Gregorio Sablan

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 791, which recognizes and congratulates the Aldine Independent School District in Harris County, Texas, for winning the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education. Aldine's commitment to academic achievement, its high expectations for its students, and its dedication to narrowing the racial and income achievement gaps make it a most deserving recipient of this prestigious award. Established in 2002 by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, the Broad Prize for Urban Education is the largest education award for school districts in the United States. After finishing as a finalist for the prize 3 years previously, the Aldine Independent School District this year was chosen from among 100 of the largest school districts in the country to receive the $1 million award. The Aldine School District has shown some of the most consistent student achievement gains nationally in the last decade. Nationwide, family income levels generally are a strong indicator of students' school performance, but the Aldine School District, where four out of five students receive free or reduced lunch, refuses to accept excuses for student success and chooses instead to break the predictive power of poverty. Between 2005 and 2008, the Aldine Independent School District narrowed achievement gaps in reading at all school levels and in math at the elementary and middle school levels. In 2008, students in the Aldine schools outperformed other Texas school districts that served students with similar family incomes. The Aldine Independent School District also ranks among the top large school districts in Texas for educating African American and Hispanic students. Between 2005 and 2008, SAT and Advanced Placement participation rates for these student populations increased significantly. Further, African American students achieved higher proficiency rates in math at all school levels and in reading at the middle and high school levels compared with other students in Texas. And a greater percentage of Hispanic students performed at the highest level on reading and math assessments at all school levels compared to other school districts. Providing our young people with a high quality education is one of our Nation's most important duties and involves some of the most challenging and rewarding work. Today, we recognize the outstanding work being done at the Aldine Independent School District. Aldine's dedicated leadership and vigilant efforts are helping ensure the academic and life success of its students. Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for congratulating the Aldine Independent School District on winning the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 791 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 791) congratulating the Aldine Independent School District in Harris County, Texas, on winning the 2009 ``Broad Prize for Urban Education'', as amended.

Mr. SABLAN

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

Mr. SABLAN. I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, sponsored by Representative Garrett, will authorize the Citizen Advisory Commission for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for the next 10 years. The advisory commission has provided two decades of guidance and input that has assisted in the management of the national recreation area and should be allowed to continue its work. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3476. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3476) to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. In combating the dramatic loss of wetland ecosystems, Congress enacted the North American Wetlands Conservation Act in 1989 providing a funding mechanism to support cooperative, public-private wetlands conservation efforts throughout North America. These projects have protected, restored, or enhanced approximately 23 million acres of wetlands in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, the recent economic recession and the matching requirements under the act have made it difficult to generate non-Federal matching contributions for some critical wetland habitat conservation projects. The pending measure would amend the act to increase flexibility for grant recipients to meet matching fund requirements and ensure that the highest priority projects are funded throughout North America. I commend Congressman Wittman of Virginia for his leadership in wetland conservation. I urge the passage of the legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3433) to amend the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to establish requirements regarding payment of the non-Federal share of the costs of wetlands conservation projects in Canada that are funded under that Act, and for other purposes.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1593 would designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems. The Forest Service studied Illabot Creek for potential Wild and Scenic River designation in conjunction with the National Forest planning process. The study found that the creek possesses outstandingly remarkable values. For example, the river is home to a bald eagle communal night roost and is important habitat for bear, beaver, and spotted owls, to name a few. Mr. Speaker, we commend our distinguished colleague Representative Rick Larsen for his hard work and dedication to this legislation. We support passage of H.R. 1593, and urge its adoption by the House today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1593) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as amended.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Congress passed the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act in 1994 to connect children with nature through science and art. This act promotes the education of students from kindergarten through high school about migratory waterfowl and the habitats through the distribution of educational materials and the promotion of a wildlife art competition. Today, more than 27,000 students participate in the Nationwide Junior Duck Stamp art contest, and the winning design is reproduced as the Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The pending measure will simply reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Program. I commend my good friend, Congressman Solomon Ortiz from Texas, for his leadership in reauthorizing the Junior Duck Stamp Program, and we urge our colleagues to support passage of this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3537) to amend and reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994.

Mr. SABLAN

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

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, but I would like to inquire of the minority if he has any additional speakers.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3689, sponsored by the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, the gentleman from West Virginia, Mr. Nick Rahall, and the committee's ranking member, the gentleman from Washington State, Mr. Doc Hastings, will extend the time during which the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is authorized to establish a visitors center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C. Better known as the Vietnam Wall, the memorial is among the most visited sights in Washington and is an international symbol of reflection and healing. Establishing a visitors center for the memorial is critical and more time is needed to complete the extensive planning, design, and approval processes required for such a sensitive project. This bipartisan legislation extends the authorization through 2014. Chairman Rahall has been intimately involved with the development of this visitors center, and I join him, along with Representative Doc Hastings, in urging our colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. 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.