Tom Tancredo

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my views on the legislation before us today. This legislation includes a requirement for Echostar, better known as Dish Network, to eliminate the solution it developed to serve more Americans with local service than any other satellite TV company. The legislation would eliminate its ``two dish'' solution within 12 months. This requirement will cause consumer inconvenience and hamper the rollout of local programming. The ``two dish'' remedy maximizes the number of television markets that can receive local channels by utilizing the scarce spectrum available. I believe a better route to dealing with the lack of spectrum, which I know is a priority for you, is for this legislation to include a provision similar to that of the Senate Commerce Committee. That committee voted to allow satellite TV providers to offer High Definition TV service to markets where a local broadcaster is not even offering a digital signal. As noted in the Digital Transition Coalition letter which I will also enter into the Record, the freed-up spectrum could be redeployed to our Nation's first responders, auctioned to wireless companies eager to offer new advanced services, and raise funds that could be returned to the taxpayer or put to paying off the debt. I look forward to our continuing work on this legislation. Digital Transition Coalition, Washington, DC, October 4, 2004. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker, House of Representatives, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Hastert: The Digital Transition Coalition is writing to express its concern regarding the House reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA). While the legislation adopts rate increase adjustments for content owners and allows satellite companies to provide ``distant network signals'' to subscribers who cannot receive ``over-the-air'' broadcast signals, it fails to include the ``digital white area'' provision adopted by the Senate Commerce Committee which would accelerate the digital television transition. Without this provision, millions of Americans, especially consumers in rural areas, will have to wait even longer for digital and High-Definition television and be denied the world of innovation derived from freed-up spectrum. H.R. 4501, approved by the Committee on Energy & Commerce, did not include an important provision to speed up the return of tens of billions of dollars of analog spectrum currently held by broadcasters. Despite the fact that Congress years ago set a 2006 deadline for broadcasters to return the analog spectrum (in exchange for tens of billions of dollars of free digital spectrum), it is clear that deadline will not be met. As a result, consumers in more than 39 million U.S. households (about 36 percent nationwide) will continue to be deprived of receiving all their network signals in digital. As taxpayer groups, consumer advocates and technology leaders, our coalition has strongly supported proposals to allow direct broadcast satellite providers to offer a distant digital network signal into local television markets where broadcasters are not transmitting a full-power digital signal. We believe such a measure is essential to provide market-based pressure on local broadcasters to complete the digital transition and return the public's valuable analog spectrum for other uses. The satellite home viewer reauthorization legislation is the vehicle to address this issue. The Senate Commerce Committee, in its version of the satellite legislation, adopted a ``digital white area'' provision that will help provide the necessary impetus to speed up the digital transition and serve the needs of millions of television viewers who are disadvantaged by the current situation. In contrast, the House Commerce Committee bill requests a perfunctory report on the matter without any immediate remedy. As such an important issue for consumers and the economy, we strongly urge that a digital white area provision be added to the House legislation. We appreciate your consideration of our request, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Congressional leadership, the committee chairmen and ranking members to further improve this legislation. Sincerely, Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; The Honorable Andrea Seastrand, The California Space Authority; Tom Schatz, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste; Charles Ergen, EchoStar Communications Corporation; George Landrith, Frontiers of Freedom; Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Media Access Project; Gigi Sohn, Public Knowledge; Richard DalBello, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association; Karen Kerrigan, Small Business Survival Committee.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5061) to provide assistance for the current crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan and to facilitate a comprehensive peace in Sudan, as amended.

