George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, so the gentleman is assuring me that, under CARA, PILT will be fully funded?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, I ask the gentleman, but CARA only matches what is appropriated?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, but what the gentleman said previously is that CARA will match what is appropriated, correct, and then do something else, or just match what is appropriated?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, the most in the recent years has been $135 million. If they double that, it is $270 million. They are still short. I say to the gentleman, please tell me that CARA would them come in and fund all of this up to the $320 million obligation.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, so the most of this $320 million obligation that has been funded has been $135 million.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, as a point of inquiry, does CARA obligate full funding for PILT? Can the gentleman say that it obligates full funding for PILT?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, but they never fully fund PILT.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, but CARA, if I may add, that their obligation is only to match what is appropriated; and what is appropriated is never even half of the $320 million obligation.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this most important occasion. I am proud to be here this evening to honor my Armenian friends-- particularly on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I want to associate my comments with an article that I recently read in the Jerusalem Post, which said . . . ``The 1915 wholesale massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks remains a core experience of the Armenian nation . . . While there is virtually zero tolerance for Holocaust denial, there is tacit acceptance of the denial of the Armenian genocide in part because `the Turks have managed to structure this debate so that people question whether this really happened . . .' '' Well we know that the death of 1.5 million Armenians by execution or starvation really happened, and we know that we must not tolerate this denial. In fact we have an obligation to educate and familiarize Americans with the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide. As Members of Congress, we must ensure that the legacy of the genocide is remembered so that this human tragedy will not be repeated. Toward that end I have sponsored H. Res. 398, the ``United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.'' This bipartisan resolution calls upon the President to provide for appropriate training and materials to all Foreign Service officers, officials of the Department of State, and any other Executive Branch employee involved in responding to issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. As we have seen in recent years, genocide and ethnic cleansing continues to plague nations around the world, and as a great nation, we must always be attentive and willing to stand against such atrocities. My resolution also calls upon the President in the President's annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide to characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of the 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, and to recall the proud history of the United States intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Steven T. Koike for being named the recipient of the second annual Award for Outstanding Achievement, by the Friends of Agricultural Extension. The Friends of Agricultural Extension is a volunteer group that supports the Agricultural Extension program in the San Joaquin Valley. Each year Friends of Agricultural Extension publicly recognizes the author of an outstanding program in adaptive research and extension, which addresses a problem or opportunity facing production agriculture. This year, Koike's program, on the subject ``Research and Education about Spinach Diseases: A Model for Responding to the Needs of Growers of Minor Crops in California'', has been selected. Steven T. Koike serves as the Plant Pathology Farm Advisor for Monterey County as well as the counties of Santa Cruz and San Benito. Koike's research specializes in regional diagnosis of diseases of vegetables and floral plants. Koike, in assuming the position he now holds, brought to the region the vision of a country-based pathology laboratory to provide rapid diagnostic and research services to the farming community. Koike envisioned and brought into being (through grants, industry support, and county resources) a pathology laboratory fully equipped to deal with most fungal, bacterial, and nematode pests. Steven T. Koike, with the laboratory in place, is able to provide California farmers timely and accurate diagnostic methods, serving growers and farm advisors from no less than 15 California counties. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor Mr. Steven T. Koike for his extraordinary research in the field of plant pathology, and to congratulate him on being named the recipient of the second annual Award for Outstanding Achievement. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Koike many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Keith J. Davis, a longtime friend, who passed away on January 23, 2000. He was 77. Mr. Davis was a Veteran as well as an upstanding member of the community. Mr. Davis was born on August 31, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in engineering. Mr. Davis joined the United States Army in 1942 and retired in 1978 with the rank of Colonel. Throughout his life Mr. Davis held many positions in his community. He was a member of the Mariposa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6042. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, a member of the Operating Engineers Union, and a past president of the Mariposa County Republicans Central Committee. He was a private pilot and an avid hunter, as well. Mr. Davis is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Saz of Citrus Heights and Kristi Smith of Sacramento; son James Subisaretta of Texas; sisters Miriam Hurley of Davis and Dorothy Hendrickson of Oregon; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to Keith J. Davis for his dedication to his community and his service to this country. His family members, and those who knew him, will remember Mr. Davis for his integrity, honesty, and hard work. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending my condolences to the Davis family.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the North Fork Chamber of Commerce for its outstanding contributions to the community. During the last year, the North Fork Chamber of Commerce has accomplished a great deal. They have increased their membership to 64 members. The Chamber began quarterly town hall meetings with Supervisor Gary Gilbert and Sheriff John Anderson, holding three meetings in 1999. The Chamber has also joined SUPERCHEX (Superior California Chamber Exec's) to network with neighboring Chambers of Commerce. In collaboration with neighboring Chambers, the North Fork Chamber began advance planning, one year in advance, of chamber projects. The North Fork Chamber started a weekly ``North Fork Chamber Chat'' column in the Sierra Star, a local newspaper. The Chamber also resumed monthly newsletters and monthly mixers for its members. The North Fork Chamber secured $52,500 in grants and matching funds to add new sidewalks, mini-parks, and tourist signs on Northfork's Main Street. The Chamber began a part-time paid staff, courtesy of the USFS SCSEP program, which also provided mileage and classes on Microsoft programs and project management. Along with their many achievements, the Chamber also acquired a new office, courtesy of CDC, at the Mill Site Office Building, furnished and staffed by Jim Flanagan. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the North Fork Chamber of Commerce for its service to the community. I urge colleagues to join me in wishing the North Fork Chamber of Commerce many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Gilbert Servin, the outgoing President of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (C.C.H.C.C.) is the largest Hispanic business organization in the Central Valley. Servin, a founding Board member of the C.C.H.C.C., was the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President for one year. Along with his achievements as President of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Servin was also elected to serve for two years as treasurer for the State Hispanic Chamber. Gilbert Servin graduated from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona in March 1976. For the next fifteen years he was employed by the Clinicas de Salud Del Pueblo, In., in Brawley, California, as a Business Manager and Assistant Executive Director. In 1980 Gilbert Servin accepted the opportunity of serving as Business Manager for United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley, Inc., a considerably larger health center. Gilbert Servin's experience and expertise, obtained while employed by the United Health Centers and the Clinicas de Salud, propelled him to become an independent consultant in healthcare financing and management in March of 1983. In addition, Gilbert Servin, CEO for CAGSI International (previously Gilbert Servin Associates), and his highly experienced staff provide professional services in the preparation of financial feasibility studies. Currently, Gilbert Servin has focused his efforts in expanding its services to assist local governments and community groups in financing projects. These projects will promote economic development, with an emphasis on rural areas. Mr. Speaker, I want to honor Gilbert Servin as the outgoing President of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Gilbert Servin many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, on March 18, in their second direct presidential election, voters in Taiwan elected Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Shui-bian as their president. They did so despite China's repeated warnings to the voters not to elect Chen, whose party platform calls for independence from China. Chen's victory meant that the voters in Taiwan were brave enough to make their own decisions, clearly in defiance of Bejing's demands. It also meant that the voters were seeking change, as they believed that Chen, a grass-roots politician could better reflect their wishes--particularly regarding relations between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Chen is attractive because he carries no baggage from the past, and may be the only one who can negotiate a future for Taiwan that will be acceptable to both Taiwan and China. This is a tremendous challenge that will require all of the leadership skills that President-elect Chen and Vice President- elect Annette Lu can muster. I am hopeful that both President-elect Chen and Vice President-elect Lu will be able to ameliorate relations with the People's Republic of China. Chen has already called for a ``peace-summit'' with Beijing and proposed to revise a provocative provision in the Democratic Progressive Party's platform asserting independence. Chen's efforts to extend himself to China must be commended. He will seek to decrease tension in the Taiwan Strait without sacrificing Taiwan's dignity and sovereignty. Mr. Speaker, I also want to offer my best wishes to outgoing President Lee Teng-hui, who made the smooth and peaceful transfer from his party to the Democratic Progressive Party possible. Taiwan has always been a friend of the United States, and I encourage my colleagues in the United States Congress to give every support to Taiwan's new administration. Taiwan's stability and prosperity are always in the best interest of the United States.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Lloyd Vernon Camp for being selected to be inducted into the National Officer Candidate School Infantry Hall of Fame, in Fort Benning, Georgia. Lieutenant Colonel Camp joined the U.S. Army in March of 1943. Over the next few years, Camp was stationed in Normandy where he fought to drive the Germans out of France. Upon returning to the States in 1945, he was discharged from service at Camp Beal, California. In April 1947, he reentered the Army and was sent to South Korea as part of the Occupation Forces. Late in 1948 he returned to the U.S. again, and in June of 1949, he attended Officers School in Fort Riley, Kansas. Graduating in December of 1949, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend the Basic Officers Course. Upon completion of the course, Camp was sent to Camp Carson, Colorado to assume the duties of a Second Lieutenant Infantry Officer, in the 15th Infantry Regiment. He went on to be a First Lieutenant (1951-1956), Captain (1956-1960), Major (1960- 1967), and finally Lieutenant Colonel (1967-retirement). After many years of service, Camp retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, to Clovis, California. In 1991 LTC Camp was recalled to Federal Active duty by FORSCOM, and assigned as a Family Support Officer for the Central Valley Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and Air National Guard families during the Desert Storm Operations. Among his numerous military achievements, LTC Camp received the Distinguished Service Cross; Bronze Star Medal; Combat Infantryman's Badge; European-African Middle Eastern Theater, with 4 Battle Stars; World War II Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Medal; Army Commendation Medal; as well as two foreign military awards, and three California National Guard Awards. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Vernon Camp for being selected to be inducted into the National Officer Candidate School Infantry Hall of Fame. This induction is well deserved. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Lieutenant Colonel Camp many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dan Gerawan of Gerawan Farming and Rick Schellenberg of Schellenberg Farms for their part in ``reinventing government,'' by helping to develop a new fruit inspection program known as ``Partners in Quality'' (PIQ), in Reedley, California. ``Partners in Quality'' was initiated in California's tree fruit industry in 1998. It is a voluntary program designed to increase the quality of fruit and decrease the amount paid to the United States Department of Agriculture's inspectors. Participants in the program must prove to the USDA that their in-house quality control is good enough to stand on its own, without the need of continuous USDA inspection. Once the packinghouse has proven itself, the USDA periodically audits the packing house instead of inspecting the fruit continuously. Once the packing house volunteers for this program, the USDA imposes stricter tolerances on the participants than on the regular inspection procedures, to ensure a higher quality. Rick Schellenberg, with the help of Dan Gerawan, spearheaded the implementation of PIQ for the packing industry. The Partners in Quality team includes several USDA and state agricultural department officials, as well as members of the California pear and Florida citrus industry. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Dan Gerawan and Rick Schellenberg for their part in reinventing government. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Dan and Rick many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Dickran Kouymjian for being named ``Man of the Year'' by the Armenian National Committee of Central California. The Armenian National Committee is a grass-roots organization, which deals with any and all concerns of both Armenian nationals and Armenian-Americans. Dr. Kouymjian was selected to be ``Man of the Year'' as a result of his many outstanding accomplishments. Kouymjian earned a B.A. in European History from the University of Madison, Wisconsin. He earned an M.A. in Arab Studies from the American University of Beirut, and a Ph.D. in Armenian Studies from Colombia University. In 1977, Dr. Kouymjian was invited to Fresno from Paris, to establish a new program in Armenian Studies at the California State University, Fresno. There he reorganized the Armenian Studies Organization and founded the Center for Armenian Studies as well as the Armenian student newspaper, Hye Sharzhoom. Since 1988, he has served as the first incumbent of the Haig & Isabel Berberian Endowed Chair of Armenian Studies at Fresno State. Dr. Kouymjian has taught a wide range of subjects: Armenian, Islamic, Classical, and Byzantine history and art, Western and Oriental humanities, film, genocide and Saroyan studies. He also serves on the editorial boards of five publications in Armenian studies and the Board of Scholars of the Zoryan Institute, NAASR, and the Armenian Film Foundation. Dr. Kouymjian has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Lectureship by the United States government to teach in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at Yerevan State University in Armenia. Along with his many other accomplishments, he has been given the highest honor bestowed by the Armenian church to scholars and writers, the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob medal, by Catholicos Karekin I. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Dr. Dickran Kouymjian for being named ``Man of the Year'' by the Armenian National Committee of Central California. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Dickran Kouymjian many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Woolf family for maintaining an unwavering commitment to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. The family was recognized at the Promise Ball 2000, in Fresno, on March 25, 2000. The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation was founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes. The mission of the Foundation is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications, through the support of research. Since 1970, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation has provided over $326 million for diabetes research, more than any other nonprofit, nongovernmental health agency in the world. The Woolf family, a prominent farming family, has two diabetic children. Having been touched by diabetes, the Woolf family has been diligent in helping others to understand the challenges facing families with diabetes, as well as spreading the word about the progress toward a cure. Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the Woolf family for their tireless commitment to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Woolf family many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Karl Vartan Avakian on his 20th Anniversary of Ordination and his 35th year of pastoral ministry. Reverend Avakian serves as the Minister to the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Union on North America (AEUNA), a Fresno-based ecclesiastical union of 24 Armenian Protestant churches and mission projects in the United States and Canada. The Minister to the Union ``is the Pastor, the Spiritual Leader and the Chief Executive Officer of the AEUNA. He initiates new policies and programs, inspires and guides committees, implements policies and decisions of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee''. Reverend Avakian was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He immigrated to Fresno, as a young man, and worked his way through undergraduate school and seminary. In 1979 Avakian was ordained a Minister of the Word and Sacrament and installed as Senior Pastor of the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, New Jersey. From 1988 to 1990, Avakian served as Moderator, or chief presiding officer, of the AEUNA. On July 1, 1990, he was installed as Minister to the Union at the organization's Tenth Biennial General Assembly in Waltham, Massachusetts. He has served as Pastor, Spiritual Leader, and Chief Executive Officer of the California-based hemispheric ministry for almost a decade. His duties have included liaison assignments with the Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Evangelical World Council, and Armenian Theological Students' Aid, Inc. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Reverend Karl Vartan Avakian for his commitment to the Church and to the community during the last 35 years. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Reverend Avakian many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Alexander ``Al'' Lennox Vail, a longtime friend, who passed away on January 4, 2000. He was 78. Vail was a California rancher, whose family had owned and managed Santa Rosa Island and its 54,000-acre cattle operation there for nearly a century. Vail was born November 24, 1921 in Los Angeles, California, thirty minutes after his twin brother Russ. The two brothers grew up playing on the island that their grandfather had purchased in 1902, with partner J.V. Vickers. At just 21 years old, Vail began working full- time on Santa Rosa Island as a cowboy. In 1962, he became the general manager of the ranching operation. Vail and his twin brother continued to manage the ranching operation, off the coast of Santa Barbara, until 1998. At that time, the last cattle were removed under an agreement to protect the island's native plants. Since 1998, the Vails and the Vickers (the Vickers are silent partners) continued to run a commercial elk and deer hunting operation on the island, which Vail managed until his sudden death. Al will forever be remembered throughout the livestock community for his ethics and stewardship of the bounteous resources of an island that was in his family for almost 100 years. Vail is survived by his wife, Catherine ``Kay'' Sutherland Vail of Santa Barbara; his daughters, Nita Vail of Sacramento and Mary Vail of Moorpark; twin brother Russell Vail and sister Margaret Vail Woolley, and their families of Pasadena. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Alexander ``Al'' Lennox Vail for his dedication to the well-being of the animals and the land. Vail will be remembered by his family members and those who knew him for his integrity, honesty, and hard work. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending my condolences to the Vail family.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marc Cotta for his many years of service in the news industry. Cotta, who is currently the News Director for KJEO-TV 47 in Fresno, is retiring this week after 26 years of service in the broadcast business. Starting out in 1973 with KSLY (of San Luis Obispo) and KTIP/K100 (of Porterville), Cotta got his early career start working on radio sales, news reporting, and announcing/production. He then spent 3 years as Assistant Program Director for KSLY, before moving into television. From 1978-1980, Cotta worked as a reporter and news sports anchor for KSBY (of San Luis Obispo). In 1980, Cotta moved to Fresno's KJEO, channel 47 and a CBS affiliate, where he worked as a television reporter. By 1981 he had already moved up to be the Sports Director for KJEO, where he served until 1992. From 1992 to 1993, Cotta served as Executive Managing Editor for KJEO. Because of his strong work ethic, attention to detail and ability to know a good news story, it wasn't long before the station promoted Cotta once again, this time to Assistant News Director, where he served until 1995. From 1995 to present, Cotta has served as News Director for KJEO in Fresno. Cotta is a great news director. He's always on the hunt for the next story. He keeps a Rolodex a mile long with contacts throughout the Central Valley and indeed throughout California. Among his accomplishments Cotta won the Edward R. Murrow Award in 1998 for the western region. He has had three Emmy-nominated newscasts: for 1996, 1997, and 1998. In addition, he had Emmy-nominated reports in 1997. Cotta started the Fresno market's only weekly half-hour sports show. He has also developed the first live aerial news gathering capabilities in the market, the first digital satellite news gathering in the market, and the first two and half AM show newscasts in the market. Cotta has produced a variety of T.V. specials and programs, as well as spearheading coverage of several major sporting and news events. Cotta has covered Super Bowls, the World Series, Major League All-Star games, the NIT Championship of 1983, the College World Series, and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. While Cotta leaves channel 47, KJEO he remains an outstanding source of news and information and leaves behind a 26 year legacy of dedication to his profession and his community. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Marc Cotta for his tremendous contributions to his community and to the news and broadcast business. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Cotta many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the budget and to highlight the need for budget accountability in our federal agencies. Waste, fraud and abuse is rampant under the Clinton-Gore Administration and has plagued my own congressional district. $300,000 toilets and half-million dollar federal employee housing in Yosemite National Park demonstrate the gross misuse of taxpayer dollars by the National Park Service. This is an outrage. The budget before us today provides federal agencies with needed funds. It is now up to the Administration to eliminate the blatant fiscal irresponsibility found in these agencies. By operating more efficiently, federal agencies can accomplish their purpose without flushing taxpayer dollars down $300,000 toilets.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to preserve some of America's greatest treasures--the giant sequoias of central California. The first bill I am offering would expand the boundaries of Sequoia National Park. There is an area called Dillonwood Grove that includes one of the riches sequoia groves in the region. The private owners want this tract to become a part of our Park system and I support their right to do that. This bill would authorize the change. The most compelling thing about Dillonwood, however, is that this private property has been actively managed for many years and it offers us living proof to the advantages of flexible forest management. While Dillonwood will enter into the Sequoia National Park, it is important to look at the management lessons from Dillonwood, as we seek to protect, restore and maintain the sequoia groves outside of the Park. The President thinks the best way to do this by designating a 400,000-acre national monument. I disagree. First, the giant sequoia in the Sequoia, Sierra and Tahoe Forests have been off limits to logging for over 10 years! A Mediated Settlement in 1990 set aside these groves to permanently ensure their protection. President George Bush signed a proclamation in 1992 to state the policy for management to be to protect, preserve and restore goods for giant sequoia groves in national forests. In fact, over 80% of the Sequoia National Forest is already off limits to logging. The scientists also disagree. In 1996, the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project said the best way to keep the forest healthy was through active management of the groves. They did not recommend a monument. In addition, the Giant Sequoia Ecology Cooperative has advocated a flexible and adaptive management strategy. A monument designation would undermine this kind of flexibility. I would like to introduce a letter into the Record from Dr. Douglas Piirto, a Professor of Forestry and Natural Resource Management at Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo, California. He has been working on giant sequoia health for almost thirty years and is very concerned about how monument status will undermine forest management flexibility. I would encourage my colleagues to read his thoughtful recommendations. Unfortunately, the Administration has completely ignored all of these scientific findings. And the Forest Service has done little to implement them. Instead, what we now see is an election campaign driving forest policy. The campaign pollsters say we should lock it up! But this is not in the best interest of these sequoia groves--it is only in the best interest of one election campaign. This second bill would authorize a National Research Council study of the forest. They should review past studies and offer recommendations for exactly what kind of management will preserve these treasures. The National Research Council offers us some of the best independent scientific review in the world and I hope the Administration will listen to them. This should be about the health of the forest, not the health of an election campaign. If we really care about the future of the giant sequoia, then we will listen to the scientists. Campaign spin doctors and their polls cannot and should not try to manage a forest. March 7, 2000. Re Antiquities Act and Giant Sequoia Groves: Giant Sequoia--a Relic of the Past or an Icon to the Future Hon. William Clinton, President of the United States, White House, Washington, DC. Dear President Clinton: I