Ralph Regula

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to thank those that supported the rule; and to all Members, I believe that this bill today is something we can point to with pride in supporting it. I know there are differences on how we approached it, but this bill provides for the future of this Nation in terms of our assets, our land and our unique ecology; and I hope that all of my colleagues will look carefully at all the things that are in this bill, to realize what it means, not only to your district, but to the Nation. As my term as chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations nears an end with this conference agreement, I would especially like to take the opportunity to thank the Members of the subcommittee. I might say that this conference was unique. For the first time in my 6 years on this subcommittee, the conference report was signed by every member of the conference committee from both parties in both Houses, and it will be supported by the administration. I thank the Members for their support as we did work together to produce this agreement. Especially I extend my appreciation to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) for their hard work during our conference and throughout the year. Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the excellent staff on the subcommittee who have dedicated hours, numerous hours on this bill. And I wanted to also make a comment here, and that is that this bill is in the true tradition of Sid Yates, who was the previous chairman of this subcommittee. I think Sid would be very proud of what is in this bill. In his many years as chairing the subcommittee, much of what we have done are things that he cherished and worked for. And I say to you, Sid, if you are watching, that we thank you for all of your good service. This bill today perhaps is an accumulation of some of the things that you were pushing for for years and years as you chaired the committee. This is a good bill, I say to my colleagues, one that all of us should support. It provides $18.8 billion in the funding for the Department of the Interior and related agencies. It includes wildfire funding, a recognition that the fires are a problem on our 200 million acres of forest land. It has $2.9 billion and of that amount, $1.6 billion is emergency funding. And for those of my colleagues who noticed the size of this bill, keep in mind that we had to address not only fire emergencies, but we also had to address other emergencies that were overlooked in the supplemental appropriations bill. While it is a large number, it does represent a number of dollars that were meant to address the interests of many Members in the House. The conference report includes a new land conservation, preservation and infrastructure improvement title which makes available $12 billion over the next 6 years for programs such as Federal and State land acquisition, urban parks, State and wildlife conservation, PILT and backlog maintenance. State and other conservation programs receive $300 million, $300 million to the States, including a new $50 million State wildlife grant program. We do ask for accountability, and I think that is our responsibility to the taxpayers to say to the States we want you to be accountable in the expenditures of these monies. Also in this report, there is $200 million for PILT, that is $65 million more than what was in the bill that passed the House. And again I think it is a recognition that we have to support these local governments, the schools and local government agencies with some type of substitute for the losses that they have because of the Federal lands, and so I am pleased that we have a very substantial amount in PILT. We have initiated several new funding provisions to prepare for wildfires, wildfires that have swept across the West. There is $128 billion for State and rural fire and economic assistance. We recognize, and I know many of my colleagues watched the shows that the people were coming even from offshore to help fight the wildfires, and, of course, the States and local communities were very instrumental in this effort. We have $377 million to increase wildfire readiness, $422 million for additional wildfire suppression and $277 million for hazardous fuel reduction work. To address the impact of the current fire season, we have also provided $227 million to rehabilitate areas damaged by fires and $351 million to reimburse firefighting costs already incurred. And I say one of the good features is that we try to clean up forests through the readiness programs and through the suppression programs, so that when we get lightning strikes, they do not burn with such intensity, because as you have fuel buildup by failure to thin and so on, you obviously add to the intensity of any blazes. I am especially pleased that we have addressed the numerous operational and maintenance shortfalls. We have $1.4 billion for the operation of the national parks, $25 million more than last year. We have $1.6 billion for the BLM which includes a $66 million increase overall, and $18 million for revision of the Bureau's land management plans, and $356 million for national wildlife refuges. Funding has been included within these operational accounts to address maintenance priorities. This is something I have always been interested in, probably harped on it a little bit, that we must take care of what we have; We recognize this need with an additional amount of funding. We put in $12 billion, a portion of that has to be used for maintenance, because we recognize that while it is nice to build new buildings and buy more land, it is also just as important to take care of what you have. Funding for urban parks has increased to $30 million and funding for State and private forestry is increased by $48 million to $251 million. I think particularly in the case of the urban parks, there is a recognition that as our populations become more urbanized, it is important for the quality of life in urban areas to have parks, install pocket parks, to have trees planted, to enhance the overall quality of the programs and the communities in which our urban population lives. The