Mr. TANCREDO. 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. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have a moral responsibility to react to what is happening in the country of Sudan and specifically in the area we know as Darfur; and what is happening there is genocide. This House has spoken on that. This Congress has spoken on that. We have called it what it is. It is genocide. Now we must take action as a result of the fact that this is happening, and we cannot ignore it. This is the first time that we have ever declared genocide while it is happening. We have always in the past responded to it, but unfortunately, in just responding to its existence, little, if anything, was done to stop it from happening or going on. Everyone is watching to see how we will respond. Secretary Powell and the United States administration have taken a courageous stand, but it is just the beginning. If we fail to act forcefully now, it will be open season for genocide. If we make empty threats, it will have serious consequences for the future of international peace and security. Time and time again we have come to this floor both on Special Orders and during debate on resolutions and bills to urge our Members in the Congress of the United States to act forcefully with regard to Sudan in order to stem the horrible events that have been occurring there over the past, really, 25 or more years. It is a country wracked with pain. It has experienced more than 2 million dead in a period of a civil war that has lasted, as I say, a quarter of a century. Four million displaced. In Darfur now we are witnessing something again of enormous tragedy. The numbers are staggering. At least 50,000 dead again now in Darfur because of the genocide going on there conducted by the government against the people in that area, and 350,000 or more in camps who are close to perishing simply because of the terrible conditions in which they are forced to exist. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5061 includes instructions for the U.S. permanent representative to the U.N. to urge member-states to pursue accountability for those complicit in the genocide in Darfur. It imposes targeted sanctions, including the freezing of assets on senior members of the Government of Sudan. It encourages the Permanent Representative to urge member-states to cease importing Sudanese oil and to impose an arms embargo on the Government of Sudan, the Janjaweed, who are responsible right now for the genocide, and the PDF. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, just in closing, let me say it is my pleasure to be here on the floor with my dear friend and colleague the gentleman from (Mr. Payne), who has been a leader on this issue for long before I even came to the Congress of the United States. Although he was laudatory in his comments about my efforts, his certainly precede mine and deserve all of our thanks. I certainly give it to him. He has been a wonderful, wonderful leader on this and a great man to work with.

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

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

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 818) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon International Dam, recognizing the dam's importance as a source of water and power and as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between the United States and the United Mexican States, and urging Mexico to honor all of its obligations under the 1944 Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande.

Mr. TANCREDO. 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 H. Res. 818.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consider. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez). It is fitting we should recognize the importance of the Falcon International Dam. For 50 years this dam has benefited people on both sides of our shared border with Mexico. This resolution notes that Mexico under President Fox has made its water payments to the United States under its 1944 Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Water of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande. I note the United States has never failed to make a water payment to Mexico, even in drought years, under the 1944 treaty. While we appreciate President Fox's efforts to meet these treaty obligations, Mexico still owes our States water from past years. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for working with our committee in preparing this resolution and urge my colleagues to join with me in support of it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 821) condemning the abduction of Dylan Benwell from the United States and calling for his return.

Mr. TANCREDO. 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 H. Res. 821.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, child abduction is a terrible problem. Any parent's worst nightmare is to have a child abducted. The initial panic and then the terrified waiting to find out whether your beloved offspring is alive or dead is dreadful. Our government must do everything necessary to protect all of our people, especially our Nation's children. This resolution condemns one of the most trying types of abduction, the abduction of a child by his maternal grandparents, who spirited him out of the United States to Ireland. Dylan Benwell was abducted almost literally from the arms of his parents. Both Ireland and the United States are parties to the Hague Convention which deals with child abduction. It is my hope and the hope of the chief sponsor of this resolution that the Hague Convention process works and works expeditiously so that Dylan can be returned as soon as possible to the arms of his parents here in the United States. I hope all Members will join me in supporting H. Res. 821. We wish for a speedy return home for Dylan and for all children who have been similarly victimized. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane). (Mr. CRANE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 768) calling on the United Nations Security Council to immediately consider and take appropriate action to respond to the growing threat that the ruling State Peace and Development Council in Burma poses to the Southeast Asia region and to the people of Burma.

Mr. TANCREDO. 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 resolution under consideration.