write this letter with a highest degree of urgency and respect for your office. You are about to make a decision that NBC states in their 2/16/2000 news story could impact the long-term survival of giant sequoia trees. They are right but not in the context that they say it. Deciding to create a national monument for the giant sequoia groves that occur on national forest lands will result in the creation of places where ``relics'' of giant sequoia are featured. To think that simply drawing a line around a giant sequoia grove and stopping all management activity is in the best interest of the long-term survival of giant sequoia is incorrect. I fully disagree with any attempt to put the national forest giant sequoia groves in national monument status. A flexible range of management is needed that cannot occur if they are designated only as national monuments or national parks. I reach out to you at this time with the greatest degree of humility I can muster. There is no scientific justification in my opinion to designate giant sequoia groves on national forest land as national monuments. Our common interest is to see that they receive the best stewardship possible. So, as much as we may differ on a variety of issues, I need to have your attention for the next few minutes as I make my case regarding the future of giant sequoia groves. I have organized this letter into the following sections: A Win/Win Solution; My Credentials, Interest, and Role in Giant Sequoia Management; The Problem As I See It; Why the Need for a Flexible Range of Management; What the Politics and Science Tells Us; Conclusion, and Selected References from my Curriculum Vitae. The recommendations presented in the Win/ Win Section of this letter are supported and expanded upon by the information that is presented in the sections which follow it. Please refer to the figure attached at the end of this letter before proceeding with reading the Win/Win Solution section of this letter. They say a picture tells what a 1,000 words can't do. The figure of the Confederate Group in Mariposa Grove illustrates what can happen to vegetation within a giant sequoia grove over an 80-year period. This letter makes the case that significant management flexibility is needed to respond to the dramatic changes in vegetation that can occur in giant sequoia groves. A Win/Win Solution Let's first start with what I think most informed people agree on: (1) Some people might debate the meanings of the protect, preserve, and restore goals for national forest giant sequoia groves as specified in the 1992 Presidential Proclamation but most citizens would, I think, largely agree with their intent; (2) some type of management area designation featuring giant sequoias may be appropriate; (3) the subwatershed basin containing the giant sequoia grove should be the area that is specifically identified to receive a specific management area designation; (4) flexible/adaptive management, including fire surrogate methods (e.g., selective thinning to reduce risk of catastrophic fire occurrence) is needed given the many different conditions that exist in national forest 1. Expand on the 1992 Presidential Proclamation by issuing a 2000 Presidential Proclamation directing the Forest Service to provide protection, preservation, and restoration work to the lands within the sub-watershed basin containing the giant sequoia groves. Ask Congress for approval of your proclamation if possible to gain a broader spectrum of support. Approximately 19,345 acres exist with the tree-line areas of the 38+ giant sequoia groves that occur on the Sequoia National Forest. Increasing management attention to the subwatersheds that contain the giant sequoia groves would increase this special designation status to about 100,000 acres on the Sequoia National Forest. I recommend that the remaining 300,000 acres be released from management area special designation which would respond to concerns expressed by the local forest products industry. 2. I recommend a designation other than national monument. National monument connotes to me the idea of preserving relics rather than adaptively managing ecosystems. The Forest Service has a large number of special designations it uses for the lands under its jurisdiction. One of those designations, I think, should suffice. The important thing is that a subwatershed area is identified for each grove that will fall under the three goals of protect, preserve, and restore. 3. The goals of protect, preserve, and restore should be expanded to include the Sierra and Tahoe National Forest groves. 4. Some further refinement as to the meaning of protect, preserve, and restore might be appropriate. I know they are referred to in the 1992 proclamation but the wording of any new proclamation must account for the current variety of conditions in the Sequoia, Sierra, and Tahoe groves. Please refer to the report titled ``An Ecological Foundation for Management of National Forest Giant Sequoia Ecosystems'' for further clarification. 5. The role of the Giant Sequoia Ecology Cooperative must be further defined, reinforced, and supported with staffing and funding. This important body has begun to make a difference but its efficiency could be improved with renewed and expanded support from the President. This will insure a cross-section of scientific support for the work occurring in all giant sequoia groves whether within state of federal jurisdiction. 6. Some direction as to how to bring about management in the 38+ national forest giant sequoia groves should be included in the 2000 Presidential Proclamation. For example, it would be an overwhelming task to write an EIS document for each national forest giant sequoia grove. So, specific direction laying out the actions necessary to move to projects within national forest giant sequoia groves, I think, is needed. 7. No matter what the 2000 Presidential Proclamation specifies, very little will be achieved without adequate funding and staffing. Drawing a line around giant sequoia groves does very little for their long-term sustainability. 8. Provide funding for a 2002 giant sequoia symposium. The Forest Service along with other agencies sponsored the highly effective 1992 symposium. 9. Finally, I think some credit must be given to the Forest Service for the work they have achieved to date. We know more today about national forest giant sequoia than ever before. That is because of the work they and others have done. No organization or agency is perfect. But the morale of an organization can be severely degraded when allegations are made that are not supported by science The information which follows provides support to this Win/ Win solution. My Credentials, Interest, and Role in Giant Sequoia Management My name is Dr. Douglas D. Piirto. I am presently a Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources Management at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I am a Registered Professional Forester and Certified Silviculturist in California. My experience with giant sequoia and coast redwood started in 1972 and continues to the present. I have dedicated my career to furthering our knowledge about these two magnificent species with a major focus on giant sequoia. My Ph.D. work at UC Berkeley was focused on ``Factors Associated with Tree Failure of Giant