George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 52) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey a parcel of real property to Beaver County, Utah.

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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3812) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a feasibility study with respect to the Mokelumne River, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 have no further 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, H.R. 3812, introduced by the distinguished chairman of the Resources Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), authorizes a Federal feasibility study on creating more water storage. Rapid population growth and salt intrusion into the underlying aquifer have prompted officials in San Joaquin County, California, to seek a more dependable and reliable water supply for the region. The study in this legislation will examine ways to capture flood flows from an area river in order to develop 65,000 acre feet of potential water supplies. This water storage study will thoroughly examine all the issues surrounding the development of this new water resource, and expressly protects State water law and current permits and agreements. Above all, this legislation serves as the first step towards the development of much-needed water supplies. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 585) to require Federal land managers to support, and to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with, designated gateway communities, to improve the ability of gateway communities to participate in Federal land management planning conducted by the Forest Service and agencies of the Department of the Interior, and to respond to the impacts of the public use of the Federal lands administered by these agencies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 585, the Gateway Communities Cooperation Act, introduced by me and amended by the Resources Committee, would facilitate better communication between and among the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture and those designated communities located adjacent to our Federal lands, which are commonly known as gateway communities. These gateway communities are impacted by decisions made by managers of our public lands. The people in these communities fulfill an integral part in the mission of Federal lands by providing necessary services, such as schools, roads, search and rescue, emergency and medical support, drinking water and sanitary systems. H.R. 585, as amended, would improve the relationship among Federal land managers, elected officials and residents of gateway communities, as well as enhance facilities and service available to visitors of our Federal lands. Additionally, the measure will improve the coordination of land use planning and decisions made by Federal land managers. As the representative of Yosemite National Park here in Congress, I know how important coordination and communication is between Federal managers and the people living in the communities surrounding our national parks, forests and other Federal lands. This bill helps achieve a better relationship between these parties. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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 to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1129, introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 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. The bill would transfer 35 acres, once a part of the Ryan Ranch, in White River National Forest, to the Forest Service. This property is nearly surrounded by public land and valued by the communities as open space. In exchange, the 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 BLM parcels abut county land, and the Crystal River land will be subject to permanent conservation easement for public access. The exchange is strongly supported by local officials and would help consolidate public and private ownership of Pitkin County. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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 such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 136, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the southern boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and adjust the boundary of the Redwood National State Park to include new lands acquired by the State of California. In addition, S. 136 contains a provision providing supplemental funding and other services necessary to assist three schools in my congressional district located within Yosemite National Park. These three schools serve the children of Yosemite National Park, the Park Service, and concession employees, and the schools are located a significant distance from other public schools in Mariposa and Madera counties. Because the schools are small, and California bases its State funding on the number of students, the schools do not receive sufficient State funds to operate. S. 136 addresses this problem by giving the Yosemite National Park superintendent the authority to use a portion of its existing budget to help provide funds for the education of these children whose parents work in the Park. As the author of the House version of this language, I know firsthand that it will mean a great deal to the lives of the families in Yosemite National Park. Also with respect to S. 136, I would like to extend my appreciation to Senator Dianne Feinstein for her commitment and assistance in helping pass this bill in the Senate, and I do 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. 136) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist certain local school districts in the State of California in providing educational services for students attending schools located within Yosemite National Park, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, to adjust the boundaries of Redwood National Park, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. RADANOVICH

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. S. 212 was introduced by Senators Domenici and Bingaman to improve the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. In 2000, Congress passed the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, which acquired the Baca Ranch and directed the Secretary of Agriculture to manage it as a preserve. While mostly successful, there have been some challenges to implementing the law. As a result, S. 212 was introduced to address these challenges and clarify the original intent of the act. Furthermore, it will ensure that the act is fully implemented in a cost-efficient manner. I support this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 back the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 279, a bill sponsored by Senator Domenici, clarifies the uncertainty and potential law enforcement jurisdiction problems on all 19 Indian Pueblo reservations in the State of New Mexico. From 1913 to 2001, the United States Government prosecuted crimes committed by or against the New Mexico Pueblo Indians within the exterior boundaries of their reservation lands in the State of New Mexico. However, in 2001, a Federal judge, relying on a case about tribal jurisdiction in the State of Alaska, ruled that felonies committed by Indians on private lands within the boundaries of New Mexico Pueblos are not subject to Federal jurisdiction. The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico did not appeal the decision and, therefore, has failed to prosecute any felonies by or against Indians on these lands. At the same time that the Federal Government was declining to prosecute any felonies on Indian Pueblo lands, a New Mexico State court ruled that the State of New Mexico lacked jurisdiction to prosecute felonies committed by an Indian defendant against a non-Indian on private lands within the Pueblos. As a result, there is currently a large void in criminal jurisdiction at the Federal, State, and tribal levels. S. 279 corrects this void of jurisdiction by clarifying that, one, the United States will have jurisdiction over crimes defined under the Major Crimes Act committed by or against any Indian; two, the State of New Mexico will have jurisdiction clarified as to non-member Indians or non-Indians for all non-Major Crimes Act offenses; and, three, the New Mexico Pueblo governments will have jurisdiction over their individual members or other Indians for other offenses. S. 279 enjoys bipartisan support and has the support of the entire New Mexico delegation. I look forward to passing this necessary legislation and urge its timely enactment in this session. 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. 279) to amend the Act of June 7, 1924, to provide for the exercise of criminal jurisdiction.

Mr. RADANOVICH

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