Nick Rahall

Mr. RAHALL

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 include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3734) to rename the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the establishment of this National Conservation Area, and for other purposes.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the pending measure introduced by our colleague, Mike Simpson, renames the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Morley Nelson was an ardent advocate for birds of prey and was instrumental in establishing the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The National Conservation Area includes approximately 500 acres and is one of the densest known nesting populations of eagles, falcons, owls, hawks, and other birds of prey in North America. I do commend our colleague, Mike Simpson from Idaho, for his work on the bill. I support the passage of H.R. 3734. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Mr. RAHALL

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 include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. RAHALL. Today, it is my privilege to bring to the floor of the House of Representatives the ``Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places.'' This legislation is supported by the entire West Virginia delegation: In this body, my colleagues Representatives Alan Mollohan and Shelley Moore Capito, and in the other body, our Senators, Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller. The pending measure would designate 37,771 acres of Federal land as wilderness within the Monongahela National Forest. Included in this legislation is the expansion of three existing wilderness areas: Cranberry, Dolly Sods and Otter Creek. Additionally, three new wilderness areas would be established: The Big Draft, the Roaring Plains West, and Spice Run. The issue of wilderness has captivated many Americans since the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964. According to this landmark statute, these are places ``where the Earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.'' To be in a wilderness area is, to me, truly a humbling experience. To be part of designating wilderness is even more humbling because wilderness is an effort to retain the landscape as God has created it. As the Reverend Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches wrote to me, and I quote, ``We believe that carefully protecting this wonderful national forest and its wilderness-quality lands not only has a sound biblical basis, but is also the best and most practical course of action for safeguarding the world which we will pass along to our children.'' A great many people have worked to make this legislation possible: Matt Keller, Dave Saville, Mary Wimmer, Beth Little, Mayor John Manchester of Lewisburg, West Virginia, Bob Bittner, Jr., Mike Price, as well as the Reverend Sparks. And there are many others with whom I've hiked and with who I've worked on this legislation for which time will not allow me to name them all. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Monongahela National Forest Supervisor, Clyde Thompson, as well as to Sammie Lammie, for his excellent map making. And finally, to the Governor of West Virginia, Joe Manchin, and to the Division of our Natural Resources Director, Frank Jezioro. We have and will continue to work to ensure that appropriate wildlife management activities can take place in the areas designated by this bill. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters for the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, April 17, 2008. Hon. Nick J. Rahall II, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On April 2, 2008 the Committee on Natural Resources favorably reported an amended version of H.R. 5151, the ``Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places.'' As you are aware, the bill was primarily referred to Committee of Natural Resources, while the Agriculture Committee received an additional referral. H.R. 5151 seeks, among other policy objectives, to designate as ``wilderness'' certain Federal Lands within the Monongahela National Forest in the State of West Virginia. Clause 1(a) of Rule X confers upon the Agriculture Committee jurisdiction over bills relating to forestry in general and forests other than those created from the public domain. In the past, the Committee on Agriculture has worked cooperatively with the Committee on Natural Resources regarding matters that generally concern forestry. It is my understanding that the Committee on Natural Resources wishes to have the House of Representatives consider the bill next week. Given the need to expedite this legislation, I will agree to discharge H.R. 5151 from further consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I do so with the understanding that this action in no way waives the Committee on Agriculture's jurisdictional interests in the subject matter of the legislation or serves as a precedent for future referrals. Furthermore, in the event a House- Senate conference is requested on this matter, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees. I ask that you insert a copy of our exchange letters into the Congressional Record during consideration of this measure on the House floor. Thank: you very much for your courtesy in this matter and I look forward to continued cooperation between the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture as we deal with forestry issues in the future. Sincerely, Collin C. Peterson, Chairman.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. But, in conclusion, I want to commend the staff of our Natural Resources Committee as well, Mr. Jim Zoia, who's been with me for numerous years and knows our people in West Virginia, has been with this legislation almost daily. Rick Healy, our chief counsel. And I wish as well to commend the ranking minority member on my committee, Mr. Don Young, for his assistance and willingness to work with us on this as well, and today's acting ranking member, Mr. Jimmy Duncan, for his help on this legislation. I have no further requests for time, and I'll reserve, pending any further requests that the ranking member has.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield back, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5151) to designate as wilderness additional National Forest System lands in the Monongahela National Forest in the State of West Virginia, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3513) to amend the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984 to designate the Copper Salmon Wilderness and to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the North and South Forks of the Elk River in the State of Oregon as wild or scenic rivers, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives starts our celebration of Earth Day with the consideration of two measures to designate wilderness on Federal lands in opposite ends of the country, Oregon, and in my home State of West Virginia. As chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, I think it appropriate to recognize that in many places of this great Nation of ours, there remain areas with special features, unique landscapes teeming with wildlife that deserve and command conservation. The pending measure, introduced by our colleague, Representative Peter DeFazio, would designate portions of the National Forest System land in Oregon as wilderness and potential wilderness, and designate segments of the Elk River as wild and scenic. These areas include some of the last remaining stands of Port Orford Cedars in the Elk River watershed. Furthermore, the fisheries of the Elk River are known as one of the best salmon and steelhead producers in the continental United States. This bill has broad support from the Governor of Oregon, the Curry County Commission, the Mayor of Port Orford, the Port Orford Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of the Elk River, Trout Unlimited, and the American Fisheries Society, the Oregon Chapter. I wish to commend our colleague, a member of our Natural Resources Committee and our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative DeFazio, for his outstanding work on this bill. I support H.R. 3513. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. I have no further requests for time. We're ready to yield back if the gentleman from Tennessee is.