Jim Saxton

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking and commending the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), for the great bipartisan job that has occurred in bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1588 and do so with a great deal of pride after a lengthy but productive conference. The conferees have hammered out an excellent bill that will go a long way in enhancing our national security and providing our troops and their families with the assets they need. I have the honor of chairing, as the chairman said, the new Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities on the Committee on Armed Services. As many in this body know, I have worked for many years to stand up such a subcommittee, and with good reason, for there is much that is left to be done. The subcommittee's ranking Democrat, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan), and I have worked hard together to explore a multitude of ways to provide the Department of Defense with the capabilities to defeat and defend against terrorists at home as well as abroad, and many of these ideas are contained in the conference report before you. For example, the conference report includes many provisions that will prepare our Armed Forces and, in particular, the Special Operations Command, to combat terrorism worldwide as well as several items that will enhance homeland defense. In addition, the conference report establishes several programs addressing issues that arose in the recent war with Iraq and items that will speed the transformation of the military services. It is critically important that all Members vote for this measure. There is much to applaud in many areas. I am proud to be a conferee and proud of the work that the chairman, and my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), as I said before, and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) did in this regard. They have set a standard for us, and this is a bill which must be passed, hopefully with a very good vote.

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dick and Doris Alaimo, who have been chosen as this year's recipients of the Lloyd Ritter Community Service Award given by the Volunteer Center of Burlington County, NJ. Dick and Doris are well-known throughout southern New Jersey for their outstanding history of community service and involvement in local organizations, and have been personal friends for many, many years, during which time we have worked together on many projects for the benefit of our community. The Alaimos work in tandem with Memorial Hospital of Burlington County's Foundation, the Burlington County Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America and the Rancocas Valley Education Foundation. They also serve on the committee for Mount Holly Pro Day, an event which brings illustrious sports figures such as Mount Holly native Franco Harris into the limelight in effort to raise funds for local children in need, a cornerstone of much of their work through the years. Successful in careers, business, and in life, Dick and Doris Alaimo have generously shared their success, time, money, energy and most importantly, care and concern with the community, always striving to make our hometown a better place to live and work. It is for these reasons they have been selected to receive this prestigious award, and for these reasons I pay tribute to them today. May their legacy of volunteerism continue through their children, grandchildren, and the community they so love.

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 470, introduced by my friend, Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, would extend the authority for the construction of the memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the District of Columbia. S. 470 would simply extend to November 2006 the authorization given to the site's sponsor, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, in the Omnibus Parks and Public Land Management Act of 1996 to raise the funds to build the memorial. The bill is strongly supported by the administration and both the majority and minority of the Committee on Resources. I urge my colleagues to support S. 470. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam 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. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 470) to extend the authority for the construction of a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SAXTON

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

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H. Con. Res. 268 is a resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the imposition of sanctions on nations that are undermining the effectiveness of conservation and management members for Atlantic highly migratory species. Madam Speaker, the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, known as ICCAT, will take place in a few weeks. The United States delegation must go into this meeting with a strong position that noncompliance by nations that are members of ICCAT is unacceptable. The U.S. has been a world leader in pushing for conservation measures at ICCAT. In addition, we have put restrictions on our fishermen, both recreational and commercial, to implement these international conservation measures. Again and again, the U.S. has restricted our fishermen and then had to watch as foreign nations allowed their fishermen to break the internationally agreed upon rules. Not only have our fishermen suffered as a result of noncompliance by other nations, but the fish themselves have suffered. Atlantic white marlin populations, in particular, are at approximately 12 percent of their historic levels. Blue marlin are at about 40 percent of their historic levels. This is totally unacceptable, and, I might add, unnecessary. Despite playing by the rules and pushing for conservation, the U.S. fishermen were faced with a petition last year to list white marlin under the Endangered Species Act. Rebuilding plans for both white marlin and blue marlin have been put in place, but international fleets do not comply. It is clear that U.S. conservation efforts are not enough. Our fishermen, both recreational and commercial, played by the rules and were still almost shut down because of international indifference. We need to make sure that all nations that fish for Atlantic highly- migratory species play by the rules, or face the consequences. The U.S. is one of the biggest markets for these nations, and we should send a strong signal that we will not tolerate continued noncompliance. This resolution urges the President to continue to work with our trading partners through the international fisheries management bodies to achieve conservation goals. In addition, the resolution calls on the President, when those international efforts do not work, to use all methods available, including trade sanctions against those countries which choose not to play by the internationally agreed upon rules. This resolution sends the message to those nations that do not consider conservation to be important that there must be consequences to their actions. In addition, it sends the message to U.S. fishermen that their conservation efforts are consequential, and not for nothing. I urge Members to support this resolution and to send the U.S. delegation to ICCAT with the task of warning other nations that they need to take conservation seriously. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would just conclude by saying this, that in our country, many years ago when our country was young, our forefathers enjoyed a huge herd of buffalo in the Midwest States, and because we did not understand that they would not always just be there, we carried out practices that simply eliminated them. Unfortunately, because of the international pressure that is being placed on these species by the international pelagic longline fleet and the lack of enforcement of agreed upon ICCAT regulations, the same process is currently under way with white marlin, blue marlin, swordfish, Atlantic tuna and other species. This is a crime which, in my view, must stop, and I do not use the term ``crime'' unadvisedly.

