Nick Rahall

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has explained the pending matter and I commend him for bringing the bill to the floor in such an expeditious manner. This is one of those rare instances where the administration, the Senate, and the House are joining together in concert to provide relief to the residents of the District of Columbia. In this regard, I think it important to point out that the issues raised by this legislation affect more than just the District, and more than the neighboring States of Maryland and Virginia which support it on the basis of maintaining a sound regional transportation system. This bill has national and international implications as well. For it is here, at the Nation's Capital, that many American and foreign visitors alike come to witness the seat of the greatest democracy on this Earth. As such, it is important that the gateway arteries into the city, those roads with the greatest significance, at least be in passable if not excellent condition. With respect to the pending matter, I would note that Congress on three other occasions granted temporary waivers from the local cost- sharing requirements under the Federal Aid Highway Program. It is true that these waivers were generic in nature, with all States and territories eligible to participate. On the other hand, while the pending bill relates only to the District of Columbia, it contains far more conditions to obtaining the waiver than were required in the past. First, the bill provides for a very stringent repayment schedule, with payments made on an incremental basis. Second, the repayment must be made in cash, with no option for the repayment to be made in the form of a reduction in the amount of future Federal aid highway funds available to the District. Third, as a condition of obtaining the temporary waiver, the bill requires the District to establish a dedicated highway trust fund comprised of motor fuel tax receipts. And fourth, if the District fails to meet these obligations in any respect, the Secretary of Transportation would be prohibited from approving any highway project in the city. There are other conditions as well, conditions that any State would view as an intrusion on its rights, as a Federal mandate, as a regulatory burden. But, as well all know, the District is not a State, and the conditions imposed by this legislation are agreeable to the local Government, the Control Board, and to the duly elected Representative of the District of Columbia in this body, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. With that stated, Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the pending measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster] has justifiably come to the Speaker of this body and asked for his support of this legislation. I would also like to take one quick moment to commend the legislation led by the chairman of the Department of Transportation, Federica Pena, and most importantly Rodney Slater who has been most helpful on this legislation. Mr. Slater testified before our subcommittee in support of the bill. We have a statement of administration policy in support of this legislation, and so I commend them as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], the distinguished ranking minority member.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, sometimes it is said that people do not appreciate what is in their own backyards. It then becomes even more important to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the hard- working people of southern West Virginia. The case in point? Marshall's medical school in Huntington. In the past 10 years, 42 percent of Marshall University School of Medicine graduates have entered primary care practice. This gives Marshall the distinction of having the second highest rate of primary care graduates in the Nation--which is at least 3 times the national average. National recognition of this kind is impressive. But what it says is something even more important, both for Marshall and for West Virginia. Primary care--namely family practice, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics--is what West Virginia needs the most. And people at Marshall are deeply dedicated to providing it. The medical school at Marshall has two goals: providing students a top-quality education and improving health and health care delivery in West Virginia. Besides providing excellent classroom instruction, a medical education at Marshall emphasizes work in clinical settings, far beyond what most medical schools offer. Unlike what is found at most medical schools, the focus at Marshall is on situations common to generalists rather than narrow subspecialists dealing in highly technical areas. Dr. Bob Walker, the chairman of family and community health at Marshall, is dedicated to the community-integrated approach of Marshall's program. All students are required to spend at least 1 month in a rural practice, a requirement which often leads students to want to continue learning preparation in primary care in rural areas. One of the choices available is the rural physicians associate program, in which selected third-year students are placed in rural clinics for up to 9 consecutive months. Other programs include the accelerated residency in family practice program at Marshall, which lets some medical students combine their fourth year of medical school and the first year of a family practice residency, and Marshall's fellowship program in rural family practice, which matches family physicians with nonprofit health agencies in