George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it shall be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 14) to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to make improvements to and reauthorize programs under that Act, and for other purposes; The bill shall be considered as read for amendment; The amendment recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill, modified by the amendments that have been placed, at the desk, shall be considered as adopted; The bill shall be debatable for 2 hours, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce; The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions; After passage of H.R. 14, the House shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's table S. 342, stricken all after the enacting clause of the Senate bill and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 14 as passed by the House.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam 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 in the record on H.R. 620, H.R. 788, and H.R. 961, the three bills just considered.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 961) to promote Department of the Interior efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 961, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act, authored by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) provides for the U.S. Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior to supplement, coordinate, and manage data collection on sediments and nutrients in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The data would be used to provide the baseline data and modeling tools needed to make scientifically sound and cost-effective river management decisions. The legislation includes a provision requiring landowner permission prior to disseminating information from monitoring stations located at private lands to protect the privacy of individual property owners. Finally, it provides for the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive water resources assessment of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. I urge adoption of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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. 620) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist the State of California or local educational agencies in California in providing educational services for students attending schools located within the Park, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 620, authored by me, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services necessary to assist local school districts in providing educational services for students attending three schools located within Yosemite National Park. The three schools in question are Yosemite Valley, which serves 46 students K-8; El Portel Elementary, which serves 50 students in seven grades; and Wawona Elementary, which serves 20 children in grades K-8 with only one teacher. All three schools represent those one-room schools of yesteryear. Madam Speaker, California is unique in that operating funds for schools are based on an average daily attendance. Since the devastating 1997 Merced River flood, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of park employees and, thus, fewer school children attending these schools. With fewer and fewer children attending these schools, fewer State dollars are committed. The result is that the superintendent for Yosemite National Park and the concessionaire serving park visitors are attracting less-than-qualified candidates to work in the park because families are not provided with adequate schools. Meanwhile, while Federal funding sources such as Impact Aid and payment in lieu of taxes, or PILT, are made available to Mariposa and Madera Counties where these three schools exist and through which this money is distributed, the reality is very few of these dollars are actually used to fund these classrooms. In light of these realities, I was able to secure special funding in the amount of $111,000 in the fiscal year 2002 Interior appropriations bill for these schools. However, going to appropriators every year for this critical assistance is not the most productive approach. Therefore, for the reasons I have outlined, the solution before the House today is the best long-term approach to this problem. During subcommittee and committee consideration in the 107th Congress, I made a number of changes to the bill that addressed issues raised by the administration, members of the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. For example, the bill makes it clear that funds made available by the Secretary under H.R. 620 will not go towards new construction, construction contracts, or major capital improvements and thus would be limited to general upkeep, maintenance, and classroom teaching. Madam Speaker, I do not think that we should stand by and permit children of the Park Service and concessionaire employees from being deprived of their education simply because their parents have chosen to work in Yosemite National Park. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to locate facilities including transportation systems outside the boundaries of the Yosemite National Park. H.R. 620 is supported by the minority and majority of the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 620, as amended. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

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

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

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 788, as introduced by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to complete a land exchange that would help protect an important viewshed located in southern Utah at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and revise the boundaries of the park to reflect the change. The exchange would facilitate the acquisition of 152 acres, including an important scenic viewshed by the National Park Service, while the private developer would acquire 370 acres of land on the other side of Highway 89 that is more appropriate for development. The parcel acquired by the Park Service will also help facilitate a more manageable boundary at the park's most visited entrance. While the Park Service will be acquiring land of considerably greater value than the developer, the private developer has expressed his willingness to donate the approximately $350,000 difference in value to the National Park Service. Both parties consider the exchange to be mutually beneficial. The House passed legislation containing this same exchange during the 107th Congress. The bill is supported, as it was during the last Congress, by both the majority and the minority as well as the administration, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon).