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today Burma is ruled by one of the world's most brutal military dictatorships. The State Peace and Development Council, the SPDC, rules through an insidious system of extrajudicial killings, rape, torture, conscription of child soldiers, and the use of modern day slavery. To date, approximately 2 million Burmese have been forcibly displaced because of the horrific policy of this regime. Further, Mr. Speaker, the SPDC has arrested approximately 1,300 individuals for merely expressing critical opinions of the existing regime, including the leader of the National League For Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. My colleagues will also recall that her party, the National League for Democracy, continues to be rebuffed from claiming the right to govern, despite having won 392 of the 485 contested parliamentary seats in 1990. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 768 will put Congress on record that the United Nations Security Council must take immediate action with regard to the ruling regime in Burma. This regime poses a serious threat to the regional stability of Southeast Asia. They have allowed the continuous cross-border flow of illegal narcotics, trafficked persons, and the unchecked spread of HIV/AIDS. In addition, the SPDC has attempted to acquire military hardware from the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and North Korea. Finally, the repressive nature of the Burmese regime has led to the flight of over 200,000 refugees into Thailand and Bangladesh which, in turn, has led to severe problems in those nations. It is time for the United Nations Security Council to take action to respond to the growing threat of Southeast Asia and the people of Burma. With the United Kingdom and the United States chairing the United Nations Security Council respectively in October and November, we should use this opportunity to press for action by the Security Council on Burma. This resolution has strong bipartisan support, has 27 cosponsors, including the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the chairman of the Human Rights Caucus; and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the Ranking Member of the Committee on International Relations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the House leadership for moving this legislation, which I introduced nearly one year ago. It stiffens the penalties for folks who willfully destroy our public lands, and standardizes them across most Federal lands. In addition, the bill includes provisions of H.R. 1038, which I also introduced, setting a tough, minimum fine of $500 for individuals who violate fire regulations on public lands when a complete ban on open fires is in place. I want to recognize and thank Chairman Pombo, Chairmen McInnis and Walden, Chairman Radanovich, Chairman Goodlatte, and Chairman Sensenbrenner for their efforts over the last two fire seasons in finally getting this legislation to the floor. I'd also like to thank another colleague from Colorado, Mr. Udall, who was instrumental in helping to make passage of this legislation possible today. Those of us privileged to represent western States here in the Congress know of the long running battle between Federal land agencies and private interests--mainly because the Federal Government is the landlord of so much of the land in the western part of the United States. Over the years, issues of contention have ranged from grazing rights, to forest management, and energy development. Today, the public lands debate is also characterized by access to public lands for different recreational activities--all of which have an enormous and positive economic impact on the communities that we represent. In the last 20 years, Americans have found new ways to enjoy their public lands and waterways beyond just hiking, horseback riding, or powerboats. Today, mountain bikers, ATVs, SUVs, and snowmobilers also use our public lands. Many of these vehicles represent the only access to the great outdoors to a whole segment of our population--folks like senior citizens and the disabled--that might not otherwise be able to get out and visit beautiful places like the Pike National Forest in my district. The economic impact for Colorado of these kinds of recreational activities contributes more than $200 million to our economy, creating more than 3,100 jobs. With those economic benefits however, have come conflicts and irresponsible people. No one here will say that there haven't been problems with certain individuals and groups abusing, misusing and in some instances, destroying valuable property on our Federal lands. Because of the actions of these thoughtless people, future generations have been deprived of the opportunity to view and enjoy our public lands. Recreation on our public lands and waterways will continue to grow-- and it should. This bill will help equip our land managers with the means to appropriately and evenhandedly enforce land use regulations against those few bad apples who spoil the whole bunch. The TRAIL Act accomplishes this by creating consistent fines and penalties among all of our land use agencies. In doing so, the bill also increases fines and penalties substantially for people who knowingly engage in inappropriate behavior. The second section of the bill addresses the growing problem of human caused wildfires on our public lands. Over the last 10 years, human carelessness has been responsible for the ignition of just over one million wildfires on our public lands. By comparison, lightning has caused only about one-tenth that many fires over the same time period. The current penalties for violating fire regulations vary from agency to agency. In a practical sense, however, the fines are generally assessed at a far lower level. In fact, under current law, fines--or ``collaterals'' as they are called, are set as low as $25--little more than the cost of a seatbelt ticket in most states. I believe, as I think most people do, that these weak penalties lack any real deterrent value for would-be violators. In fact, one district ranger in Colorado related a story to me about a would-be visitor to the Pike National Forest who called to inquire if he could pay the puny fine in advance. In 2002, well after the imposition of the fire ban by both the Governor of Colorado and the Forest Supervisor--I was flying over Hayman Fire with the same district ranger. In addition to having a birds-eye view of the largest wildfire in State history, the two of us also had an excellent view of several campfires dotting the landscape outside its perimeter. He told me that even in the midst of a fire season like the one we had in Colorado--where some 800 human caused wildfires destroyed over a quarter of a million acres--that enforcing the ban was a continuing problem in large part because the fine is so small. Enhancing the penalties for those who chose to disregard the directives of our land managers may be one way we can reduce both the number of human caused wildfires and the terrible destruction they leave in their wake by creating a deterrent. This bill would accomplish that by imposing a minimum fine of $500 for individuals who violate fire regulations during period when declared fire bans are in effect. I hope the House will pass the bill, and ask for your support.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town on official business, and missed rollcall vote Nos. 457, 458, 459, and 460. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall 457, ``no'' on rollcall 458, ``no'' on rollcall 459, and ``no'' on rollcall 460.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town on official business yesterday, and missed Rollcall Vote numbers 457, 458, 459, and 460. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall 457, ``no'' on rollcall 458, ``no'' on rollcall 459, and ``no'' on rollcall 460.