rural communities. The medical students are taught by dedicated physicians, who often teach on a volunteer basis. These professionals believe in what they do and are deeply committed to seeing that more students become primary care providers. With mentors like these, it is no wonder that Marshall students quickly catch the enthusiasm primary care providers have for their field. Although one-quarter of all Americans live in rural areas, only 6 percent of medical school graduates go to rural areas to practice. At Marshall, people are well aware that it is the primary care provider who best serves the needs of a rural area. Marshall graduates leave the university having learned how to apply what they are learning in real- life situations. This is important to West Virginians. Those who study at Marshall are prepared to bring their skills to the people of southern West Virginia. This is an excellent example of the quality endeavors of people in our State who work every day to improve the quality of life for West Virginians. Marshall's medical school is training people to be doctors in West Virginia, and doing a very good job of it.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. I would just like to refer to earlier points you made in your statement that I think deserves a great deal of emphasis. You referred to the fact that our American workers cannot afford to be eaten up, and the fact that productivity has increased today. That is especially true in the coal mining industry.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and privilege that I rise to announce that U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, senior senator from West Virginia, earlier today became the first U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 votes in the Senate. This 14,000th vote gives Senator Byrd a 98.7 percent voting average over his 37 years of service in the Senate. This voting record covers only Senator Byrd's Senate service, not the years he also served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Byrd's first vote in the Senate, cast on January 8, 1959, was very fitting: It was a vote on Senate procedures. Since then, Senator Byrd has become a national celebrity, is recognized as the Senate's ``historian in residence,'' and he is recognized as the uncontested expert in the country on the Senate as an institution, about which he has published four volumes, and as a nationally known expert on parliamentary procedure in that body. During the 37-year period in which the 14,000 votes were cast, Senator Byrd has served as: Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference. Senate Majority Whip, Senator Majority Leaders, Senate Minority Leader, and President Pro Tempore. Senator Byrd is not only a giant among men in the Senate, he is a giant among men in the Nation. He has been an integral part of the high drama and history of the second half of the 20th century, including the cold war, Vietnam, Watergate, Iran-Contra, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has served in the Senate under nine Presidents-- through assassinations and resignations. Today, the Senate paused to recognize and honor Senator Byrd for his extraordinary leadership and for having attained the milestones in his legislative career that brought him to his 14,000th vote. Those milestones are: Being only one of three U.S. Senators in American history to have been elected to seven 6-year terms; being the first sitting Member of either House of Congress to begin and complete the study of the law and obtain a law degree while serving in the Congress; being the first person to carry every county in the State of West Virginia (55 of them) in a contested statewide general election; being the only person in the history of West Virginia to ever serve in both chambers of his State legislature and both Houses of the U.S. Congress; obtaining the greatest number, the greatest percentage, and the greatest margin of votes cast in statewide, contested elections in his State; being the first U.S. Senator in West Virginia to win a Senate seat without opposition in a general election; and serving longer in the U.S. Senate than anyone else in West Virginia history. Mr. Speaker, all these milestones of achievement are remarkable in and of [[Page H 7914]] themselves, and we honor Senator Byrd for them. But his greatest feat will always be the dignity he has brought to the U.S. Senate every day of his life, throughout his tenure there. He is a gentle but firm leader, who has the ability to share, in his writing and vocally, his deep and abiding reverence for the Senate as an institution. Each week, Senator Byrd offers a history lesson on the floor of the Senate, addressing his colleagues on the floor and the Nation that may be watching C-SPAN, on the importance of knowing, and observing and above all respecting, the traditions of the Senate, its rules of engagement and the parliamentary procedures, that govern it as an institution. Tonight I wish to join my voice with the voices of his Senate colleagues, those in his beloved West Virginia and all our Nation in paying tribute to West Virginia's senior Senator. And so it is with great personal honor, and with the highest esteem, that I rise on this occasion to pay tribute to Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia for having become the first U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 votes.