Nick Rahall

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud at this moment to yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono), who has been instrumental as well in passing this legislation and bringing it, that is, to the point that we are now experiencing.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield the gentleman 5 seconds.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2134.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the author of the pending legislation, I would like to make a couple of comments and praise him for his hard work and for his determination, persistence and patience on the pending matter. For 20 years, Neil Abercrombie and I have served together on our Natural Resources Committee. We have fought many battles together, and I have always been proud to call him my friend--a unique friend, I might add at that--and I'm not even getting any chocolate-covered macadamia nuts this evening. He has always been able to work together with Members of differing views and backgrounds. He has always remained decent, fair-minded, able to reach across the aisle both politically and philosophically, and I find that a truly commendable feature of this gentleman. As we have already heard from the minority side, he will be leaving the Congress at the end of this week, but I can tell him that his mark on this institution will live on much longer after he has returned to his beloved Hawaii and to his other pursuits. He has been a champion of all Native Americans during his time in this Congress. It is a testament to Neil that he will spend his last days in this body fighting for the rights of Native Hawaiians. It is now, indeed, my honor to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the history of these United States is replete with glory. From the moment we broke the bonds of tyranny and declared independence to the severe tests we endured to maintain our union of States during the Civil War, to developments in science, medicine, and technology, we as a Nation advanced for the benefit of the entire world. But throughout much of this history, our treatment of indigenous populations has been found wanting. The very policy that the United States advanced toward Native Americans from destruction to assimilation to reservation were conflicting and did not usually produce favorable results, at least from the perspective of the Native American. Today, we are considering a measure which seeks to rectify a wrong that occurred 117 years ago. On January 17, 1893, the legitimate Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by American speculators with the active participation of the U.S. military. Five years after this overthrow, Hawaii was annexed to the United States and the lands of the indigenous population were lost to sugar plantations. Their health, education, and economic standing diminished greatly, a saga that has been repeated again and again with respect to Native Americans throughout our country. The measure we are considering today is not a restitution measure, nor is it an outright recognition measure. What it would do is create a process by which the Native Hawaiian governing body would be reorganized, and the political and legal relationship with the United States would be reaffirmed. I think it is important to note what this bill does not do: It does not allow for gaming; it does not provide for the transfer of any lands; it does not change civil or criminal jurisdiction by the State or Federal Governments; and it does not provide for any new eligibility into Indian programs. Following reorganization of a governing body, the bill authorizes negotiation among the Federal, State, and Native Hawaiian governing entities to address certain powers and authorities. Any changes in these areas would require enactment of additional Federal and possibly State legislation. Beginning in 1920, Congress began passing legislation specifically for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. To date, over 160 laws have been enacted to provide the Native Hawaiian community with everything from housing to repatriation of Hawaiian human remains from the Nation's museums. In each case, Congress understood its right and responsibility to enact laws affecting the native peoples of Hawaii similar to natives of the other 49 States. This is not a matter of race; it is a matter of Congress properly dealing with the indigenous populations as expressly sanctioned by the Constitution of the United States. To allege that the Congress cannot engage in legislation of the pending nature regarding Native Hawaiians is to ignore the fact that there are 564 Federally recognized Indian tribes in this country. The bill before us today is similar legislation that has passed the House in previous Congresses. During the 106th Congress, we passed a similar bill under suspension of the rules when the Republicans held the majority. That was under Tom DeLay's watch, but what a different tune we will hear today from the other side. Similar legislation also passed during last Congress by a large majority. So I urge my colleagues to vote to fulfill our constitutional responsibility toward indigenous people residing in the United States and vote for this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1083, I call up the bill (H.R. 2314) to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield the gentleman 2 additional minutes.