Sequoia.'' I published six papers based on my Ph.D. dissertation. My experience with giant sequoia since completion of my Ph.D. work is extensive. I have worked as a Forest Manager on lands that contained giant sequoia groves. I have developed giant sequoia grove management plans, completed over $1,000,000 in research projects over the past 28 years focused on giant sequoia, have two major giant sequoia research projects ongoing, and have just finished a major report for the USDA Forest Service titled ``An Ecological Foundation for Management of National Forest Giant Sequoia Ecosystems. I am well acquainted with almost all aspects of giant sequoia management, the public issues, and scientific information. For example, I annotated over 175 scientific articles for the recent report I just finished for the Forest Service. So, I speak with a significant amount of background regarding giant sequoia that has help up to the peer review process. Further, I was actively involved in the planning and execution of the 1985 shortcourse titled Management of Giant Sequoia sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the Society of American Foresters. I served as an expert witness for the 1991 Congressional Hearing on management of national forest giant sequoia groves. I was actively involved in the planning and execution of the 1992 Giant Sequoia Symposium which occurred as a result of recommendations made at the 1991 Congressional hearing. At that same time I completed a major study for the National Park Service titled Biological and Management Implications of Fire Pathogen Interactions in the Giant Sequoia Ecosystem. My current research, funded by Save the Redwoods League and Sierra Forest Products focuses on evaluating vegetative structure of a highly altered giant sequoia grove (e.g., Converse Basin) and the Redwood Mountain Grove, a grove which has only had prescribed burning. We are obtaining some fascinating management oriented results from this study. I present my comments, opinions and recommendation in this letter as a Cal Poly representative to the Giant Sequoia Ecology Cooperative, a group of managers and managers focused on linking science to management policies. The points I make in this letter are based on years of experience and interaction with many learned individuals. The comments I make should only be construed as my point of view and not that of the collective body of Cal Poly or of the Giant Sequoia Ecology Cooperative. However, having now said that, my opinions presented here are widely supported particularly my views on the need for an adaptive, flexible management strategy that is focused on the subwatersheds containing giant sequoia groves. Please refer to the Congressional Testimony I presented in 1991 that specifically outlines my views as to the need for a flexible management policy. Also refer to the McKinley Grove Environmental Assessment that I helped prepare in 1978. In that EA, I recommended that the The Problem As I See It Considerable discussion has and is occurring as to how to best protect naturally occurring giant sequoia groves. It is my opinion that the issue should rather focus on how to manage giant sequoia groves. However, defining what constitutes ``best'' management is not an easy matter and is subject to interpretation by various concerned individuals and organizations. I made this statement in my testimony to the 1991 Congressional Hearing on management of giant sequoia groves. The 1991 Congressional Hearing led to several positive outcomes: 1.) the 1992 Giant Sequoia symposium; 2.) increased USDA Forest Service funding to located boundaries and inventory national forest giant sequoia groves; 3.) increased research activity on giant sequoia; 4.) 1992 Presidential Proclamation; 5.) development of a Giant Sequoia Ecology Cooperative which advises all organizations that have a responsibility for managing giant sequoia groves; and 6.) development of an ecological foundation report for management of national forest giant sequoia ecosystems. We didn't precisely know in 1990 where national forest giant sequoia groves began and ended. We do now because the 1989 Mediated Settlement followed by the 1992 Presidential Proclamation focused our attention on three objectives: protect, preserve, restore. And, increased funding led to our accurately locating the boundaries of all giant sequoia groves buffer zones, and subwatersheds. And more recently we have identified fire influence zones for several of the national forest giant sequoia groves. So to say that very little has occurred regarding national forest giant sequoia groves is a gross misstatement. Drawing lines to exclude certain management activities is not what we as a society must focus on. Rather we must center our attention on flexible management strategies that accommodate the variety of stand conditions which exist within the proposed 400,000 acre national monument for national forest giant sequoia groves. As far as I can tell the actual acreage of national forest giant sequoia groves is something less than 19,345 acres. So, I wonder why it is necessary to reserve from use some 400,000 acres of land. Admittedly there are watershed and fire influence concerns which must be addressed but those areas outside the actual treeline areas of giant sequoia groves can be managed in such a fashion that both allows use and reduced risk of catastrophic fire or watershed events occurring within the giant sequoia groves. And to think that one form of management is in the best interest of all the national forest giant sequoia groves fails to realize that there are significant differences in the composition and structure of the 38 national forest sequoia groves on the Sequoia National Forest. Converse Basin, for example when it was privately owned was extensively logged some 100 years ago. There have been two very large wildland fires that have also affected the Converse Basin grove as well. The structure and composition of the Converse Basin grove is thus much different from a grove that has not had this disturbance history. Thus it follows that our management approach for Converse Basin would by necessity be different from other less disturbed groves. Will establishing a national monument allow for this range of management flexibility? I think not. We must rise to higher level as we focus our attention on what is best management for national forest giant sequoia groves. Why the Need for a Flexible Range of Management Agencies are moving forward with management activities trying to ``learn as they go'' as to what works and doesn't work. For example, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection employs uneven-aged forest management practices (e.g., selective cutting) and prescribed burning to meet management objectives for the Mountain Home grove of giant sequoias. The USDI National Park Service employs prescribed burning focusing on fuel reduction. The USDA Forest Service was using both even and uneven-aged forest management followed by prescribed burning practices in several of the giant sequoia groves on the Tahoe, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forest in the 1970s and 1980s. The Forest Service has imposed a moratorium around 1988 on management projects in national forest giant sequoia groves until more is learned about