Charles Taylor

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would repeat, the special grants program under STAG would be cut by $100 million under this amendment. As I mentioned, these projects are often the only recourse for rural communities that, for whatever reason, are unable to qualify for a loan under the Clean Water or Drinking Water state revolving funds. It is a difficult decision in our bill in allocating money. The STAG grants are one way that we can answer the needs made by their representatives who are elected to this Congress. To oppose this, I think, is taking away the right of the membership to look in their districts for those needs which maybe go beyond the official needs, and I oppose this amendment and hope everyone else will also. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Again, I say this is a very difficult choice to make, and the committee has tried to be as bipartisan as possible. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment adds $1 million for the National Forest System, and I believe we have agreement on both sides.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I share the gentleman's concern for forests. The Department of the Interior bill has focused on forest health and wildlife management. We have large increases for the most important parts of the national fire plan. The bill has substantially increased due to the administration's Healthy Forest and National Fire Plan Initiatives. The bill has a $33 million increase in funding over the last year for hazardous fuel management. This is a serious increase. We have increased hazardous fuel funding dramatically in the last 4 years. It is not clear that the proposed increase could be used efficiently. I share the gentleman's interest in caring for public lands. A large part of my district is national forests and national parks, so I understand we need to take care of this important land. The Department of the Interior bill also increases funding for other wildlife programs and forest health management. This is a tight allocation, and I think we have done a careful balancing act. As I opposed the amendment to increase funding in the arts earlier, trying to balance our concerns, I must also reluctantly oppose this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word for the purposes of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole). Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this issue is about the proper management of wildlife and public lands, and the Committee on Appropriations is in charge of trying to adequately fund the United States agencies. If we want to get into the question of whether or not the six cents is being paid for grazing land or anything else, you need to go to the authorizing committees and have a debate there and get it changed and so forth. We in the Committee on Appropriations have a situation where wild horses and burros cost the taxpayers $40 million annually. Now, this is more than BLM spends on all wildlife management activities on public lands. There are currently 24,000 wild horses and burros that are kept in short-term, or long-term, either way, holding facilities. They are not roaming free. They are being housed in these short-term facilities, and that is costing $20 million, and they are living there until they die. BLM has the authority to sell the older or unadoptable animals. Now, if they are 10 years or older, or if they have been offered three times for sale and been turned down, then this would give BLM the authority to sell these older, unadoptable animals and conserve the $40 million that we are talking about. That is what we are asking, and we think that is a prudent measure, so we urge our colleagues to defeat this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons). (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Does the gentleman intend his amendment to have any impact on the policies of the EPA regions and States that allow blending today and have issued permits allowing blending?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, we would accept the gentleman's amendment under that representation. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order. We have an agreement. I do not think we can strike the last word when we have a time agreement. Would the chairman rule on that and inform me?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) who supports the amendment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the poetic talents of one of my constituents--Mrs. Bertie Battle Wilde of Canton, North Carolina. Mrs. Wilde has lived 96 years with deep and tremendous faith. Her belief certainly is evident in her art and I am pleased to share one of her poems, titled House Calls, with my colleagues. House Calls Jesus makes house calls 24 hours each day All you have to do is bow your head and pray. Remember, we are not promised tomorrow, only today. He's standing at your heart's door knocking, Will you let Him in? He will dissolve your troubles, And take away your sins. If you have problems, give Jesus a call. The number is H-E-A-V-E-N. He'll show you what to do, Because He loves you. He'll talk to you anytime, Because He's always on the line, And it won't cost you a dime. He don't want your money, But His love to you He will impart. He cares for you my child. All He wants is your heart. Please give your heart to Jesus without delay. You will be glad you did, On that final judgment day. Your name will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. No more heartaches, no more dark nights. Our heavenly Father will be your shining light. Yes, Jesus makes house calls, night and day. All you have to do is bow your head and pray.