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I wish to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), for his excellent leadership on this issue. He is the sponsor of it. I rise as chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources to lend my strong support thereto. The National Landscape Conservation System was administratively established 8 years ago. It is comprised of Western public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management that have been placed in conservation status either by presidential proclamation or by acts of Congress. The BLM refers to the NLCS as ``Landscapes of the American Spirit.'' And the agency is enthusiastic about this system. And rightly so because it works. It works to highlight some of the unique features of these lands, and it helps BLM shed its imagine of simply being the Bureau of Livestock and Mining. The pending legislation is supported by the Bush administration. I know that may raise some suspicion in certain quarters, but I can assure those of my colleagues who may have reservations with the bill due to this fact that the Natural Resources Committee has thoroughly examined the legislation. And under Chairman Grijalva's leadership, I'm here to assure you that there are no hidden provisions of this legislation to grow even more oil rigs on our already pressed public lands or to overthrow past presidential proclamations creating national monuments. This bill is a congressional stamp of approval of the existing NLCS system. Each of the 850 or so areas that are part of this system came into it through different avenues. Many were designated by Congress as wilderness areas or national wild and scenic rivers, national conservation areas, or national historic and scenic trails. Others were designated by Presidents as national monuments under the Antiquities Act. As such, each element of the NLCS carries with it its own management regime. There is no one size fits all. The pending legislation does not change that. And to make that point crystal clear, the bill contains a savings clause. It is a sweeping savings clause stating that nothing in this legislation enhances, diminishes, or modifies any law or proclamation under which the various components of the NLCS were established. Later during debate on this bill, an amendment will be offered by the floor manager, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), which will further elaborate on the savings clause by specifying nothing in this legislation can impede Homeland Security. I urge my colleagues to support that amendment. In addition, there will be an amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Jason Altmire, to further elaborate on the savings clause as it relates to hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting that may take place on NLCS lands. This is a constructive amendment and one which we worked with my good friends at the National Rifle Association, and I urge my colleagues to support that amendment as well. There are other amendments which fall under the category of putting forth a solution in search of a problem which simply does not exist, and I would urge opposition to those amendments. So in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the bill and again commend the gentleman from Arizona for managing it on the floor today, for his sponsorship, and his valuable leadership.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker. Today I am introducing the ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments Act.'' Normally, I would be pleased to offer a bill that strengthens the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes. But today, I am disappointed that such legislation is necessary. It is undisputed that the United States has a legal and political relationship with Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. As such, when the Federal government interacts with Indian tribes, it does so on a government-to-government basis. This, combined with the history of treatment of Indian tribes by the United States, imposes a moral obligation on the United States to consult with Indian tribes before enacting policies that have a direct effect on them. The history of Federal-Tribal relations has shown that consultation with Indian tribes works. The Federal Indian policies that have failed have been those that were developed without tribal input or are contrary to tribal input. On the other hand, the Federal Indian policy that has succeeded is that which allows Indian tribes the most input and control over their own affairs--tribal self-governance and self- determination. Indian tribes know what is best for themselves and for their members. So it is disappointing that over 30 years after passage of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act that this Administration refuses to engage in timely and meaningful consultation with Indian tribes. Despite the political and moral obligation, as well as Presidential Executive Order 13175 requiring the administration to consult with Indian tribes, this administration has flagrantly ignored this responsibility. Instead, the administration takes actions that often have serious and negative consequences on Indian country, without any consultation at all. The House Committee on Natural Resources hears from Indian tribes on a continuous basis about the lack of government- to-government consultation between the administration and Indian tribes. This bill will require the Department of the Interior, the Indian Health Service, and the National Indian Gaming Commission to enter into a true consultation process with Indian tribes and Alaska Natives before new policies or actions are taken, which will directly affect them. This bill will mandate that Federal Indian policy is formulated only with input from Indian country while respecting Indian tribal self- government, sovereignty, and with honor for treaties signed long ago. This bill will ensure that the United States will not repeat the mistaken policies of the past where the Great White Father makes decisions and policies in a vacuum. This bill will make sure that the United States as a government sits at the table with Indian tribal governments when decisions are to be made affecting the lives of our First Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, or the FLAME Act. Last year, our country saw the devastating effects of catastrophic, emergency wildland fires in southern California. For the past several years, we have witnessed tragic fire seasons that have put American lives and our treasured public lands in harm's way. Fire seasons are getting longer and more intense due to climate change, drought, and other factors. As a result, Federal fire suppression spending has increased substantially over the past 10 years and projections appear to indicate that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. The dramatic rise in these costs is eroding other nonfire programs and impacting the core mission of the Federal land management agencies. In the case of the Forest Service, for example, wildland fire suppression activities now account for approximately 48 percent of its budget. This year's alarming and irresponsible budget request from the Forest Service, which cuts over half of the funding for State and private forestry, continues the sad trend: our Forest Service is turning into the fire service. Furthermore, both the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior have had to ``Rob Peter to Pay Paul'' by borrowing funds from other agency accounts to cover the escalating costs of wildland fire suppression. Last year, for example, the Forest Service spent $741 million more than was budgeted for wildland fire suppression, and the Department of the Interior spent $249 million more than was budgeted for wildland fire suppression. And in the case of the Forest Service, the costs of catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities account for the vast majority of suppression expenditures, as 2 percent of fires account for 80 percent of costs. Madam Speaker, it is clear that something needs to be done to resolve this problem. That is why today I am introducing the FLAME Act. The FLAME Act establishes a Federal FLAME fund for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities. The FLAME fund would be separate from the budgeted and appropriated agency wildland fire suppression funding and is to be used only for catastrophic, emergency wildland fires. The Federal land management agencies will continue to fund anticipated and predicted wildland fire suppression activities within their annual budgets. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior may declare catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities eligible for the FLAME fund by issuing a Suppression Emergency Declaration. The declaration will evaluate the size, severity, and threat of the individual wildland fire incident. The FLAME Act continues our stewardship of all lands by making funds available for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities on State and private land consistent with existing agreements. Funds will also be available for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression on Indian lands. The FLAME Act also requires that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior submit a long-overdue report to Congress containing a cohesive wildland fire management strategy. This report will improve efforts to prevent fires on our public lands. This report will address critical fire prevention issues such as identifying a system for assessing the level of fire risk to communities, and indentifying a system to ensure that the highest priority fuels reduction projects are being funded first. Madam Speaker, catastrophic, emergency wildland fires can cause tragic loss of life. and property. I am proud to be joined in introducing the FLAME Act today by my colleagues Mr. Norm Dicks and Mr. Raul Grijalva. I look forward to working together to ensure that our country has the necessary tools to combat catastrophic, emergency wildland fires.

