching fund requirement, allow conservation projects to be funded in Canada, and increase the authorization levels from $5 million to $6.5 million in fiscal year 2010. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 518. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2978, introduced by our colleague Dennis Rehberg of Montana, allows two Fort Peck Indian Reservation Tribes to lease water to nearby nonIndian communities. In northeastern Montana, water supplies are very scarce. For this reason Congress authorized a rural water supply protection for the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and some of its neighbors a few years ago. As the project is now under construction, water users realize that the underlying law needs to be clarified in order to ensure a water transfer. This bill makes this commonsense clarification on the Federal level. The State Water Commission has already approved the conveyance, and I urge my colleagues to support this noncontroversial bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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