conference agreement contains funding for a number of important environmental efforts, including South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Initiative, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, a public- private program which is funded at $40 million for wildlife, habitat projects, and $187 million for environmental restoration through the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, which provides funding for cleanup of abandoned mine lands. I wish that number could be more, because I think it really is kind of a sad commentary on what we have done to some of our lands by virtue of mining without any form of reclamation, but we have to do what we can to restore these areas. Up to $10 million of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund may be used for the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, because obviously abandoned mines have an impact on streams through acid mine drainage and other types of pollutants that get into the streams. Further, through funding for the U.S. Geological Survey, scientists can assist our land management agencies in making informed, environmentally sound decisions in natural resources that may not sound like a lot. But that is very important, because it means that these agencies work together. Sometimes I am struck by the fact that agencies almost sound like they serve two different countries, and I am delighted that the USGS will be working with parks and forests and other agencies to use their scientific knowledge which is for the betterment of America. We are pleased to report increases for funding American Indian health care services and education. Funding for the Indian Health Service is $214 million more than fiscal year 2000, for a total of $2.6 billion. I know we are all troubled by what happens in Indian health, and we are recognizing that by substantially increasing this program. Likewise in education, we provided funding for the construction of six new Indian schools from the Bureau of Indian Affairs priority list. We have increased funding for important energy research and conservation programs to address the needs of consumers as we approach what is anticipated to be a difficult winter heating season. Funding for energy conservation is $815 million; and of that, $153 million is provided for weatherization grants that are distributed through local communities. I might say fuel cells show a lot of promise. We are making progress in automobiles and making them more energy efficient. All of those things will help us deal with the crisis, which I think is probably here to stay, over the long period of time; we, therefore, need to be prepared for that. The managers included increases for the several cultural agencies in the bill, including the National Gallery of Art, the U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum, the Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian. Further we have provided $98 million to the National Endowment for the Arts and $7 million for the Challenge America Arts Fund to provide art education funding to rural America and other underserved areas. Let me emphasize that the additional money in the arts is $7 million; it is in a separate account. It will be administered by the NEA, but it is directed to rural America and to underserved areas. We want this to be widespread, small grants. There are a couple of stories in my local paper this week about a small grant of something like $20,000 and what a difference it made in a school program. Funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities is increased to $120.3 million. Mr. Speaker, through this bill, we will be able to accomplish a number of high priority projects for many people across this great Nation, especially in the area of land conservation and habitat restoration. The conference agreement strikes a delicate balance between those in this House who would urge us to go further and provide larger sums and those who believe that in the area of Federal land acquisition, the Federal Government already owns enough. We have a dichotomy among our Members on this subject, but let me say I think we have tried to strike a balance in the way we have handled the funding, and we have made it subject to appropriations. I wanted to say, on the basis of my experience of 28 years in the House, that I have a lot of confidence in the Congress. I mean we have our differences and sometimes we may come to a problem in a different way, but on balance, I have been impressed by the dedication of Members over these years. And I am pleased, frankly, that in the disbursement of the $12 billion for State and Federal land acquisition, the responsibility for appropriating this money rests with the Members of this House. We are elected by the people to make policy decisions, and I believe that in this bill we recognize the importance of that role. I have great confidence that in the years ahead those who have that responsibility will exercise it wisely. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have two technical changes to the conference report that I ask unanimous consent be printed in the Record at this time. First on page 177, the increase of $4 million for heavy vehicle propulsion is an error. The $4 million increase is for advanced power electronics. Secondly, page 135, the Lincoln Pond/Colonial Theater should be Lincoln Road Colony Theater.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and a gentleman who has given this committee great leadership this year. The House has moved its bills expeditiously, and a lot of this is thanks to the chairman of the Committee and the way in which he has handled the responsibilities of leadership.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 603, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 4578) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill). (Mr. HILL of Montana asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, one last comment, I urge all the Members to look at the press release, and my colleagues will see what all is in this bill. I think we will be proud to say I voted for it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw).