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday evening, July 3, 2004, Peter J. Hanlon died at the age of 98. A resident of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Hanlon was supervisor of North Carolina's national forests for 10 years before retiring from the U.S. Forest Service in 1970 after 36 years of distinguished service. Hanlon's career with the Forest Service began in the 1930s on the Allegheny National Forest. His career was then briefly interrupted by service in the region's CCC camps. Prior to dissolution of these camps Hanlon was superintendent of CCC Camp Thornwood in Pocahontas County, WV. As World War II began, Hanlon rejoined the Forest Service in the capacity of forest ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District on West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, as well as staff officer for Virginia's George Washington National Forest and the regional forester in Upper Darby. As Supervisor of North Carolina's national forests, Hanlon frequently advocated for sustainable land use practices that accommodated recreational activities, wildlife habitats, timber harvests and general preservation. His belief that the land could and should be used in a responsible manner, balancing these practices, allowed him to ensure that no single interest outweighed or endangered another. Even as he believed in preservation, he understood the benefits of well-managed clear cutting and neither interest was ever allowed to jeopardize equal land use. Throughout his 35 year retirement, Hanlon continued to echo these noble principles. Not only did Hanlon manage land use with exceptional expertise, he also secured the expansion of North Carolina's national forests by acquiring new lands. The most notable acquisition was that of the Nantahala River Gorge. Hanlon's role in creating the Cradle of Forestry, a museum located off U.S. 276, just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, was pivotal and earned him an honorary doctorate degree from the Biltmore School of Forestry. In 1970, then Governor Terry Sanford designated Hanlon as North Carolina's Conservationist of the Year. This recognition only enhances his legacy as a celebrated figure of North Carolina's rich history.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on July 6, 2004 on Rollcall Vote 327, I inadvertently cast a ``nay'' vote. It was my intention to vote ``aye'' on the resolution. I would ask that the record reflect my intention to vote ``aye'' on H. Con. Res. 257, expressing the sense of Congress that the President should posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's statement, and I will work with him, and we will try to get the Interior Department's efforts to allocate construction funds based on financial performance, and I will be glad to work with the gentleman.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I would like to work with the gentleman and the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that what ultimately is done is something that will be productive and useful and not further fuel the controversies surrounding the Klamath program. I commend the gentleman for suggesting that and we certainly will work with him.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. None of us are comfortable with this issue, but let me attempt to provide Members with some facts. The record of decision was signed in December 2000 by then-Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and then-Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and the Governor of Montana. This document was a long-term plan for bison management in the region. The main objectives were to maintain a free-ranging bison population and manage the risk of transmission of brucellosis from bison to cattle. Both the State and the Park Service have specific responsibilities under this agreement. The plan is effective, and the bison population there has continued to grow to over 4,000 from 2,000 a decade ago. The real issue arises when bison go outside the park boundary into Montana, a brucellosis-free State. When this occurs, bison are captured, tested and some are shipped to slaughter. On occasion, bison that resist repeated hazing and capture are removed. This spring, there was a dangerous situation of this kind involving one aggressive bull bison. The animal could not be hazed back into the park from private property and had to be lethally removed under the direction of the State officials. The Park Service had opened the Stevens Creek Capture Facility within park boundaries. This facility was required under the original Babbitt management plan. Captured animals are tested and released if negative and removed if positive. This is a very difficult situation. However, there has been no change to the original record of decision, and the State and the National Park Service are abiding by this agreement. We have recommendations from the National Wildlife Federation to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) saying, ``We positively applaud your commitment and desire to curtail the unnecessary killing of Buffalo. We respectfully submit that your amendment would neither achieve this goal nor advance the cause of Yellowstone buffalo conservation in any meaningful way. In fact, your amendment, if enacted, would lead to slaughter of more animals.'' Let me read that again. ``It will lead to slaughter of more animals than under the current management plan.'' This is the National Wildlife Federation writing to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey). We also have a similar letter from the InterTribal Bison Cooperative. Madam Chairman, I certainly agree with the general concept of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) but this will not do it, and I strongly oppose this amendment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Even if the gentleman was correct, it would have to be opposed. We have 661 million barrels as of yesterday. The gentleman wants to cap us at 647 million. We cannot by law sell it; therefore, I assume we will pour it out on the ground and that will be 15 million barrels of a large oil spill. We are not buying any oil now. We have 700 million barrels as our goal, and that is capacity. As I say, we need only 39 million barrels to fill the Strategic Oil Reserve. Oil will come in in kind; where companies are drilling for oil on government lands, our share will come in the form of oil, but we are not buying any oil, and we do not have any intentions right now. The management of the program right now is to, in tight markets is to not buy any petroleum, and the 39 million barrels that we have to go for our capacity will come in, as I say, through our royalties. So we cannot sell it, we cannot honor the gentleman's amendment to hold 647 million with the amendment he has. So I recommend we oppose the amendment.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I hate to interrupt such a fine speech with any logic.