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by my colleague, Representative Hefley, to strike all funds contained in H.R. 2076 for the Economic Development Administration. Just yesterday, a bill reauthorizing the EDA was reported to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee by the subcommittee of jurisdiction, and it is a bill that streamlines and tightens eligibility for EDA program assistance so that the funds spent go only to our most distressed regions throughout the Nation. H.R. 2076, the Commerce/State/Justice appropriations bill, has already cut EDA funding by 21 percent--or $91 million--below the fiscal year 1995 funding level. Twenty-one percent is a huge cut and I believe it represents EDA's fair share contribution toward reducing the deficit. The reauthorization bill preserves the basic EDA programs, but has radically altered the program delivery mechanism by adopting an ARC Commission model for future grant-making and policy decisions. In order to counter criticism of the EDA that it is nothing more than a Federal piggy bank, the new authorizing legislation strengthens the program by tightening the eligibility criteria, so that only truly distressed regions throughout the country will receive economic development assistance. Mr. Chairman, the new authorizing bill continues the ability of communities to respond to defense cutbacks and base closures while, at the same time, retaining eligibility for local development districts and university centers; the bill also reforms the EDA delivery mechanism basing it on the ARC model of documented success; and it tightens eligibility criteria, while cutting EDA funding by $91 million--21 percent in fiscal year 1996. This is good reform where needed, and qualifies the EDA for our continued support. I urge my colleagues to defeat the Hefley amendment to abolish the EDA, and urge their strong support for the continued funding for this vital job-creating program. This is a program that has always helped regions of the country in need of economic development and job-creating assistance--and it should be allowed to continue to provide this assistance to local governments. Defeat the Hefley amendment.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, for the average American, perhaps the biggest financial break we get is in December when many credit companies inform us that in light of the holiday season, the minimum payment due for the month is waived. That's the extent of it for the average, hard-working American. Yet, under what the other body is proposing, it would be Christmas every day, all year, for some of the largest, multinational, oil conglomerates in the world. They would get a holiday from having to pay royalties for drilling oil in federally owned waters. A multibillion-dollar royalty holiday, at the taxpayers' expense, as an alleged incentive for these companies to do what they are already doing in the first place. Now, whatever your position is on H.R. 70, the nongermane royalty holiday provision added by the other body to its version of this legislation simply has no business being accepted by House conferees as a middle-of-the-night deal. That is why it is so important that the Miller motion to instruct be passed, so that, in effect, we remove any temptation on behalf of some of our colleagues to fall prey to the wiles of the other body on this matter. The bottom line: If my colleagues voted for the Klug-Rahall mining claim patent moratorium to the Interior appropriation bill last week, a vote for the pending motion would be consistent. It would be a consistent vote against the giveaway of America's natural resource wealth.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman], the distinguished subcommittee ranking member, for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, we are looking here at perfecting amendments and perfecting amendments to the perfecting amendments. We are dealing with points of order. I submit to my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, that this is not the proper way to address such an important issue as this 13(c) section is. This is an important amendment as regards labor and management relations in our country and in the transit industry. It is an important amendment in regard to a contract that we have with the American worker entered into in 1964, when we passed the Urban Mass Transit Act. This is not the proper way to be dealing with such an important issue on an appropriation bill. The proper manner, whether we are for repeal or for reform of 13(c), is in the authorizing committee. That is where we should be discussing and having hearings and taking into consideration reforms that may be necessary in the 13(c) section. I would hope, no matter what we do on these perfecting amendments, what points of order are granted or not granted, that we keep in mind the bottom line here, and that is support for the Coleman-Ney effort, which is to strike the total repeal of 13(c) which is in the current bill. I hope we support Coleman-Ney, despite what happens on all these perfecting amendments.