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. There has to be accountability.

Mr. REGULA. States have to be accountable.

Mr. REGULA. This is not CARA. The gentleman makes his point very clearly. This is not CARA. It requires accountability on the part of the States. I think if we are disbursing Federal dollars that we collect from the taxpayers throughout the Nation, then we have a right to ask for accountability for that money. That is what we have said. Nevertheless, there is a 293 percent increase for the State Wildlife Grant programs, $50 million for the new program, and an additional amount for the existing programs. It provides $66 million for urban parks and forests, an increase of $33 million, a 100 percent increase over last year, recognizing that it is important in the urban areas to have the development of parks, because this is where the compression of people exists, in our urban areas, and they need open spaces. For that reason we expand that program by 100 percent. Of course, it has been pointed out that there will be 12 billion additional dollars over the next 6 years to be spent on land programs and the acquisition of open spaces in the jurisdictions under this Nation. Certainly, this I think is a remarkable step forward in providing all of these funds. On the more practical side, we have $2.9 billion to deal with fires. We all recognize what has happened in the west, so we have a large amount of money, a very substantial increase. We have increased PILT by $65 million. There is a lot of concern on the part of Westerners that there be additional money spent on PILT. We have increased that very substantially. In the Northeast, we have doubled the funding for home heating oil from $4 million to $8 million. We have a substantial amount for backlogged maintenance. We have had testimony in our committee that there is over $12 billion in backlogged maintenance. We are addressing that problem. We have increased many of the other areas. In the energy field, we are providing for new technology, to recognize the need to meet our energy challenges: fuel cells, weatherization, the development of an 80-mile per gallon automobile. So again, these are important things to the people of America. One that I think reflects the compassion of this bill is Indian health care. We have increased Indian health care $214 million. I am pleased that the committee has supported this funding, because there is a great need. We had some testimony from the American Dental Association that only 25 percent of Native Americans have dental care. That should be 100 percent; if Members can imagine, going without dental care. So we put a large increase in the Indian health care. Parks funding is up. We took care of the south Florida area. As it was mentioned earlier on coastal funding, we have put in $400 million, an increase from $100 million, to deal with the challenges of our coastal States. This will be managed by NOAA. Obviously, NOAA is a Federal agency, but these are Federal dollars. Therefore, we want to give this responsibility to an agency that has experience in dealing with coastal areas. I just think on balance this is a very bipartisan bill. It is very well balanced in meeting all of the needs. I certainly urge my colleagues to support this rule and support the bill.

Mr. REGULA. The people who administer the funds make the decision.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. This is a bipartisan bill. It is a good bill. It is fair. As the gentleman from Wisconsin said, it does not give everybody everything they want, but I think it does a remarkable job of balancing the challenges to those of us wanting to preserve the good things in our natural heritage, along with meeting the needs immediately of the American public. I would urge all of the Members to vote for this rule. If they look at the facts, I am sure they will be convinced that this is a bill that meets the needs of the Nation in a good way. I think that is evident by the fact that every member of the conference, both parties, both Houses, every member, signed the conference report. This is the first time that I can remember that happening, and certainly since I have been chairman. I think it is evidence of the fact that there is strong bipartisan support for the bill. The White House has indicated the President will sign the bill. I think all of America will be benefited by that set of circumstances. I want to specifically address the wildlife conservation issue. There have been some facts bandied around about wildlife conservation which perhaps do not give the full picture. I just want to give Members the accurate facts on it. This bill contains $540 million for Federal and State programs under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This number represents an increase of $93 million over fiscal year 2000, 21 percent. Keep in mind that the fiscal year 2000 bill had the Baca Ranch land acquisition in it, which increased that number considerably. Without that purchase, it would have been much greater in terms of an increase this year. The conference report provides $300 million for State and other conservation programs. That is an increase of $232 million over the fiscal year 2000 bill. Particularly, it has a new $50 million State wildlife grant program, $50 million to the States. All of this is a 293 percent increase. That is not bad, 293 percent to the States for their programs. We have heard from a few States that said, well, you may submit a plan. For shame. Submit a plan? We have a responsibility for accountability.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Alaska.

Mr. REGULA. Is the gentleman saying as to the allocation between Federal and State?