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of my fellow West Virginians, who safely and successfully rescued 17 individuals from a downed military helicopter in Pocahontas County, WV, last week. The Navy helicopter was participating in the Operation Southbound Trooper X annual military exercise, when it went down in a deep snow-covered and rugged site, which lies in northwestern Pocahontas County. A West Virginia Army National Guard HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter-- piloted by Bluefield, WV, native Major Kevin Hazuka--located the downed aircraft. Two medics were lowered to the landing site to assess the situation and provide assistance to the injured. A C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston was dispatched and orbited the site to maintain communications with the downed aircraft, while emergency response and rescue teams worked through the night and into the next morning to make their way to the survivors. A February 20th editorial in the Beckley, WV, Register-Herald newspaper titled, ``Our Nature,'' perhaps tells this story best: When a crisis strikes, West Virginia responds. Time and time again. We've seen it this winter during all the snowstorms that have paralyzed different regions of the state. We've seen it during all the major floods. We've seen it in the aftermath of major accidents. We've seen it beyond our borders, like helping with the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina, like battling western forest fires. West Virginians are ready to help in a moment's notice, often without being asked Paid responders. Volunteer responders. Neighbors. Even those who may not be physically able to provide aid will show up with food, drink and supplies for those who are. And now we've seen it again with what are being described as ``heroic'' efforts on the part of many who rescued 17 military personnel aboard a Virginia-based Navy helicopter that crashed during a training exercise Thursday on a rugged, snow-covered mountain on the Pocahontas-Randolph county line. ``I'd like to thank the West Virginia National Guard and the local responders for their heroic work,'' Navy Capt. Steve Schreiber said ``Their efforts were extraordinary and took place under the most difficult of situations. The rescuers had to traverse more than three miles from the nearest road through heavily wooded and mountainous terrain to reach the crash site.'' ``A special thanks to the Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort for providing Snowcats that enabled first responders to reach the site.'' The West Virginia National Guard and first responders around the state have a way of turning the extraordinary into the ordinary. In other words, we've seen it enough times to still marvel but not be surprised by what they do, even as they take rescue efforts to another level. And this one reached another level, literally and figuratively. ``. . . we've never had anything quite this big,'' said Shannon Boehmer, chief of the Shavers Fork Volunteer Fire Department. After rescuers went as far as they could with special equipment along a railroad grade, Boehmer said, ``it was still about a 45-minute hike in five feet of snow, straight up the side of a mountain . . . It was probably a 50-degree pitch or so. The guys described it as like climbing a `snow ladder.' '' Have you ever tried to walk in 5 feet of snow? Even on flat ground, just a few steps can wear you out. Sometimes we may not realize what we have here in West Virginia. We have the finest National Guard unit in the country, first responders to match and a general willingness by everyone to help. One thing is for sure: The US. Navy now knows. And, now Madam Speaker, as I share this with our colleagues, the world now knows the courage, ability, incredible determination, and willingness to lend a neighborly hand of West Virginians--from those who serve in and lead our West Virginia National Guard, to our local fire, rescue and first responder units, and the countless volunteers, families and neighbors nearby.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1038, I call up the bill (H.R. 3726) to establish the Castle Nugent National Historic Site at St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, may I inquire of the remaining time?

Mr. RAHALL. Thank you. I yield myself the balance of my time. I would close this debate by making the following observations on the allegations that we have heard on the other side. With respect to the technicality that a new area study has not been sent to the Congress, let me state that at a hearing before the Parks Subcommittee held last November, the National Park Service testified on the record that the draft study is completed and finds that the site meets the NPS criteria for addition to the National Park System. The official agency testimony goes on for four pages describing the amazing natural, cultural, and historical resources found on the site. For example, that testimony states that, and I quote, ``Enactment of H.R. 3726 would provide the opportunity to preserve and protect this outstanding Caribbean cultural landscape and interpret the cotton era and related agricultural themes that have been instrumental in the development of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. It would also help protect five pre-Columbian archeological sites, two of which are among the oldest sites on St. Croix.'' I was not able to attend this hearing, but my staff does inform me that at no time did any member of the committee, even for a moment, question the conclusions or opinions that were expressed by the National Park Service. The formal findings contained in the study will be enormously valuable as the NPS moves forward creating a management plan for this area, and in future years as the Congress contemplates appropriating funds for the site. For now, I am satisfied that the NPS has provided us more than ample information to move forward with the initial designation. The fact that the formal study has not been transmitted to the Congress is a technicality, one that is either significant or not to the other side, the