Rick Renzi

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4471) to clarify the loan guarantee authority under title VI of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to have on the House floor today H.R. 4471, the Homeownership Opportunities For Native Americans Act, which I introduced earlier this week with my colleague, the gentleman from Utah. (Mr. Matheson). This bill simply returns the guarantee level for the title VI program to 95 percent. HUD had been administering guarantees at this level until OMB, for technical statutory reasons, reduced it to 80 percent. The lower guaranteed level would mean less participation in this program. Private investors are slowly becoming more comfortable investing in Indian country, and it is critical that this relationship remain in a fostered environment. To this point, asking investors to accept a 20 percent risk rather than the 5 percent that they had before will do nothing but impede the much-needed development in these areas. This past May, the Subcommittee on Housing of the Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona. We saw children with asthma living in houses with dirt floors and collapsing ceilings. Decreasing the guarantee rate essentially decreases the chance that these children will be able to move from homes in deplorable conditions into safe and healthy homes. The title VI loan guarantee assists federally recognized tribes and tribally designated housing entities who want to finance eligible, affordable housing activities, but are unable to secure financing without the assistance of Federal guarantees. This program is very well collateralized, as tribes must pledge current and future housing block grant guarantee appropriations for the repayment of these guaranteed funds. This program has administered $77 million in guarantees and has not experienced even one single default. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Ney); the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the ranking member; and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) for their enthusiasm on this issue and the support behind this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green).

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time, and 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 yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3378) to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign countries, as amended.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, marine sea turtles have been a vital component of our ocean ecosystems for more than 100 million years. As recently as the 19th century, marine turtles were abundant. Sea turtles live long lives, mature relatively late, and migrate thousands of miles. They are also particularly vulnerable to exploitation and habitat loss. Sadly, populations of marine turtles have been devastated by foreign fishing practices, the destruction of essential nesting habitat, massive poaching of turtle eggs, meat and shells, and ocean pollution. As a result, all seven remaining species of sea turtles are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna. Six of the species that spend at least part of their lives in U.S. waters are protected under the Endangered Species Act. In an effort to prevent these species from becoming extinct, I am urging the adoption of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act. This legislation is modeled after highly successful laws to conserve African elephants and highly endangered populations of Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and neotopical migratory birds. It is a proven formula, and small investment of U.S. dollars will make a difference in the conservation and recovery of marine turtles throughout our oceans. With this money, the Secretary of the Interior can approve conservation grants for a variety of projects. These projects include the monitoring of trade in turtle products, satellite telemetry to track the movement of sea turtles, the protection of nesting beaches, and efforts to stop poaching by assisting law enforcement officials and educational outreach to communities that have turtle habitat. There is broad support for this legislation. Such diverse organizations as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Fisheries Institute, the Shrimp Council, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Ocean Conservancy all testified in support of the legislation. I ask my colleagues to support and urge passage of H.R. 3378. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 bill (H.R. 2055) to amend Public Law 89-366 to allow for an adjustment in the number of free roaming horses permitted in Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2055, introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) from the Committee on Resources, would allow for the adjustment in the number of free-roaming horses permitted in the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Specifically, H.R. 2055 would permit the number of free-roaming horses to increase to 110 from its current level of 100 with a targeted population of 120 to 130 horses, and would not permit the removal of the horses unless the removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain the viability of the herd. H.R. 2055 is supported by the majority and the minority of the Committee on Resources and the administration. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Madam 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. 3504, the bill under consideration.

Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3504) to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to redesignate the American Indian Education Foundation as the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education.

Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I should like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) for scheduling this important legislation. H.R. 3504 would redesignate the American Indian Education Foundation as the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian education. The American Indian Education Foundation was chartered by Congress under the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act in the 106th Congress. Its purpose is to further the educational opportunities of the American Indian students who attend BIA schools. This legislation was championed by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). Unfortunately, under passage of the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act, it was discovered the name ``American Indian Education Foundation'' is already used by an existing nonprofit organization which holds the trademark to the name. Thus, the foundation Congress intended to establish cannot get incorporated unless we change the name. This issue may be noncontroversial and technical in nature, but if we do not correct the organization's name, the fund's staff and board of directors cannot get to work on improving the education of American Indian students. I would also like to thank at this time the leadership of America's first Native American college, the NA College, located in the Navajo Nation, for their advocacy and unwavering support in advancing the educational ideals of our Native American Indian students. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time, and I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1663) to replace certain Coastal Barrier Resources System maps, as amended.

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

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1663, introduced by Senator Elizabeth Dole, will remove 284 acres of private fastland, wetlands and open water property that has been mistakenly included within the Coastal Barrier Resources System. A similar bill, H.R. 2501, has been proposed by our colleague the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre). Specifically this legislation would replace two incorrectly drawn maps with updated digitized maps that accurately reflect the boundaries of the Cape Fear unit in North Carolina. This unit, which is referred to as an otherwise protected area, was established to protect certain public lands already held for conservation purposes. Regrettably, because of honest mistakes, the boundaries delineated on the maps erroneously include private property that is not an inholding. Under the terms of this measure, 26 homes and a number of undeveloped lots on Bald Head Island, North Carolina will be removed from the system. At the same time, however, 6,760 acres of additional military and State park lands will be added to the coastal barrier system for a net gain of 6,476 acres. During the hearing on this legislation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service testified in support of this needed correction and stated that the private properties in question are outside the boundaries of the conservation area and are not held for conservation purposes. I urge support of this bill so that these homeowners can obtain the Federal flood insurance they need to protect their property and so that the boundaries of this coastal barrier unit can accurately reflect those lands that should be held for conservation purposes. 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 ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 bill (H.R. 2010) to protect the voting rights of members of the Armed Services in elections for the Delegate representing American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from American Samoa has introduced legislation to assist those voters in his district who live overseas. His legislation, H.R. 2010, will provide for the election of the Delegate from American Samoa by a plurality vote. Currently the Delegate is elected by a majority vote, though the number of candidates seeking American Samoa's seat in Congress often prevents a clear majority in the general election. For this reason, a runoff election is the result, and it is held on the 14th day after the general election. The gentleman from American Samoa and local government officials have explained well the unintended consequences of this format. Given the lack of flights to and from the territory, the ability to gather votes from the runoff election has proven extremely difficult, with many ballots arriving after the runoff election date. In short, this prevents the voices of individuals such as members of our armed services as well as students studying abroad to be heard. Though Congress enacted the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act in 1986, it has not done enough to fulfill its purpose of ensuring the right to vote for all U.S. citizens given the unique logistical hurdles that American Samoa faces. We all should understand the need to help all of our fellow voters, especially during times of war when many Samoans are serving in Iraq. The House can now move this legislation forward and help to prevent the current Federal law from disenfranchising voters. Instead, with H.R. 2010, no legal voters will be deterred from fully participating in our democratic process when they vote to elect American Samoa's Delegate. Finally, I would also point out that H.R. 2010, as amended, was passed by the Committee on Resources by voice vote on May 5 and I appreciate the bipartisan work of the committee in acting quickly on this legislation. I hope we can now act in the same bipartisan fashion. I urge the adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to commend my colleague from American Samoa for his leadership and his advocacy, particularly for those citizens there within his territory and within his district who now will be able to reach out and be part of the election process. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.