Rick Renzi

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3961, authored by myself, would authorize the National Park Service to pay up to 38 subcontractors for work they performed at the Grand Canyon National Park during the years 2002 and 2003. To date, these subcontractors still have not been paid a total of $1.3 million because the primary contractor went out of business. As it turned out, the primary contractor was not bonded, a fact that the National Park Service does not dispute. The Park Service has indicated it has the money and wishes to make the contractors whole, but requires a congressional directive to do so. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) whose perseverance on this issue has allowed us to get to this point today in helping to resolve the issue. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3961) to authorize the National Park Service to pay for services rendered by subcontractors under a General Services Administration Indefinite Deliver/Indefinite Quantity Contract issued for work to be completed at the Grand Canyon National Park.

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

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4382, introduced by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), would allow Clark County, Nevada, to convey 35 to 50 acres to the State and exempt them from paying 85 percent of the land value which is required by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. The State of Nevada would like to build a National Guard facility, the Southern Nevada Readiness Center, on this land. The Center would likely serve as the new Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team for the State and serve related purposes for the protection of McCarran airport. Currently, National Guard units in Las Vegas must serve and operate from locations spread over 25 miles. I urge passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4382) to provide for the conveyance of certain land in Clark County, Nevada, for use by the Nevada National Guard.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the bill, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).

Mr. RENZI

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

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), the author of the bill.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1344, introduced by the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) and amended by the House Resources Committee would designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic River Systems. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1344) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4588) to reauthorize grants for and require applied water supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended.

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

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5079) to provide for the modification of an amendatory repayment contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the North Unit Irrigation District, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 383) to designate the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, last night on the gridiron of Gallaudet University, Republicans and Democrats came together in a bipartisan fashion to take on the Capitol Police professional flag football team. And while we are but a ragtag group of amateur players taking on professional athletes, in the end we had them right where we wanted, and if it wasn't for the clock running out, we would have had that big comeback and overcome that score of 35-7. I want to thank the police officers who guard us and care for us, who have given their lives for us. I want to thank our sponsors. We have found in Washington that if you go to sponsors and tell them they can watch Congressmen get knocked over, you can raise money for police officers and their families. I want to thank Coach Tom Osborne. He may be Nebraska's son and a Hall of Fame coach, but he is our sandlot coach, and we needed him. He helped us raise $80,000 in two games for the families. Thank you all to the players and the staffs that put this together. We are going to do it again next year. We are not going to go easy on them. Thank you, everybody. I appreciate it.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4075) to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to provide for better understanding and protection of marine mammals, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which reauthorizes portions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, authored by Resources Chairman Richard Pombo. The Marine Mammal Protection Act was enacted in 1972 with the purpose of protecting and restoring marine mammal populations. The act has been very successful over its 30-year history in recovering marine mammal populations, and this legislation builds on those accomplishments. Recently, there have been many news reports on the status of polar bears and other arctic marine mammal species. H.R. 4075 includes language which will allow for increased international cooperation to help protect the shared U.S.-Russia polar bear population. In fact, without these provisions, the future of polar bear populations in Russia is very much in jeopardy. It also authorizes much needed research which will afford us the opportunity to better understand the needs of marine mammals and give us the means to better conserve these species for future generations. H.R. 4075 also authorizes the Prescott Marine Mammal Stranding program. The Prescott program has been very successful in recovering and rehabbing thousands of stranded marine mammals. The Prescott program supports a network of facilities around the Nation that have dedicated themselves to the recovery of stranded marine mammals. H.R. 4075 includes additional provisions which will support the development of cleaner fishing gear to reduce interactions with marine mammals. It also authorizes research to develop nonlethal measures to control nuisance pinniped populations. Finally, H.R. 4075 clarifies the permit requirements for marine mammals on public display. While it is not a major reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, these amendments have been carefully crafted and are specifically designed to enhance the fundamental conservation goals of this important law. This is a good conservation bill. It is good for marine mammals, and it should be overwhelmingly adopted. Finally, I wish to thank Chairman Henry Hyde of the International Relations Committee and Chairman Bill Thomas of the Ways and Means Committee and their staffs for their cooperation in moving this legislation. At this time I will include in the Record an exchange of letters between our committees on this bill. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 4075. Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 13, 2006. Hon. William M. Thomas, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I ask your cooperation to help schedule consideration by the House of Representatives of H.R. 4075, the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 2006, during the week of July 17-21, 2006. I have proposed an amendment to this bill which includes text from S. 2013, the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Act of 2005. The Committee on Ways and Means has a jurisdictional interest in this Senate bill because of its inclusion of trade measures. My staff has worked with yours to develop a mutually-agreed on text for this amendment, and I have enclosed this amendment for your review. I ask that you not seek a referral of H.R. 4075 based on the inclusion of this language to expedite Floor scheduling. Of course, this action would not be considered as waiving or affecting your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the amendment, nor as precedent for any future referrals of similar measures. Moreover, if the bill is conference with the Senate, I would support naming Ways and Means Committee members to the conference committee for the trade provisions. I would also be pleased to include this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the Floor. Mr. Chairman, I have been very pleased with the tremendous degree of cooperation between our two Committees. Your staff, especially Angela Ellard and Steven Schrage, has been responsive and thoughtful, and my staff very much appreciates their support and teamwork. I hope that you will give my request serious consideration and I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Richard Pombo, Chairman.

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 yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4376) to authorize the National Park Service to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of Springfield Technical Community College, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4376, introduced by Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts and amended by the House Resources Committee, would authorize the National Park Service to enter into a cooperative agreement with the State of Massachusetts on behalf of Springfield Technical Community College to maintain and preserve lands the college owns and administers within the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. This is a noncontroversial bill, and I urge its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to add a personal note, if I could. In 1960, my father, Major General Gene Renzi, went to Springfield Armory and bought two 30.06 sniper rifles that were used in the Korean War. We bought them for $1 each. We restored them, and those are the same deer hunting rifles that I used and I now pass on to my son. The guys coming back from the Korean War and World War II would actually dispense these rifles through the Springfield Armory. So for a guy who is a deer hunter, who is not that good of a shot, but for a guy who is a deer hunter, my first 30.06 we ever got came out of the Springfield Armory Works. So I am thankful today to be able to work with the ranking member and see this legislation pushed through. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RENZI

Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3085) to amend the National Trails System Act to update the feasibility and suitability study originally prepared for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and provide for the inclusion of new trail segments, land components, and campgrounds associated with that trail, and for other purposes, as amended.