Mr. REGULA. That is not necessarily true. They have to submit a plan.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the conferees on the bill (H.R. 3244) to combat trafficking of persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and slavery-like conditions, in the United States and countries around the world through prevention, through prosecution and enforcement against traffickers, and through protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, have until midnight tonight, September 28, 2000, to file a conference report on the bill.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the managers on the part of the House may have until midnight tonight, September 28, 2000, to file a conference report on the bill (H.R. 4578) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. REGULA. That is absolutely right. It would have to be complete agreement on the part of the conferees.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my strong support for the passage of H.R. 4115, the reauthorization of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. For the past 6 years, I have chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior which provides the Federal funding for this outstanding museum, and I am pleased today to offer my support for its reauthorization. The Holocaust Museum was constructed with private funding in 1993 and today remains a model public, private partnership. As has been said before, it has served something in excess of 13 million visitors and students and dignitaries from all over the world, including 130 foreign countries. The bill to reauthorize the museum is an important document, as it makes important improvements to the museum's overall administration and operation. These changes set the museum on a very positive course for the future and have been recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration. With these changes in place, the museum may continue to carry out its important mission of serving as this country's memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust and of educating us and future generations so that we may prevent such a tragedy from ever again occurring. And I cannot emphasize enough the education role of this museum. Mr. Chairman, I thank you again for the opportunity to express my strong support for this bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my strong support for the passage of H.R. 4115, the authorization of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. For the past six years, I have chaired the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which provides the federal funding for this outstanding museum, and I am pleased today to offer my support for its reauthorization. The Holocaust Museum was constructed with private funding in 1993 and today remains a model public private partnership. Since its opening, the museum has received 13.5 million visitors, including students and dignitaries from all over the United States and 130 foreign countries. The bill to reauthorize the museum is an important document, as it makes important improvements to the museum's overall administration and operation. These changes set the museum on a very positive course for the future and have been recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration. With these changes in place the museum may continue to carry out its important mission of serving as this country's memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust and of educating us and future generations so that we may prevent such a tragedy from ever again occurring. I cannot emphasize enough the important role of the Museum in educating the visitors about this tragedy. Mr. Chairman, thank you again for the opportunity to express my strong support for this bill.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I just was thinking as we reflected on the success of the museum that we should mention that Miles Lerman, who was chairman of the museum board for many years, along with Congressman Sid Yates, who was chairman of the Committee on the Interior working together, really made this a success. I think much of what we have discussed today is a reflection of the initiative of these two individuals and the enormous amount of effort they put into making this museum what it is today with its ability to serve the public and convey a message.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4578) making appropriations for the Department of Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this motion to instruct is a very small and modest amount for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and it just requests that we take the Senate level, which was $600,000 above the House level, a good program. I urge adoption of the motion. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the House on the urgent need for leadership in developing a Comprehensive National Energy Policy. Those of my colleagues who have followed my floor speeches over the past 25 years know that this issue is not a new one for me. As a Member of this House during the 1970s when gasoline shortages resulted in long lines at the pump and even when the crisis subsided, I have continued to speak on the need for a balanced energy policy which provides for a diversity of energy options for Americans. Today, Mr. Speaker, recent spikes in the world crude oil prices, the tight gasoline supply, and the resulting extremely high prices at the pump, especially across the Midwest, again focus our attention on the urgent need for a comprehensive, and I emphasize comprehensive, policy. Today we have crossed the 50 percent threshold on oil imports. We now import 52 percent of our petroleum, and by 2020, that number is projected to reach 64 percent. This number is important because, unlike in other sectors of the energy market, we are dependent on petroleum-based fuels for more than 90 percent of our transportation market, automobiles, trucks and airplanes. In 1999, U.S. consumers used four times as much gasoline as they did 50 years ago. In the past, our tendency has been to try to solve the problem with a short-term solution, then continue with our same habits. However, I urge my colleagues to consider the long-term benefits of developing a comprehensive, balanced policy for our Nation's energy. Our Nation depends upon affordable, reliable energy in every sector to retain our strong economy. Energy is too important for us to merely hope for the best. Mr. Speaker, today I recommend that we bring not just the Department of Energy into this debate, but the numerous other Federal agencies which have a direct impact on our Nation's energy supply through various regulations on how we produce, transport, and consume energy. These include the Department of Interior, the Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to name a few. All of these agencies impact the energy we use every day. Further, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Postal Service as major users of energy must also be at the table. Today about 85 percent of our energy use comes from traditional fuel sources, coal, oil and natural gas. The Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2020 that market share will reach nearly 90 percent. Our future use of these traditional fuels depends upon our continued research into ways to use these more efficiently, more cleanly, while, at the same time, we expand research on alternative fuels. We must do both. We cannot ignore the fact that we have more coal in this country in Btus than the rest of the world has recoverable oil. Coal is an excellent energy source, and we should be supporting research that will ultimately provide us with zero emission coal-fired power plants. International markets are an important component of our energy policy. As we look at the world energy situation, 2 billion people lack access to electricity. Current electric power capacity will have to triple over the next 50 years to meet this demand. The worldwide market for new power equipment is expected to be $2 trillion per decade for at least the next 5 decades. China alone plans to construct eight to 10 power plants a year for the next 20 years, 75 percent of which will burn coal. This fact alone is the reason we must focus on continued research to develop the most energy-efficient, cleanest-burning coal technology possible. Natural gas holds great promise in many energy sectors. First, its great abundance in the United States, as well as all of North America, together with its clean-burning attributes, make it a fuel of choice for future power generation in this country. In the fiscal year 2001 interior appropriations bills we have funded a major natural gas infrastructure program. Pipelines and refueling stations are necessary to improve access to clean, efficient domestically produced natural gas. Our dependence on petroleum-based fuels, gasoline and diesel fuel, for our transportation sector is a more difficult situation to address. We must continue to support alternatives, including natural gas and electric vehicles. We need to look at how we can make transportation fuels less polluting and how we can combine the use of these fuels with other cutting edge technologies and hybrid vehicles. Again, there is a focus on these efforts in the Interior appropriations bill for next year. The Interior appropriations bill has a strong focus on conservation of our energy and its end use. While we are doing what we can to provide necessary funding for research to improve emissions and efficiency in our Nation's energy use through funding provided to the Department of Energy, we must examine other important components of our energy picture. Policies which cut off supplies and access are not for tomorrow. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join together to develop a truly comprehensive energy policy. Failure to do so will make today's crisis a permanent crisis.