minority, depending upon what day it is. House Republicans have supported designations with incomplete studies. House Republicans have supported designations with no study at all. House Republicans have opposed designations when the study was complete and fully supported designation. So this concern for NPS studies by those on the other side of the aisle is newly discovered. Their record on this is inconsistent and simply not credible. Like the Republican concern for following the recommendations of NPS studies, this concern for the NPS maintenance backlog is newfound as well. The NPS maintenance backlog is real, no doubt about it, and needs to be addressed. Democrats are serious about addressing it. We continue to work closely with the agency to document the work that needs to be done to prioritize it and provide the funding and the people needed to get the most pressing work done. But I completely disagree with the Republican claim that the National Park Service, quote, ``can't take care of what it already owns.'' That kind of park bashing may score some points, but it is nothing more than a low blow. Millions of American families visit our national parks every year and come away feeling inspired, energized, and downright patriotic. The National Park Service could use more money, but they are the very best in the world at what they do, and claims to the contrary are false. Our National Park Service takes care of what they already own, to the enormous satisfaction of most Americans, and they can take care of this beautiful area of St. Croix as well. I would ask the American people to keep an eye on the issue. You watch. When the President submits his budget request for the next fiscal year, it will contain critical funding for the NPS. And Democrats will support that request and pass it. And many of the same Republicans on this floor today expressing deep concern over the NPS maintenance backlog will come to this floor and vote against the funding needed to address it. In fact, it was Republicans who insisted on drastically underfunding and understaffing this agency that caused the maintenance backlog to increase on their watch. The future health and growth of our NPS system should not be stunted because Republicans mismanaged it when they were in charge of government. Democrats will correct the mistakes of the past, not be held hostage by them. And just like other arguments offered today, the Republican record on this issue is so inconsistent it simply cannot be taken seriously. Finally, Madam Speaker, H.R. 3726 does not spend one dime, and every Member on this floor knows it. The legislation designates this area as a new unit, but the bill contains no direct spending. Any land acquisition will be subject, of course, to appropriations. Enactment of this legislation is the beginning of the process, not the end. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve a unique and stunning area, and I fully support having this land at least be eligible for land acquisition funding over the next few cycles. Yes, the former Republican majority went on an irresponsible spending spree that damaged this country and resulted in the largest increase in the deficit since World War II. And yes, fixing the damage caused by those Republican mistakes will be an enormous challenge for all of us going forward. But I believe Democrats can do it. I believe we can get our fiscal house in order, and when we do it, Castle Nugent should be a unit of the National Park System so we can allocate funding to protect it and preserve it for generations to come. As for unemployment, the unemployment rate on St. Croix was 8.9 percent last November. If this private land is successfully transformed into a popular tourist destination, it will create jobs and help ease unemployment on the island. It will increase tourism, benefiting airlines, car rentals, travel agents, restaurants, hotels, and might even lead to hiring a few new park rangers. Democrats support creating jobs by building things up--investing in the long-term growth and health of this nation. H.R. 3726 does just that. I would conclude by pointing out the obvious: We as a Nation have a responsibility to our territorial possessions. And if we shirk from that duty, we would be nothing more than the European empires which once ruled over vast swaths of Africa and the Americas. The U.S. Virgin Islands are a unique and fascinating place. Native people lived on these islands as far back as the Stone Age. And some of the evidence of that can be found on the site protected in this bill. Christopher Columbus gave the islands early versions of the names we use today, Santa Cruz, San Tomas, and San Juan. And last, as we move forward in this legislation, recognize that these islands were then occupied by foreign nations, England, Holland, France and Denmark, a period that saw the native people enslaved and then driven almost to extinction. Remains of these times can be found on the land protected in this bill as well. It is not only the history and the culture found in the continental United States that matters, but St. Croix is a part of these United States. And we owe it to those who live there now and those who were there long before this Nation came into being to value this history and to respect its culture. This legislation does that. This legislation deserves our support. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time pending any further speakers on the minority side.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I am very happy at this point to yield to the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands who has worked so long, so hard, so diligently, and so patiently to bring this bill before us today, Dr. Donna Christensen, such time as she may consume.

