Rick Renzi

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 161, the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act. This legislation facilitates a land exchange in northern Arizona of private land within the Yavapai Ranch for Forest Service land in the northern portion of the state and establishes a water resource planning and management partnership in the Verde River Basin. This legislation accomplishes several goals in northern Arizona. First, it will preserve the pristine areas within Yavapai Ranch for wildlife and recreation, by consolidating a 110 square mile area in the Prescott National Forest. This area is adjacent to the Juniper Mesa Wilderness Area and will help preserve precious habitat for ponderosa pine, alligator juniper and pronghorn antelope. Second, the bill provides the City of Flagstaff with the opportunity to acquire land to expand and improve Pulliam Airport. This legislation will allow the City of Flagstaff to develop a new city park and recreational areas and obtain ownership of land near their water treatment plant. This is critical to the City of Flagstaff's future by providing economic development and affordable housing. The Northern Arizona Land Exchange Act will also allow the City of Williams to acquire land for its well sites, water storage tanks and wastewater facility and drinking water treatment plants. Until recently, the City of Williams relied completely on surface water supplies to service the community, however, surface water reservoirs in Williams are well below their needed capacity. This legislation will assist Williams in meeting their water challenges in the future by providing new land for well drilling sites. Finally, this legislation ensures that six summer youth camps, serving between 10 and 12 thousand children a year, have the opportunity to acquire the land and benefit from full ownership and management of this land. S. 161 ensures that stringent water conservation and water use restrictions must be met for any future development. In addition, any development must also comply with the State of Arizona's surface and ground water laws, as well as local community planning standards. This legislation also creates the Verde River Basin Partnership to help resolve water issues. The goal of this collaborative group is to develop a water resource management plan and submit this plan to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Arizona. Nothing in this section will undermine state and local water laws. In fact, this legislation's partnership is simply a forum for planning and working together on the Verde Basin's pressing water issues. As such, there is a very serious expectation that the Partnership will reach out to everyone in the Basin's communities as it creates its Plan. Holding town meetings, meeting with all levels of local government and releasing draft documents for the general public's comment are just three items that the Partnership is expected to perform. I am confident that the Partnership will truly be accountable to the local communities who live in the backyard of the Verde River. These local citizens have asked for and deserve the very best in having their voices heard and the legislation will meet that need. This legislation will benefit the public, the many communities and camps in northern Arizona that will receive opportunities for future economic development, and the natural beauty of the Yavapai Ranch. In addition, the science-based water resource planning and management partnership created by this legislation will provide much- needed research in this sensitive area. Bringing the Yavapai Ranch into federal ownership is in the best interest of the public, and the Forest Service has indicated that it would otherwise be unable to acquire these parcels. I urge my colleagues to support S. 161, the Northern Arizona Land Exchange Act and Verde River Basin Partnership Act.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations and recognition to Ms. Kathleen Turner as she completes her tour of duty as the Chief, Office for Congressional Affairs at the Defense Intelligence Agency. In her current duties, she is responsible for all DIA interaction with the U.S. Congress and serves as the senior advisor on legislative matters to the Director and General Defense Intelligence Program Manager. Ms. Turner is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Staff College, the Council for Excellence in Government Fellow Program and the DCI's Intelligence Fellows Program. Ms. Turner has held intelligence and management positions of increasing responsibility and importance within DIA. She began her professional career in DIA in 1981 as an analyst of Soviet Strategic Forces in the Research Directorate, joined the Senior Executive Service in 1990, culminating in her current position as the Director for Congressional Affairs, where she serves as the senior advisor on legislative matters to the Director of DIA and General Defense Intelligence Program Manager. During her 24 year career at DIA, Ms. Turner has been awarded the DIA Director's Award for Exceptional Civilian Service and the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. Fortunately for the Congress, Ms. Turner is not going far. She has accepted the position of Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence where she will serve as a trusted and valuable congressional advisor to Ambassador Negroponte. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Turner has already enjoyed a long and luminous career in intelligence, and as she moves on to the DNI staff, I hope all my colleagues will recognize the extraordinary contributions Ms. Kathleen Turner has made to our National Security as a lifelong professional intelligence officer. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our confidence in her continued ability and willingness to serve the Nation . . . Ms. Turner is a true national asset in the intelligence business.