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong opposition to the Wolf amendment and in support of the Coleman-Ney amendment. Mr. Chairman, it is a sad reflection on the House of Representatives that such a major change to a long-standing provision of Federal transit law is taking place as part of an appropriations bill in a willy nilly, last minute type of amendment process that does not do justice to the processes of the House of Representatives. In fact, this bill not only repeals 13(c), but it goes so far as to abrogate existing labor management agreements that were negotiated under the provision. The effect of this scheme will be to subject the hard-working men and women in the transit industry to the whims, fancies, and caprices of federally subsidized transit authorities. Stripped of their ability to bargain collectively, these workers and their families are truly being sold into slavery by this body. It is ironic that while the House expresses concern over human rights violations in China, at the very same time it appears willing to violate the rights of U.S. citizens employed in the transit industry. This must not be allowed to happen. Mr. Chairman, I do urge support for the Coleman-Ney amendment and also urge my colleagues that the first order of votes will be to defeat the Wolf amendment pending thereto. That will be necessary in order to provide a clear message to the working men and women of this country that we will not renege on their contract.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson], a member of the Committee on Rules, for yielding time to me. Madam Speaker, I rise to urge a ``no'' vote when the previous question is ordered. On Wednesday, correctly recognizing that it is not appropriate under House rules to allow legislation on an appropriations bill, the Rules Committee issued a rule to govern the Transportation appropriations bill that would not have protected from a point-of-order a provision repealing section 13(c) of the Transit Act. This provision of law basically insures the collective bargaining rights of over 200,000 transit workers in this country. On Thursday, however, the same Rules Committee issued an amendment to that rule, an amendment which now protects the section 13(c) repeal language from a point of order. Now, Madam Speaker, this business of issuing amendments to rules is a relatively new tactic under which all kinds of mischief can be employed. Indeed, even now, most Members probably have only an inkling as to what this amendment includes. Be that as it may, today I am urging a ``no'' vote on the previous question so that we will be in the position to offer an alternative rule that would make in order a compromise on the section 13(c) issue. Indeed, during the Rules Committee hearing, Ron Coleman, Norm Mineta, and I urged that the section 13(c) repealer not be protected from a point of order. Short of that, however, in the event the rule protected this provision, we asked that a compromise amendment to be offered by Ron Coleman be made in order. As I already noted, the original rule accommodated our initial request. The subsequent amendment completely closes us out. And so, it is only by defeating the previous question that we will have a chance to offer our amendment. Make no mistake about it. This is an extremely important matter, both substantively and procedurally. Substantively, the provision repealing section 13(c) included in the bill would sell transit workers across this Nation into slavery. In one fell swoop, this provision not only repeals a major item in transit law, but runs roughshod over existing collective bargaining agreements. And this should not be allowed to happen as an amendment to an appropriation bill. Procedurally, the issue involves fairness, and whether we are now going to allow debate governing major legislation to be dictated by amendments to rules issued in the middle of the night. Again, vote ``no'' on the previous question.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my constituents, from the third congressional district of West Virginia, Ms. Marilyn Leftwich, an extraordinary employee of the Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, WV. Upon her retirement on August 31, 1995, Ms. Leftwich will have completed almost 25 years of service. Throughout her career, she has been a professional role model for the staff, and has had a great impact on the various programs at Alderson Federal Prison Camp. Ms. Leftwich received her bachelor's degree at Bluefield State College, in Bluefield, WV, and her master's degree at Liberty University, during a career which began in 1970. Starting as a correctional officer, she was soon promoted to correctional counselor, community programs coordinator, and eventually to her current position as unit manager. Besides her accomplishments at work, Ms. Leftwich has raised a family of three children, and has been very active in the community, and her church. She has also received a number of awards for her work and dedication to the community and her job, some of which include the Outstanding Achievement Award, Employee of the Month, and Outstanding Performance Appraisal Awards. Active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP], and in the development of the Alderson Federal Prison Camp Affirmative Action Program, Ms. Leftwich will long be remembered for her hard work to establish equality in all realms of society. Her involvement in community programs like these, has helped the Federal Prison Camp build and maintain a sound relationship with the surrounding community, as well as having a great impact in the attempt of creating a diverse work force. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Leftwich's dedication throughout the years has been vital in developing community project for the Prison Camp, including a program in which inmates donate clothing for needy families in the community. She helped to organize a group of inmates to maintain a section of the highway under the Adopt a Highway program. Her most recent project was called ``Mothers and Infants Together,'' which allows for pregnant inmate mothers to bond with their newborn babies for a period of 3 months. At a time when there has been so much focus on reducing government spending, we should appreciate the many programs which Ms. Leftwich developed and supervised. A shinning example is the institution sewing room, which has saved the government money by producing maternity clothing and reupholstering services, sewing drapes and other items, while at the same time providing meaningful employment for the inmate workers. We must commend Ms. Leftwich on her effort to include the inmates into as many projects as possible. These projects served both the inmates and the community, which is an ideal way to let the public know that the inmates should not be forgotten members of society. Ms. Leftwich's retirement will bring a great void to the staff at the Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, WV. After she retires, Ms. Leftwich plans to continue her community service and council children. She is an extraordinary woman, who has had a great impact of the female inmates and the community of Alderson, WV over the years.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to your attention the outstanding coalition of organizations which has been the backbone of the relief effort to alleviate the effects of the severe flooding in West Virginia's Mercer, Mineral and Nicholas Counties. Mercer County, which is in my district, was the hardest hit by the floods. Instrumental in aiding the people of Mercer County carry out the arduous task of rebuilding and cleaning up has been, the Red Cross, the West Virginia National Guard, and a number of local volunteer fire departments and rescue squads. Mr. Speaker, resident's homes, businesses, schools, and roads have been devastated by the high waters. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Sifting through the mud and debris, many have struggled to find the scattered remains of personal belongings and are in a sense of helplessness when assessing the structural damage to their homes. The businesses which the residents depend on so dearly for jobs and services have suffered heavy damages. There has been damage to city halls, police departments, hospitals, and other institutions vital to the surrounding communities. Schools have also fallen victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the flood waters. Thirteen bridges have given way to the mighty waters, and chunks of pavement have been severed from the roads. The total amount of damage is estimated to run in excess of $7 million. Now, the citizens of Mercer County face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. The Red Cross in Mercer County, under the direction of Warren Zorek, has been at the forefront of the relief effort. The special teams and volunteers sent into the area have proven invaluable to the residents of Mercer County's hardest hit localities, providing food, clothing, and shelter to displaced and distressed families and individuals. The men and women of the Red Cross are currently continuing their efforts to get the disabled communities back on their feet and moving again. Upon visiting the afflicted areas, Maj. Gen. Joseph Skaff, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, announced that he would send personnel and equipment to help in the restoration of Mercer County. A total of 16 members, 4 dump trucks, and 4 all-terrain vehicles were dispatched to the area to aid in the removal of debris. The Guard's assignments were coordinated with the local civilian authorities. They have tremendously eased the burden on the residents, who have expressed their sincere gratitude for the services that are being provided. There were also a number of volunteer fire departments and rescue squads who evacuated residents, and were on hand to pump the muddy waters out of homes. Among them were the East River, Bluewell, Green Valley, Glenwood, Oakvale, Bluefield, and Princeton fire departments and rescue squads. Their combined numbers totaled more than 150 men and women. It is of utmost importance that the members of a community and its surrounding areas come together, as the people of Mercer County have, in order to overcome such catastrophes. A strong community effort can have excellent results despite the dire conditions which may exist. Local, State, and Federal officials surveyed the ravaged communities of Mercer county. Having heard the stories of the fear and heartache which the flood victims suffered, and having seen the damage first hand, the State Office of Emergency Services made the request to Governor Gaston Caperton that he seek a disaster declaration for the area. On July 5, the Governor signed the request for Mercer County to be declared a disaster area, and then forwarded it to President Clinton. On the same day I sent a letter to the President urging my strongest possible support for the disaster relief request, and expressed agreement with the Governor in that the disaster is larger than can be effectively handled by the State. I am pleased to say that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Mercer County for Federal relief assistance on July 12. The communities are now one step further on the road to recovery, and I would like to personally thank the men and women of these organizations for the hard work that they have put into this effort. Their contributions and good will shall be well remembered by those whose suffering and anguish have been lessened by such caring and humanitarian people.