them (e.g., inventories) and until a Land Management Plan Amendment can be developed and approved. The California Department of Parks and Recreation which manages Calaveras Bigtrees State Park employs primarily prescribed burning practices to meet management objectives. The Bureau of Land Management has recently launched a program to inventory attributes of the Case Mountain giant sequoia grove. But aside from custodial protection, BLM is not aggressively managing the Case Mountain grove until it evaluates a suitable management strategy. The managers of the Tule River Indian Reservation employ uneven management of the giant sequoia lands that occur there. The range of management approaches varies from timber management followed by prescribed burning to only prescribed burning to custodial management to let's wait and inventory what we have at this time. Which approach is correct? A few long-term studies have been done focused on management strategies for giant sequoia groves. The USDI National Park Service has done work on prescribed burning but not in comparison to its effectiveness to silvicultural management strategies. To say that prescribed burning for fuel reduction is the only safe course of action for all giant sequoia groves is inappropriate because it is an opinion based on limited research information. We really do not know if prescribed burning alone is the best course of action for the long-term survival and perpetuation of the giant sequoia species. Prescribed burning has both positive and negative effects on the giant sequoia ecosystems. Understanding that prescribed burning is not without its negative consequences, some foresters employed a variety of silvicultural methods to achieve desired management objectives. Silvicultural manipulation (e.g., tree removal) has both positive and negative consequences as does prescribed burning. Competing whitewood trees are either partially or totally removed from small areas of the larger giant sequoia groves to reduce fuel levels, reduce competition, and create seedbed conditions that enable giant sequoia to become established, survive, and grow. Very few young-growth stands of giant sequoia exist in California. The ones that do exist developed as a result of past site disturbances. Silvicultural manipulation of giant sequoia groves and adjacent areas can actually increase the amount of area occupied by young, healthy giant sequoia trees. The decision as to what is the most appropriate course of action to take with reference to the management of giant sequoia is not an easy one to make given these uncertainties. However, it seems inappropriate to put all of the giant sequoia grove areas under the same form of management. Placing the 41+/- giant sequoia groves on the Sequoia, Sierra, and Tahoe National Forests into a national monument status reduces to a significant degree management flexibility. Management flexibility is needed as we learn more about effective approaches. National monument status will insure custodial protection but will this designation ultimately lead to healthy ecosystems and perpetuation of the giant sequoia species? Do we really have enough information to suggest that only national park or national monument status will result in ``best'' What the Politics and Science Tells Us So who's right? What course of action should we as a nation take at this point in time? What have we learned from what research and management activities that have been undertaken? The lessons learned as I see them are: 1. There continues to be significant interest in the giant sequoia resource as there well should be. Yet this interest and concern is not supported by adequate funding to do research and carry out management in an orderly and planned manner. 2. Organizations and agencies involved with giant sequoia management have varied opinions as to what is the most appropriate course of action to follow. 3. More comparative research is needed to evaluate management approaches for giant sequoia ecosystems. 4. Significant site disturbance is needed to obtain giant sequoia seedling establishment and survival. Mineral soil conditions favor seedling establishment and canopy openings facilitate growth and survival of established seedling. 5. Thrifty young-growth stands of giant sequoia are not widespread with its native range. 6. Fire suppression over the past 90 years has resulted in significant stand density increases of associated tree species found in giant sequoia groves. These changes in stand density are also influencing pathogen and insect relationships in the grove areas. 7. Both prescribed burning and silvicultural manipulation of giant sequoia groves have positive and negative effects which are not fully understood. for example, researchers have measured lethal temperatures at significant depths beneath the bark of old-growth giant sequoia trees during prescribed burning operations. 8. Custodial protection without some form of prescribed burning and/or silvicultural manipulation is probably not in the best interest for perpetuating the species 9. Giant sequoia trees are subject to the same natural forces and man-caused influences as other tree species. Specimen giant sequoia trees have fallen within the boundaries of National Parks, State Parks, State Forests, National Forests, and on private lands. Various factors are involved. And in some cases human activities have probably contributed to premature failure in all of these governmentally protected and managed areas. It is not known whether or not the present rate of old-growth giant sequoia tree failures is higher than historic patterns. 10. Both prescribed burning and silvicultural manipulation of giant sequoia groves have received adverse public criticism. It seems that no one agency is doing a perfect job of giant sequoia management. However, Mountain Home State Forest might come closest if we were to judge performance on the amount of public criticism expressed and publicity received. But the Jury is still out as to what management approaches are most effective for perpetuation of the ecosystem and the giant sequoia species. 11. Giant sequoia groves have and are affected by a wide range of disturbance events. We understand that some proportion of a giant sequoia landscape should be comprised of early stage vegetation so that sustainability and the overall health of the grove is maintained. Conclusion Management by necessity must involve more than custodial protection. And it can't simply focus on changing jurisdictional authorities. Management must be continuous as the ecosystems within which giant sequoia occurs are dynamic. Given these three premises, I make a number of recommendations as shown in the Win/Win solution section of this letter. Changing jurisdictional authorities is not the answer. Education and research continue to be needed on giant sequoia. Positive change will occur as we learn more about this most magnificent tree species and ecosystem. I truly believe that the giant sequoia groves are not relics of the past. They should not receive protective regulations that treat them as such. Drawing a circle around the giant sequoia groves and calling them national monuments seems to infer ``relic'' status. Flexible management strategies with restrictions on the extent of management activity that can occur at any one time seems to be, in my opinion, the better approach to insure the perpetuation of the giant sequoia species and the ecosystems within which they occur. Please refer you to the Win/Win Solution section at the beginning of this letter for more specifies as to the recommendations I offer. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my opinions on giant sequoia. I list in the following section selected publications, technical reports, and invited presentations in support of my credentials to express an authoritative opinion on the pending proposal to establish a national monument for national forest giant sequoia groves. Selected References I list only peer reviewed publications, technical reports, and papers I have delivered that are focused on giant sequoia. A complete listing of all my publications and presentations appears in my current Curriculum Vitae which is available upon request. Peer reviewed publications Piirto, D.D., and R. Rogers. 1999. An ecological foundation for management of giant sequioa groves. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Sequoia National Forest R5-EM-TP- 005 (peer reviewed). Piirto, D.D. and R. Rogers. 1999. An ecological foundation for management of national forest giant sequoia groves. In: Transactions for the 1999 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources conference. Wildlife Management Institute (peer reviewed). Piirto, D.D., J.R. Parmeter Jr., F. W. Cobb Jr., K.L. Piper, A.C. Workinger, and W.J. Otrosina. 1998. Biological and management implications of firepathogen interactions in the giant sequoia ecosystem. Pages 325-336 in Teresa L. Pruden and Leonard A. Brennan (eds.). Fire in ecosystem management: shifting the paradigm from suppression to prescription. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, No. 20. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. (peer reviewed) Piirto, D.D., Robert R. Rogers, and Mary Chislock Bethke. 1997. Communicating the role of science in the management of giant sequoia groves. In: Proceedings for the National Silviculture Workshop, May 19-22, 1997. Piirto, D.D., R. Thompson and K. Piper. 1997. Implementing Uneven-aged redwood management at Cal Poly's School Forest. In: Proceedings of the Conference on Coast Redwood Forest Ecology and Management, June 18-20, 1996. p. 78-82. Piirto, D.D. 1994. Giant Sequoia Insect, Disease and Ecosystem Interactions. In Proceedings for the Symposium on Giant Sequoias: Their Place in the Ecosystem and Society. June 23-25, 1992. Visalia, California (peer reviewed). Weatherspoon, C.P., Y.R. Iwamoto, and D.D. Piirto. (Technical Compilers). 1987. Proceedings of the Workshop on Management of Giant Sequoia. May 24-25, 1985. Reedley, CA. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. PSW-95. Piirto, D.D., J. Hawksworth and M. Hawksworth. 1986. Giant Sequoia Sprouts. Journal of Forestry. 84(9) 24-25 (peer reviewed). Piirto, D.D. 1986. Wood Properties and Unique Characteristics of Giant Sequoia. In Proceedings of SAF's Management of Giant Sequoia workshop. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. PSW-95. Piirto, D.D., J.R. Parmeter and W. Wayne Wilcox. 1984. Basidiomycete Fungi Reportedly Associated with Living or Dead Giant Sequoia and Coast Redwood. Univ. of California, Berkeley. Forestry and Forest Products. Dept. of Forestry, Forest Products Laboratory, California, Agricultural Experiment Station. No. 55-April. Piirto, D.D., W. Wayne Wilcox, John R. Parmeter, David L. Wood. 1984. Causes of Uprooting and Breakage of Specimen Giant Sequoia Trees. Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Univ. of California. Bulletin 1909. Piirto, D.D. and W. Wayne Wilcox, 1981. Comparative Properties of Old-Growth and Young-Growth Giant Sequoia of Potential Significance to Wood Utilization. Division of Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of California. Bulletin 1901. Piirto, D.D. and W. Wayne Wilcox. 1978. Critical Evaluation of the Pulsed-Current Resistance Meter for Detection of Decay in Wood. Forest Products Journal 28 (1) 52-56 (peer reviewed). Piirto, D.D., J.R. Parimeter and W. Wayne Wilcox. 1977. Poria incrassata in Giant Sequoia. Plant Disease Reporter 61 (1) 50 (peer reviewed). Wilcox, W.W. and D.D. Piirto. 1976. Decay Resistance in Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Heartwood as Related to Color and Extractives. Wood and Fiber 7 (4) (peer reviewed). Piirto, D.D., J.R. Parmeter and F.W. Cobb Jr. 1974. Fomes annosus in Giant Sequoia. Plant Disease Reporter 58 (5) 478 (peer reviewed). Technical reports Piirto, Douglas D. 1996. A Critical Review of the Kings River Administrative Study (KRAS) Landscape Analysis Plan. USDA Forest Service. Sierra National Forest, Clovis, CA. Piirto, Douglas D. 1996. Reference Variability for Giant Sequoia--An Annotated Review of Literature. Final Report. USDA Forest Service. Sequoia National Forest, Porterville,

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, prior to Taiwan's second presidential election on March 18, the People's Republic of China increased its rhetoric and essentially gave Taiwan an ultimatum--to start reunification talks or risk invasion. Such hostile rhetoric from Beijing has evoked strong responses in both Taipei and Washington. The people in Taiwan are more determined than ever to disregard Beijing's dire warnings and reject Beijing's ``one country, two systems'' formula that governed the return of Hong Kong and Macao. The people of Taiwan would have to see a genuine Western-style democracy take hold in China before serious reunification talks could begin. In Washington, both administration officials and lawmakers have warned China that any action against Taiwan would be a matter of grave concern to the United States. As a strong supporter of Taiwan's vibrant democracy, I believe we must do all we can to ensure that the voters in Taiwan are guaranteed the right to freely elect their president this March 18, and that China must not interfere in Taiwan's electoral process. I know that I, and many of my colleagues, become incensed when China repeatedly threatens its small and democratic neighbor--particularly during an election year. We certainly consider China's latest threats against Taiwan unwarranted, untimely, and unwise. I am proud of the long-standing friendly relations between the United States and Taiwan, and I believe its time to show support for our friend.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, the American people are paying almost $2 a gallon for gas while the Clinton administration is asleep at the wheel. Gas prices are too high, and people are hurting. Mr. Speaker, why do mothers have to choose between a gallon of gas and a gallon of milk? The American people have to swallow the soaring price of fuel at the pumps, seriously jeopardizing their livelihoods. Whether it is a tractor-trailer, a delivery van, or a family minivan, gasoline prices are making Californians choke. Still, the Clinton administration has done nothing. Since 1993, when Al Gore broke the tie in the U.S. Senate to impose this administration's gas tax, U.S. oil production has declined by 17 percent, oil producing jobs have declined by 27 percent, and 36 U.S. refineries have closed their doors. We need action now, not later, Mr. Speaker. Gas prices need to be lowered now.