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation, with Congressman Pastor and Congressman Hayworth, to authorize the National Park Service to pay for services performed by subcontractors under a contract issued for work completed at the Grand Canyon National Park. In fiscal years 2002 and 2003, the Grand Canyon National Park issued approximately 43 task orders to Pacific General, Inc. (PGI), under an Indefinite Deliver/Indefinite Quantity contract. The value of these task orders was more than $17 million for several construction projects throughout the Park. According to invoices sent to the Park, PGI certified that payments were being sent to subcontractors and suppliers. However, in January 2004, complaints were received by numerous subcontractors that they had not received payment from PGI. The National Park Service paid more than $10 million to PGI. Of this amount, PGI did not pay $1.3 million to subcontractors who performed the work. The Washington Contracting and Procurement Office of the National Park Service performed an acquisition management review. In this review, the National Park Service it was discovered that the Park had failed to ensure that PGI obtained the necessary payment and performance bonds required by the National Park Service and required under the Miller Act (40 D.S.C. 270a). On February 6, 2004, the National Park Service suspended further payment to PGI and issued a suspension notice to cease activity by the contractor. PGI has ceased business and it is unlikely that the Federal Government will recover the $1.3 million issued to PGI. The subcontractors who were not paid by PGI fall into two categories. The first category consists of those subcontractors that performed work on various projects where the National Park Service had already paid PGI for the work. The second category of subcontractor is composed of subcontractors who performed work on various projects where the National Park Service had not paid PGI for the work. The National Park Service has withheld $906,335 in payment for this work that will be paid to the second category of subcontractors that performed work. The National Park Service has been unable to pay the first category of subcontractors who performed work in the Grand Canyon National Park because contract law prohibits payment directly to subcontractors due to the lack of a direct, contractual relationship between the parties. Mr. Speaker, this legislation authorizes the National Park Service to pay the $1.3 million to subcontractors who have performed work at Grand Canyon National Park and were not paid by PGI. This legislation only addresses this situation in the Grand Canyon National Park and the $1.3 million that the Park paid to PGI for work performed by the subcontractors. Many small businesses in Arizona, Utah and Washington, have been affected by this unfortunate contract mismanagement. This legislation will fix a grave inequity for many of our small businesses and ensure that these companies are paid for work already performed in the Grand Canyon National Park. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor the Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona for its work to assist Native American Veterans by donating the materials for the Lori Piestewa Veteran's Center in Arizona that was recently featured on the popular ABC TV show, ``Extreme Makeover--Home Edition'' seen by 20 million viewers on May 22, 2005. The Center is dedicated to the memory of Specialist Lori Piestewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe and a native of Tuba City, Arizona. She is believed to be the first female Native American soldier killed during wartime while serving in the United States Army. I would like to thank Cavco Homes for its generous donation of the Veteran's Center. It took approximately 400 employees from Cavco's Litchfield, Arizona plant working around the clock for four days to complete the building. The home has several large open areas for displays and meetings, a large kitchen and dining room, and two offices or conference rooms. The house also contains a handicap-accessible bathroom, special lighting throughout the interior spaces, and a stucco exterior that fits in with the Santa Fe style architecture so prevalent in the Southwest. I would also like to recognize the Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona for working with Extreme Makeover--Home Edition for almost a year to help make this project a reality. The Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona provides thousands of quality, affordable homes each year to Arizona residents and provides jobs for over 6,500 Arizona citizens in approximately 2,600 industry related businesses in Arizona. The Piestewa Veteran's Center will serve as a constant reminder of the courage and dedicated service of our Native American Veterans and will provide them with a special place that they can ``call their own.'' Finally, I would like to commend all of the Native American Veterans--both past and present for their dedicated service to our country. Therefore, I am pleased to submit these remarks to the Congressional Record in honor of the Native American Veterans who served our country with distinction for decades; in appreciation to Cavco Homes for their generous donation of the Piestewa Veterans Center which was built by 400 dedicated employees at their Arizona Litchfield Plant; and in recognition of the Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona (MHIAZ) and ABC TV's Extreme Makeover--Home Edition who helped make this veteran's center a reality.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 394) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to evaluate the significance of the Colonel James Barrett Farm in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System as part of the Minute Man National Historical Park, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker H.R. 394, introduced by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) and amended by the Committee on Resources, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to determine the significance of the Colonel James Barrett Farm in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its feasibility for inclusion as part of the Minute Man National Historical Park. During the Revolutionary War, the 5-acre farm was instrumental for its role as a storage station for cannons, gunpowder, and other munitions. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1340) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to extend the date after which surplus funds in the wildlife restoration fund become available for apportionment.