Mr. SAXTON. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 268) expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the imposition of sanctions on nations that are undermining the effectiveness of conservation and management measures for Atlantic highly migratory species, including marlin, adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and that are threatening the continued viability of United States commercial and recreational fisheries, as amended.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for making the eloquent point that he has. The question is a very good one. That is what this piece of legislation, this resolution is about. It says that, in effect, if the parties who go to ICCAT and make an agreement on the amount, the number, or the amount of tonnage of fish to be taken do not comply with those agreements, then the President is urged to use trade sanctions with regard to fish or other commodities to enforce those agreements, or to provide a penalty against those who do not comply with the agreements that their countries make. It is a huge problem and one that I hope that this resolution will give the administration the necessary muscle that it needs to solve this problem.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for making the point so clearly. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3249) to extend the term of the Forest Counties Payments Committee.

Mr. SAXTON. 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bill, H.R. 3249, simply changes the termination date of the Forest Counties Payments Committee that was created by Congress in the Interior Appropriations Act of 2001 to coincide with the expiration date in 2006 of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000. The purpose of this committee is to develop recommendations for Congress concerning the Federal program of payments to States and counties and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act that regulates those payments. While some of the work of the committee has been completed, the important job of evaluating the effectiveness of Public Law 106-393 is ongoing and will need to be continued in order to assist Congress as it reviews options for either reauthorization or the development of new legislation. These efforts are crucial if we hope to further our understanding and support for healthy communities and healthy forests. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) for his thoughtful leadership on this issue and on this bill. I urge adoption of the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1616) to authorize the exchange of certain lands within the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site for lands owned by the City of Atlanta, Georgia, and for other purposes.

Mr. SAXTON. 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616, introduced by my great friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain disposable lands within the boundaries of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site in the City of Atlanta, Georgia for land owned by the City of Atlanta. The acquisition of the city-owned property would accomplish two things: first, to enable the National Park Service to establish easy street access to the Historic Site Visitor Center; and, second, to provide emergency equipment and personnel easy access to the visitor center. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616 is supported by the administration and the majority and minority of the committee. I urge adoption of this bill and add my congratulations to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for bringing this legislation forward. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an explanation for the votes I missed on October 15 and 16, 2003. Due to a Congressional fact-finding trip to Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, I unfortunately missed several votes on the floor of the House on the evening of October 15. Additionally, I missed votes on October 16 because I had to attend a conference regarding information technology at the Department of Defense, an issue over which my Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities has sole jurisdiction. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following fashion: Rollcall vote 540: ``Aye'' (H.R. 6, On motion to instruct Conferees on the Energy Conservation, Research, and Development). Rollcall vote 541: ``No'' (H.R. 1308, On motion to instruct Conferees on the Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act). Rollcall vote 542: ``No'' (H.R. 1, On motion to instruct Conferees on the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act). Rollcall vote 543: ``Aye'' (H.R. 1828, On motion to suspend the rules and pass the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Restoration Act of 2003). Rollcall vote 544: ``Aye'' (H. Res. 396, On ordering the previous question for providing for the Consideration of H.R. 3289: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for Fiscal Year 2004). Rollcall vote 545: ``Aye'' (H. Res. 198, On agreeing to the resolution as amended which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that France, Germany, and Russia, can initially best contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq by forgiveness of outstanding debt). I would like to also note, that I am a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R. 1828) because it holds Syria accountable for the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle East. Specifically, H.R. 1828 calls on Syria to halt its support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, and cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil and illegal shipments of weapons and other military items to Iraq. Knowing the importance of this bill, I have been a long-time supporter of H.R. 1828. As such, I would have voted in favor of its passage and will continue to work to ensure it is signed into law as soon as possible.

Mr. SAXTON

Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to E. Larry St. Laurent who is retiring after 15 years as Director of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. Although still suffering injuries suffered during the Korean War, Mr. St. Laurent has devoted countless hours to Ocean County's veteran population. Those injuries have given him a special insight into the problems of veterans who are trying to navigate through the bureaucratic maze and receive the benefits they have earned and to which they are entitled. Larry was a leader in the effort to raise $3 million to erect a memorial to the men and women from New Jersey who died during the Korean War. The New Jersey Korean War Memorial was dedicated in 2000, thanks in great part to his efforts. A lifelong public servant, Larry has devoted his life to his fellow veterans, beginning in 1952 as Service Officer for Jackson VFW Post 4703. He has been an officer in several veterans organizations, including Disabled American Veterans and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, as well as his current position as Director of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. His understanding of the needs of our veterans has enabled him to provide veterans with the opportunity to improve their lives. I have enjoyed working with Mr. St. Laurent and his Veterans Service Bureau over the years, and I salute his commitment to Ocean County and its veterans, for whom he will continue to advocate even in retirement. His will be difficult shoes to fill.