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, how to get rich at the taxpayers' expense under the patent feature of the mining law of 1872; that is the question here today, and let me count for my colleagues the number of ways: In Nevada a company that is 70 percent owned by the Anglo-American conglomerate, those wonderful folks from South Africa, is seeking title to Federal lands, Federal lands. All of our names are on the deed with an estimated 1.1 billion dollars' of gold. In return, the American taxpayers would receive a measly $5,080. Meanwhile, in Montana mining claims have been staked on Federal lands with an estimated 3.4 billion dollars' worth of platinum minerals, and under the mining law of 1872 the Government will have to sell that land to this company for a mere $12,660. Wow, wow, over 3 billion dollars' worth of valuable minerals owned by the Federal Government in exchange for just over $12,000. And then, my colleagues, there is my all-time favorite, the amazing and true story of that little old mining claim that grew up into a huge Hilton Hotel. My colleagues, there is this man in Arizona that stakes a mining claim, 61 acres to be exact, and under the mining law he bought them from the Government for just $155. I say to my colleagues, Now, under the mining law, once you receive title to your mining claims, which is called a patent, there is nothing that says you have to actually, well, mine the land. Oh, no. Far from it. Instead, today these mining claims are the site of a huge Hilton Hotel overlooking Phoenix. Mr. Chairman, for $190 a night guests stay in spacious two-room suites complete with fully stocked refrigerators and wet bars. They are invited to enjoy 18-hole golf courses, desert jeep tours, and sea-salt pedicures, but for their 61 acres, all the taxpayers received was $155, and for the $155 the so-called miner paid the Government for these claims, he estimates that his share of the Hilton Hotel is now worth about $6 billion. Some of my colleagues may be wondering just how could this be? This is too incredible to be true. Well, it is true. The bottom line, my colleagues, is that, if we do not pass this Klug- Rahall amendment, the United States may be forced to sell off 133,000 acres of Federal lands, lands owned by all of us as American taxpayers, containing approximately 15 billion dollars' worth of gold, silver, and other hardrock minerals, for either $2.50 or $5 an acre. That is what is at risk today. That is what is in the patent application pipeline. This patent moratorium was passed in the previous Congress as part of this same appropriation bill, and I urge my colleagues today to continue this patent moratorium in place until this Congress can enact comprehensive mining law reform. We came close in the last session of Congress. We were not able to finally deliver and see it into law, but this session of Congress I am hopeful we can move with comprehensive mining reform legislation, and, until we do, let us keep this patent moratorium in place.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Klug] yielding me 5 minutes to join him in strong support of this amendment, and, before proceeding with my remarks, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii [Mr. Abercrombie]. I rise in strong support of the amendment.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the [[Page H 7119]] gentlewoman from California [Ms. Harman] . (Ms. HARMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller]. (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, one important fact that we should not overlook in this debate is that the ability to obtain a patent has nothing whatsoever to do with the ability to mine. Ever since we started, since I started the effort to reform the Mining Law of 1872 in the mid 1980's, hundreds of thousands of applications have gone into the Bureau of Land Management, everybody trying to seek a patent. Yet the Bureau can only approve less than 10 a year. It takes 4 years now before you can have a patent go through the process, and yet mining still goes on these patent applications. So the ability to mine is not affected whatsoever by the ability to obtain a patent. The patent process is obsolete.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, due to a delayed flight on July 17, 1995, I was forced to miss rollcall vote 512 on H.R. 1977, the Stearns amendment to reduce the bill's $99.5 million for the NEA to $89.5 million, beginning the phase out of the agency over 2 years rather than 3 years as envisioned under the bill. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 512.

Mr. RAHALL

Mr. RAHALL. Well, the gentleman does not take into account that the ARC has created jobs over the years of its existence. Creation of jobs means revenue generated----

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman makes an excellent point for the ARC by the example he uses that the ARC has been helpful to regional and local economies in the Appalachian region. The EDA is now trying to take that same example and, by the reforms we are helping the EDA to make, take the successes of the ARC and spread it across the country and help regions such as the gentleman points out in Utah. But let us not zero out the ARC. It has been so successful by involving local communities at the grassroots level, taking their input and bringing it up; a bottoms-up effort. That is exactly what we ought to be spreading to the EDA as the gentleman points out.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. RAHALL. The gentleman speaks of this great revolution, Mr. Chairman. It seems like this gentleman is speaking about an economic Jihad against all Federal Government. That seems to be the best description of the revolution to which the gentleman referred.