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 1340 introduced by the distinguished chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator James Inhofe. This legislation can help fund repairs to the environmental damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina to the gulf coast, as well as help other high priority wetlands throughout the United States. When the North American Wetlands Conservation Act was enacted in 1989, it directed that money appropriated to this program was to be deposited into an interest-bearing account and that the interest earned could be used for conservation purposes. In the past 16 years the interest has amounted to $235 million or nearly one-third of the total Federal investment in the North American Wetlands Conservation Program. As a result of this money, millions of acres of critical wetlands habitat has been conserved, maintained, purchased and restored. Those wetlands are essential to the survival of not only millions of migratory waterfowl, but, more importantly, to the people who live along our coasts. Most of southern Louisiana, including New Orleans, is wetlands. And those communities, as well as Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama, can benefit from the projects funded under this bill. Unfortunately, the authority to retain earned interest expires on September 30 of 2005. S. 1340 extends that provision until 2016, and this legislation is supported by the Bush administration, a host of conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsman Foundation, and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Mr. Speaker, I urge a yea vote so that we can send this conservation measure to the President. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RENZI

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

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 409) to provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest, California, and for other purposes.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 409, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), provides for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest of California. The bill would exchange 160 acres of Forest Service property, of which only 15 acres is above water, for 80 acres of private land surrounded by National Forest. The landowner has agreed to pay the difference of $50,000 to the Forest Service to finalize the land transfer. After the completion of the exchange, the landowner will convey the property to the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts, who have run a camp on the land through a special use permit for the last 30 years. The bill will benefit both the Forest Service and the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 28, 2005 I was unavoidably detained and missed the House of Representative's vote on the adoption of the Conference Report on H.R. 2361, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 2361.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 28, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and missed the House of Representatives vote on an Adjournment Resolution. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on the resolution.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 28, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and missed the House of Representatives' vote on the adoption of the Conference Report on H.R. 2985, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 2985.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Chairman very much for the opportunity to speak on this legislation, for his leadership, and for the time that he has spent in mentoring me, particularly on this piece of legislation. The bill that we are considering today, the Servicemembers' Group Life Enhancement Act of 2005, makes permanent and improves a significant change which passed a few months ago. In May, as part of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Act, Congress passed the provision that allows the armed services and members of the armed services to purchase insurance coverage to protect against traumatic disabling injuries. This new traumatic injury protection program will be up and running in December, and will protect our servicemen and women against the economic consequences of severe disabilities while suffered on Active Duty. It will greatly assist our Armed Forces and their families during a servicemember's hospitalization time and their rehabilitation period, as well as their transition back to full employment. At a time injured servicemembers and their family need to concentrate on physical recovery and emotional well-being, they are too often burdened with mounting financial debt, and this program goes a long way to help them. Hospitalization following a traumatic injury often requires the servicemember's family members to leave work for an extended period of time to be with their loved ones, thus potentially losing a source of income. They incur tremendous costs, such as travel and living expenses, at a very stressful time. Travel, housing, food and child care costs can often amount to tens of thousands of dollars, and this insurance program will provide up to $100,000 to these servicemembers to help pay for these indirect costs. We ask our young people to volunteer their service, and they serve with distinction. This program will be especially important to members of our National Guard and Reserve in which we have a moral obligation to provide the necessary means for our servicemember to transition back to civilian life. Medical technology has made great gains in the past years. Many of our soldiers who would have been killed in battle now come home with severe disabilities. We need to continue to assist these wounded warriors as they adjust to life with their new disabilities. Therefore, it is vital that we recognize the difficult sacrifices made by our military and their families, and we do all that we can to assist them when they need it most. Our Nation must never forget our wounded warriors, and this legislation goes a long way to help them and to recognize that we care. I thank the committee. I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Chairman Buyer) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) for their approval, and I especially thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), the chairman of the subcommittee, for his help. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2475. As a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from Arizona, securing our borders has become one of our top priorities. Intelligence and border security go hand in hand as America strengthens and secures its borders, particularly in the Southwest. This bill funds activities necessary to keep America safe and, under the gentleman from Michigan's leadership, for the first time this bill helps to provide our Nation with actionable intelligence when it comes to border security. This legislation addresses the critical need for enhanced counternarcotics and counterterrorism collection and analysis throughout Mexico and Central and South America. It provides full funding to the director of National Intelligence to develop and implement a comprehensive intelligence collection strategy to help stem the illegal flow of drugs, contraband and special interest aliens. In addition, this bill authorizes the necessary funds to provide the intelligence community the resources required to fulfill the intelligence operations in Iraq and other pressing intelligence missions around the globe. The bill increases the funding over last year that provides additional personnel billets for linguists, analysts and human collection, invests in new facilities and training opportunities, and develops innovative technical tools. In line with the President's priorities, this legislation significantly enhances our global human intelligence collection capabilities. Human intelligence requires boots on the ground across the globe and those boots need linguistic skills, in-depth cultural and tradecraft training, technical tools and a dedicated support staff to be successful. H.R. 2475 provides both the people and the infrastructure to expand and improve U.S. human intelligence collection in regions around the world. Experts estimate that almost 100 foreign entities, including both state and nonstate actors, actively engage in espionage against the United States. H.R. 2475 significantly reduces these threats and improves our counterintelligence activities. Intelligence is our first line of defense. Actionable intelligence saves lives and determines battlefield victory. I ask my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill and help reduce the threat and make America more secure.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, with Congressman Ed Pastor, Congressman Jim Kolbe, Congressman J.D. Hayworth, Congressman John Shadegg, Congressman Jeff Flake and Congressman Trent Franks, I rise today to introduce legislation to facilitate a land exchange in the State of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2005, facilitates a land exchange between the Resolution Copper Company and the United States in southeast Arizona. The exchange will convey 3,025 acres of National Forest land to Resolution Copper near the Town of Superior. In return, the United States will acquire 4,814 acres of non-federal conservation land. The 3,025 acres of Forest Service land to be traded to Resolution Copper will facilitate future exploration, and possible development, of what may be one of the largest deposits of copper ore discovered in North America. Approximately seventy-five percent of the land is blanketed by federally-authorized mining claims owned by Resolution Copper. This provides Resolution Copper with the right to explore and develop mineral deposits on this land. Six parcels, totaling 4,814 acres, will be conveyed by Resolution Copper to the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The largest of the six parcels is a 3,073 acres ranch, Seven B Ranch, near Mammoth, Arizona. The parcel borders a Nature Conservancy preserve and runs 6.8 miles along both sides of the San Pedro River, a river recognized for its wildlife and bird habitat. Another parcel, the Appleton Ranch, inside the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch and Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, is intermingled with federal and National Audubon Society lands which are managed as an environmental refuge and ecological laboratory. Mr. Speaker, the public acquisition of the six parcels will benefit the Federal Government and the public. This land exchange has been endorsed by the Arizona Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, Sonoran Institute, Arizona Game and Fish Department and several other groups. In addition, Governor Janet Napolitano wrote a letter supporting the exchange. In addition to the land exchange, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2005 places a permanent conservation easement on the 562 acre Apache Leap portion of the land Resolution Copper will acquire from the Forest Service. This easement will permanently protect the surface of the Apache Leap area from any disturbance that could occur during mining. The legislation also requires Resolution Copper to pay up to $500,000 to finance the design, construction and access to the new campground to replace Oak Flat Campground. In addition, the legislation allows continued use of the Oak Flat Campground for 2 years after the enactment of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I will be remiss if I do not recognize concerns raised by the climbing community on their potential loss of recreational use caused by this exchange. I am still hopeful that Resolution Copper will continue a productive dialogue with the climbing community. I have included placeholder language on page 20 of the legislation entitled ``Additional Rock Climbing Provisions.'' This language represents my firm commitment to address this issue before this legislation moves forward. The legislation does include language that requires Resolution Copper to pay up to $250,000 to access and develop a new climbing area. Resolution Copper is in the process of identifying these new climbing areas. I am hopeful that Resolution Copper will include the climbing groups in this important process. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2005.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader for yielding me this time. I recall being taught that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, and yet it grows into the mightiest of trees. And the same can be said of the human embryo, something so very small, so unseen by the human eye, and yet so special at the very beginning of life that it needs to be safeguarded. The real heart of this argument is whether something so innocent should be killed and whether Americans should pay to facilitate the government-sanctioned experimentation on human life based upon a prospect, based upon a maybe, based upon a possibility, based upon the potential. The government already takes 285 million of our tax dollars each year and funnels it into pro-abortion organizations. The leadership of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) undermines my ability to love my country, undermines our patriotism. I say stand fast against the secret pollsters and vote ``no'' on this legislation.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1046.