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

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

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of the pending measure introduced by my very good friend and a valued member of our Committee on Natural Resources, the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, Dr. Donna Christensen. The pending legislation establishes the Castle Nugent National Historic Site on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Castle Nugent area possesses a wide range of historic resources, including the remnants of small Danish cotton, sugar, indigo, and cattle plantations. Pre-Columbian archaeological sites also exist on the property. The cattle ranch there is one of the oldest in the West Indies. The diverse and undisturbed natural resources of the site include the most substantial black mangrove stand left in the Virgin Islands, sea turtle nesting areas, large and healthy coral reefs, and a lagoon that is home to many different species of birds and wildlife. Congress authorized a special resource study for this area in 2006. The National Park Service has completed all of the work for that study and found that the area meets all of the applicable criteria for significance, suitability, and feasibility for designation as a National Park Service unit. The proposed park would include 2,900 acres of privately owned ranch lands as well as 8,600 acres of submerged lands owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands. The family which owns the majority of the site has fought off aggressive developers for years, seeking instead to have their land preserved for future generations to enjoy. This legislation includes no direct spending, and any land acquisition would be subject to appropriations. This is an excellent piece of legislation, and I commend once again Dr. Christensen for her tireless efforts to preserve the unique and stunning resources that are located in her beautiful district. Thanks to the recent Public Broadcasting System series by Ken Burns chronicling the amazing history of our National Park System, many Americans are asking themselves and asking this Congress what can we do to build upon the incredible legacy left to us by those who invented the idea of national parks. The answer to that question is simple: work to identify and study significant, unique areas of natural and historic significance and then make certain they are protected. The answer is to support the pending legislation, H.R. 3726. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 3726.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. I do appreciate the manner which the gentleman from Washington, the ranking member, has stressed the bipartisan nature of this legislation. As he knows, in our Committee on Natural Resources, it's always our effort to improve a product the second time we consider it, and that's what we're doing here today with this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Minnick), who has been so instrumental in bringing this legislation forward and worked so hard in crafting it.

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1038, I call up the bill (H.R. 4474) to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 4474.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4474, introduced by our colleagues, Mr. Walt Minnick and Mike Simpson of Idaho. This bill would authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located in wilderness areas on national forest system land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway- Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho. Predating the existence of the two wilderness areas, private land owners had received permits to maintain and repair these water diversions. The water is used for a combination of purposes, including drinking water for private cabins and ranches. Many of the permits have since expired, leaving those who own the water diversions without the ability to mechanically maintain the systems because they are located in designated wilderness. Under the terms of this legislation, the Secretary of Agriculture could only issue new permits if the owner demonstrates that the facility existed prior to the designated wilderness, the facility had been used to deliver water to the owner's land since the designation, the owner had a valid water right, and it would not be practical to move the facility out of the wilderness area. This is narrowly tailored legislation designed to put in place a balanced reasonable solution to a specific conflict. Mr. Minnick and Mr. Simpson are to be commended for working cooperatively and in a bipartisan fashion to craft this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I fully support recognizing legendary bluegrass singer and songwriter Lester Flatt for his many contributions to American music. Music is a tradition that most of us in West Virginia have enjoyed our entire lives. Lester Flatt is a great example of the amazing collection of musical talent in Appalachia. This resolution supports the history and traditions of our region and brings awareness to the talents of Bluegrass Musicians. Lester Flatt was an acclaimed guitarist, lead singer and a leader in making Blue Grass music what it is today. Most famous for his long career with Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and the Blue Grass Boys; Lester Flatt and his legendary sounds and strong rhythm and guitar playing helped to create the unique and memorable sound of modern Bluegrass. A southern West Virginia Bluegrass legend Everett Lilly, originally from Clear Creek near Beckley, had the opportunity to tour with Lester Flatt in the early 1950s, and participated in classic duet recordings with Lester Flatt. In southern West Virginia we celebrate not only famous Bluegrass Musicians like Lester Flatt and Everett Lilly, but all of our talented musicians through efforts led by the West Virginia Humanities Council and the Music Hall of Fame exhibit at Tamarack. The permanent exhibit at Tamarack in Beckley, WV houses memorabilia and recorded works of Mountain State musicians of the last 50 years and is accompanied by a concert series and a variety of educational programs. Another exciting initiative is The WV Music Hall of Fame's Traveling Museum which is a collaborated effort between the Humanities Council and the WV Department of Education. The exhibits showcase the variety of music that has come from the Mountain State, from opera and jazz to gospel, traditional, country, bluegrass, blues and rock 'n' roll. While visiting the Traveling Museum, you can view an interactive county by county map of West Virginia's musical history, listen to a variety of music and even make your own CD. I fully encouraged this partnership and commend The Hall of Fame on a remarkable job in its first few years. Music was the missing link to West Virginia's premiere arts venue, Tamarack. The Hall of Fame and Tamarack are natural partners. I encourage my fellow West Virginians to support our State and our regions' great musicians and organizations--all working to keep our arts and humanities heritage alive and well in our communities, schools, and lives.