Mr. RAHALL

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

Mr. RAHALL

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 include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. RAHALL. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Following on the heels of the resolution just considered by the House, this resolution honors the life, accomplishments, and distinguished career of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the ``Grande Dame of the Everglades,'' on the 60th anniversary of the publication of her book, The Everglades: River of Grass. House Resolution 807 was introduced by our colleague from Florida, Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, and is cosponsored by every member of the Florida delegation. Marjory Stoneman Douglas was an author, journalist, and environmental conservationist, best known for her advocacy for the preservation of the Florida Everglades. Her best known work, The Everglades: River of Grass, is considered a classic example of environmental writing and is credited with bolstering public support for preserving the Everglades as a National Park. I support passage of H. Res. 807 and urge its adoption by the House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the pending resolution, introduced by our colleague from Florida, Representative Alcee Hastings, recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Everglades National Park. It is the first of two resolutions the House is considering this afternoon in tribute to the Everglades. The landscape of the Everglades is completely unique, a grassy river 40 miles wide and 100 miles long. While half of this wonderful landscape has been lost to agriculture, much of the remaining portions of this famed ``River of Grass'' are now protected by the Everglades National Park. I commend and congratulate our colleague, Representative Alcee Hastings, for keeping the issues facing the Everglades in the spotlight. I fully support passage of H. Res. 845 and urge its adoption by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the House for its consideration this legislation that's sponsored by the former chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and current chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Representative George Miller. This bill provides that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial be managed as a unit of the National Park System. Currently, the area is managed as an affiliated site by the National Park Service. On July 17, 1944, 320 men, 202 of whom were African American sailors, were killed in an explosion at the Port Chicago Navy ammunition loading base in the San Francisco Bay area. This was the largest homeland disaster during World War II. In 1992, Congress designated the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial. The pending measure furthers that commitment by providing that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial be managed as a unit of the National Park System. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 3111, and I submit the following exchange of letters for the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, January 31, 2008. Hon. Nick J. Rahall II, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 10, 2007, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered H.R. 3111, the ``Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act of 2007,'' to be reported. As you know, this measure contains certain provisions that are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services, and thus, was sequentially referred to the Committee on Armed Services by the Parliamentarian for the House. Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 3111 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive further consideration of H.R. 3111. I do so with the understanding that by waiving further consideration of the bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference with the Senate on this bill, the Committee on Armed Services reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy of the response in your Committee's report on H.R. 3111 and the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Very truly yours, Ike Skelton, Chairman.