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chairman, I associate myself with the comments of my colleague and friend from West Virginia. The gentleman has made an excellent statement. I think the points the gentleman has made are very important. It shows the people of the Appalachian region are finally taking their economic destinies in their own hands. This is all the more important a reason to keep this program going. The $142 million contained in H.R. 1905 for the ARC, represents a 50- percent reduction in funds compared with fiscal year 1995--which was set at $283 million. The ARC reauthorization bill, reported out of subcommittee, reflects a 35-percent cut in authorized funding levels--set at $182 million. I repeat--this funding is a 50-percent cut in funding for a vitally important program--the ARC. Many of my colleagues are arguing that they voted for the Kasich budget, and therefore will have to vote for the Klug amendment to kill the ARC. That is no longer a fact. The budget conference report does contain funding for the ARC--Mr. Kasich having agreed to its funding in conference with the Senate. Thirteen Governors--eight Republicans and five Democrats-- representing the Appalachian region, have asked you to defeat the Klug amendment. Support 21 million Americans who live in Appalachia, in more than 400 distressed counties, who are just now entering the mainstream of America's economy--who are just now taking control of their economic destines and becoming contributing taxpayers. Don't take away their only means of breaking the cycle of poverty. Defeat the Klug amendment. In addition, the ARC reauthorization bill, which has been marked up by the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Development, reflects a 35-percent reduction in the authorization level for ARC in the out years. We have done our best to be a part of spending cuts and deficit reduction with respect to ARC funding--and we believe the $142 million in this bill, down from $283 million in fiscal year 1995, reflects our fair share toward reaching those important goals. I am reminded, Mr. Chairman, of a newspaper article from one of our State newspapers, written by a reporter who has no love for the ARC. Ironically, in his effort to be caustic about the ARC, the reporter inadvertently used words that, in fact, tell you what is good about the program. The lead sentence in the article stated: If you drive a car, flush a toilet, or swallow a gulp of water in West Virginia, you have felt the influence of the ARC. That statement is a statement of fact--and something I believe we can be proud of. Indeed, the funds that have come from ARC appropriations over the years have been used to make safe drinking water available to hundreds of small, isolated communities whose children would never have been safe from disease and possible death from impure elements in their drinking water had ARC not been there to provide it. More than 700,000 Appalachians now have access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The funds have been used to build the Appalachian Development Highway--3,025 miles of road linking rural, isolated towns and hamlets to the rest of the State--and to the rest of the world--for the first time. Through ARC funds, we were able to move towering, rugged mountains out of the path of those who needed to be able to travel beyond their small towns to find good jobs, better homes, an education--a way to break the cycle of poverty. But aside from water and sewer projects, and aside from highway development, there is the fact that the ARC has helped develop my State's travel and tourism industry--an industry that is crucial to continued job creation in our State. ARC has also funded adult literacy programs so that unemployed persons needing to read and write in order to find a job, can get that help. ARC helped the Governor's cabinet on children and families plan on how to distribute scarce resources so that the most needy children would be served. ARC funds assisted the State in a tremendously successful effort to teach real West Virginia State history in grades four through eight throughout the public school system. We are really proud of the way the funds have been used to upgrade the quality of education of Appalachia's children. ARC funds have gone to create or assist 766 businesses, creating 8,000 new jobs. A network of more than 400 primary care clinics and hospitals has been completed with ARC funding, now serving 4 million Appalachians a year. There are 13 States in the Appalachian Region--and all 13 Governors of those States--eight of whom are Republicans, five of whom are Democrats--all hope and pray that you will defeat the Klug amendment and save the ARC so that it can continue to help those living at and below poverty levels--to help raise themselves up and, as I've said before, to break the cycle of poverty that surrounds them in Appalachia. There are more than 400 counties in the 13-State region, where 21 million people reside, and who are just now being brought into the mainstream of the American economy, making them contributors to society rather than drains on our national resources. People in Appalachia, through ARC funding, have been enabled--empowered--to take control of their lives, of their economic destinies, and become contributing taxpayers to the Nation's economy. When I see a newspaper article, intended to deride the ARC, begin with the words, ``If you've ever driven a car, taken a drink of [[Page H 6864]] water, or flushed a toilet, you've felt the influence of the ARC,'' then I know that ARC is working just as it was intended to work. For if any one of you here on this floor didn't have a toilet to flush, or didn't have safe drinking water available to you and your children, or didn't have a decent road to drive on--you'd darn well be wondering what the Federal Government was spending your tax dollars on. In West Virginia, and in 12 other Appalachian States, we're sending their taxes back to them where, at their discretion, decisions are made as to how it will be spent. This is a model program that ought to appeal to every Member on this floor--conservative to liberal--because it sends tax dollars where they are needed, and allows the recipient population to decide where those dollars will go. The ARC model could very well be a better model than block grants for turning Federal programs back to the States. Think about it. Reject the Klug amendment. Save the ARC.