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 788) to revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in the States of Utah and Arizona.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sheriff C.A. ``Pelk'' Richards for his commitment and dedication to the Mariposa County Law Enforcement. On Friday, May 2nd his retirement will be celebrated at Sheriff C.A. ``Pelk'' Richards' Retirement Dinner in Mariposa, California. Pelk Richards has been an active member of the community throughout his life. He is a Mariposa native who was born in San Diego and raised in Mariosa County. Pelk graduated from Mariposa County High School and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy. In his younger years, he was a steer and team roper while taking part in the Triangle Roping Club and the California Cowboys Association. On July 1, 1972 Mr. Richards joined the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy Sheriff/Jailer. Pelk was very progressive and worked his way up the rank structure at the Sheriff's Office. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1977 while receiving the Outstanding Sergeant Award, and again promoted to Commander in 1985 and later moved up to Undersheriff in 1990. Pelk was sworn in as Mariposa's 21st Sheriff in January of 1999. During his career, Sheriff Richards solved all homicides assigned to him and was deemed to be a Court expert in Narcotics. In 1990, he was awarded the ``J. Edgar Hoover'' Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Pelk was also responsible for writing 417(b) California Penal Code-Protecting Peace Officers Legislation. Immediately after taking office, Sheriff Richards gathered his command staff and created a Mission, Vision, and Value Statement which held to the mission ``to control, prevent, and reduce crimes in all our communities, while being courteous, professional, and respectful.'' He also developed a Terrorism Response Plan for Mariposa County in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Sheriff C.A. ``Pelk'' Richards for his dedication to Mariposa County. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Sheriff C.A. ``Pelk'' Richards many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the California Women for Agriculture as they honor National Agriculture Day. The California Women for agriculture is hosting Agriculture Day in LA! at Moor Field in Alhambra, California on March 21, 2003 to commemorate this day. In its 30th year, the National Agriculture Day program is committed to increasing public awareness about American agriculture. Producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies, and countless others across America will gather on this first day of spring to celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. National Agriculture Day focuses on educating Americans about career opportunities available in the agriculture, food, and fiber industry. As one of California's major organizations, California Women for Agriculture helps to ``supply knowledge and skills necessary to convey the mutual benefits of a vibrant agricultural economy and healthy rural communities to those who are in positions to impact the future of agriculture in California.'' California Women in Agriculture, along with the Agricultural Awareness and Literacy Foundation and Alhambra School District, will be hosting the event for 1,200 inner city 3rd grade students who will be learning about food, fiber, flowers, and forests. The goal of the program is to teach students about agriculture and its importance in our everyday lives. The students will participate in a hands-on learning environment with crops, farm equipment, and live animals. They will learn how it contributes to our healthy, affordable food supply; offers many different careers, cares for the environment and creates a diverse food supply. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to commend California Women for Agriculture as they honor National Agriculture Day on its 30th Anniversary. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the California Women for Agriculture many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Cameron on the occasion of her being selected as a recipient for the 2002 Common Threads Award. Common Threads is a joint venture of the Agricultural Education Foundation, California State University, Fresno's College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and AG ONE Foundation. The award is given to women who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities with their time and/or contributions. Honorees must live in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare County. They should have past or present roots in agriculture while showing outstanding involvement in a variety of community activities in addition to agriculture. The honorees make a difference with their philanthropic giving while serving as visible and credible role models for other women. Since 1965, Mary has been involved in hands-on management of the family's Atsma Cameron Dairy. Ms. Cameron was the first woman to serve on the boards of directors for Danish Creamery and Western United Dairymen. Mary's involvement in the community and her fascination in the field of agriculture have sparked the interest of many school children of Kings County during their visits to her dairy. She remains active in dairy and milk promotion and as an advocate for children's nutrition and agriculture awareness. Mary is active in children's activities, agriculture education, and industry organizations. She has served as a President of the Elliott Elementary P.T.A. and the Kings County Dairywomen, as well as Director for the Danish Creamery, National Dairy Board, and Dairy Management, Inc. Ms. Cameron was also the 4-H Dairy Leader from 1970-1973. She was named Kings County Dairywoman of the Year in 2000 and Agriculturist of the Year in 2001. Mary Cameron is truly an inspiration and role model for many people in agriculture today. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Mary Cameron for her exceptional service to the public and her dedication to the California dairy industry. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Mary many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maxine Machado on the occasion of her being selected as a recipient for the 2002 Common Threads Awards. Common Threads is a joint venture of the Agricultural Education Foundation, California State University, Fresno's College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and AG ONE Foundation. The award is given to women who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities with their time and/or contributions. Honorees must live in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare County. They should have past or present roots in agriculture while showing outstanding involvement in a variety of community activities in addition to agriculture. The honorees make a difference with their philanthropic giving while serving as visible and credible role models for other women. Maxine, a native of Los Angeles, California, has always been considered a lifelong ``country girl.'' Farming has played a major role in Maxine's life through good and bad, and she finds her satisfaction in knowing that she helps to feed and clothe our nation and a great part of the world through it. She and her husband, Fred, farm diverse crops and manage a dairy along with their grown children in the Easton area of Fresno County. Mrs. Machado is an active volunteer in church, political, school, and agricultural activities. Some of Maxine's philanthropic and community involvement includes being the President for the Fresno County Cabrillo Civic Club #10 and the American Union School Parent's Club. She was involved in the St. Jude Catholic Church's Alter Guild and Church Building Fund and C.P.D.E.S. Hall and Holy Ghost Celebration Committees. Mrs. Machado has also been a member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau Women, the Fresno County Republican Women, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Fresno County Right to Life. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maxine Machado for receiving the 2002 Common Threads Awards. I invite my colleagues to join me in commending Maxine for her commitment to community service and agriculture and in wishing her many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anne Hester on the occasion of her being selected as a recipient for the 2002 Common Threads Award. Common Threads is a joint venture of the Agricultural Education Foundation, California State University, Fresno's College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and AG ONE Foundation. The award is given to women who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities with their time and/or contributions. Honorees must live in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare County. They should have past or present roots in agriculture while showing outstanding involvement in a variety of community activities in addition to agriculture. The honorees make a difference with their philanthropic giving while serving as visible and credible role models for other women. Anne married into a 3rd generation farming family, and she and her husband, Gary, are principles in Hester Orchards. Anne has played a major role in her and her husband's diversified orchard crops, nut processing, and farm management companies. She is actively involved in the operation and manages the administrative office. Anne has been active in many agriculture and education organizations. Mrs. Hester served as chairperson for the Tulare County Farm Bureau and acted as the driving force for its Ag Education, Youth Leadership, Fundraising, and Scholarship committees. She recognized that Ag needed to reach out to student leaders and educate them about agriculture and its importance before they went on in their education. Because of her commitment to youth, Anne was also involved in a program at Farmersville High School where she helped at-risk kids get jobs in an effort to redirect their lives. Mrs. Hester's philanthropic devotion to helping the education of youth and her active involvement in the farming industry make her a significant part of the community. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Anne Hester for her superior service to the public and her leadership in the agriculture community. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Anne many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elizabeth McCabe on the occasion of her being selected as a recipient for the 2002 Common Threads Award. Common Threads is a joint venture of the Agricultural Education Foundation, California State University, Fresno's College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and AG ONE Foundation. The award is given to women who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities with their time and/or contributions. Honorees must live in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare County. They should have past or present roots in agriculture while showing outstanding involvement in a variety of community activities in addition to agriculture. The honorees make a difference with their philanthropic giving which serving as visible and credible role models for other women. Mrs. McCabe's life has been dedicated to the growth of agriculture and education. Elizabeth has spent countless hours involved in 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America (FFA) activities. In 1972 she and a friend began the Mission 4-H Club. A leaders for 15 years, Elizabeth assumed the responsibility of making sure the kids traveled to five fairs a year. She is a 20 year member of the Merced Chapter, California Women for Agriculture and served as their President. She remains very active in 4-H, FAA, and California Women for Agriculture activities. Elizabeth has a great respect for education which is why she works diligently for the Friends of the Library and is a strong supporter of organizations which fund scholarships. She has served as President for the Merced County School Board Association, the United Methodist Women, and as Treasurer for the Merced Senior, Inc. Elizabeth is a leader of philanthropy in her community and a guiding light to all. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Elizabeth McCabe for her outstanding service and commitment to education and agriculture. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Elizabeth many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sayre McFarlane Miller on the occasion of her being selected as a recipient for the 2003 Common Threads Award. Common Threads is a joint venture of the Agricultural Education Foundation, California State University, Fresno's College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and AG ONE Foundation. The award is given to women who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities with their time and/or contributions. Honorees must live in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare County. They should have past or present roots in agriculture while showing outstanding involvement in a variety of community activities in addition to agriculture. The honorees make a difference with their philanthropic giving while serving as visible and credible role models for other women. Sayre, a partner in the family farm, McFarlane and McFarlane of Clovis, has always believed that ``the way to get things done is to put one foot in front of the other every day.'' from water policy to land use policy, she has held leadership roles in several agricultural, natural resource, and communities activities. She values her involvement as an agricultural representative in the Growth Alternatives Alliance, a land use policy group that developed the Landscape of Choice: Strategies for Improving Patterns of Community Growth. Mrs. Miller has enjoyed a wide range of community involvement. Some of Sayre's philanthropic and community involvement include sitting on the Fresno Irrigation District and the Kings River Water PAC's Boards of Directors. She has participated in the Association of California Water Agencies, the Fresno Art Museum, the Agricultural Council of California, the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, and St. James Episcopal Cathedral. Sayre cannot say for certain that the discourse of the boardroom surpasses the joy of receiving a Sunday school kindergardner's hug around the knees, but she has loved it all. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sayre McFarlane Miller for receiving the 2002 Common Threads Award. I invite my colleagues to join me in commending Sayre for her commitment to community service and agriculture and in wishing her many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lorraine and Don Irvine for their outstanding achievements and participation as ambassadors for the Rotary Group Exchange Program in New Zealand. Their accomplishments for the Rotary Group Exchange Program will be celebrated in Invercargill, New Zealand, on March 15, 2003. The Rotary Group Study Exchange Program has served as a successful exchange program for decades. A Rotarian team leader is chosen from each district that helps pick a team of four or five non-Rotarians between the ages of 25 and 40 to visit the other district in a cultural and occupation exchange for four to five weeks. While visiting, each team presents a program to various Rotary Clubs about their home district, its attractions, economic base, climate, geography, and so on. In addition, approximately one day a week is spent by each team member in a similar working environment to their occupation at home to learn how similar occupations are performed in that country. Don Irvine is a past president of the Invercargill North Rotary Club and has been very active in the Rotary Group Exchange Program for a number of years. Mr. Irvine also served as a Group Study Exchange team leader in 1999 when he led a team to Essex, England. Don and his wife, Lorraine, have made great contributions to America. Their promotion of good will and understanding between all cultures and nations serves as a guiding light to all. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Lorraine and Don Irvine for their meritorious achievements and their desire to share the great culture of America with others. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Lorraine and Don Irvine many years of happiness.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say goodbye to a long- term staff member and good friend, Lisa Wallace, who is moving on to work for the House Resource Committee. This is an enormous loss for me and my staff because Lisa has been with me for nine years--beginning with my congressional campaign in 1994. Throughout my years as a member of Congress, Lisa has always gone above and beyond her job responsibilities. As my Administrative Assistant, she has not only provided advice and kept me on schedule--she has been a confidant and a friend. Lisa first began working with me in the San Joaquin Valley of California. She and I initially spent our time out on the campaign trail driving from meeting to meeting and event to event. I noticed right away that Lisa was intuitive and able to catch on quickly to what was going on around her. This, of course, was critical during the campaign. Lisa was her in D.C. with me when I signed the Contract With America. During that trip, I thought at times that she was unhappy. Lisa later told me she was simply overwhelmed with D.C., but excited about the prospect of living in this city where people live and breathe politics. It was only the beginning of her Washington, D.C. journey. During one of the most difficult times in my life, when I learned my father passed away, Lisa was there to comfort me. On a lighter note, she suffered through my single life until I met my beloved wife, Ethie. She was there when I got married and celebrated with Ethie and I when our son, King, was born. Lisa is and will continue to be an important part of my life. In closing, I am touched to have Lisa Wallace--one of the most reliable, loyal and trustworthy people I know--be a part of my team for the past nine years. I wish Lisa all the best in her bright future.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rosa and Jack Kelley's contributions to the African American Historical and Cultural Museum of California's San Joaquin Valley. On Saturday, February 15, the retirement of Jack Kelley, the memory of his wife Rosa, and the beginning of the Kelley Endowment Fund for the African American Museum was celebrated in Fresno, California. Jack Kelley has been an active member in the community throughout his life. Mr. Kelley served his country bravely in World War II. Jack continued his brave and honorable service to America as one of the first African American policemen for the Fresno Police Department, and later as the first African American to be promoted to Sergeant within the Department. Showing his range of diversity, Jack was drafted as a professional football player after graduating from Fresno State University. The late Rosa Kelley served the public as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and elementary school teacher. She was an active member in her church and many other civic activities in the community. She was known as a devoted wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love, kindness, and encouragement touched the lives of many people throughout her life and allowed the Museum to be at the status it is today. Mr. Kelley began his 12-year dream of creating an African American Historical museum of the pioneers of the San Joaquin Valley out of the trunk of his car. His perseverance to display the photos and artifacts from early African American pioneers to the public has lead to his vision becoming a reality. The African American Historical & Cultural Museum has promoted an understanding, appreciation, and awareness of African Americans historically and culturally throughout the San Joaquin Valley who have been pioneers and role models in their community. The Museum serves as a permanent home to remember the work of African Americans of the Valley. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Jack and Rosa Kelley for their outreach in the community and their dedication to the African American Historical and Cultural Museum. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Jack Kelley and the Museum many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, the Conference Committee for the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill has included language relating to the funding of the installment due on or before September 30, 2003 under the Consent Judgment entered on February 7, 2003 in Sumner Peck Ranch, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation. By including this language it is not Congress' intent that the United States default in the payment of that installment. Creating such a default would be unwise. Instead, the intent of the language is to indicate that funds under the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act are not authorized to pay such installment. By so indicating, it is further intended that payment of the Peck judgment installments is ``not otherwise provided for'' as that phrase is used in Section 1304 of Title 31 of the United States Code. Appropriations exist and are available under Section 1304 for payment of such installment, and it is intended that such appropriations be so utilized.