Tom Udall

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional New Mexican and journalist, Monica Armenta. She will be leaving KOB-TV Channel 4 to become the new executive director of the Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation. Ms. Armenta has worked at KOB-TV for over 20 years, beginning as a 19-year-old intern and She has been the morning news show anchor there for the past 15 years. She has always held herself and her colleagues to a higher standard and this has resulted in the exceptional quality of her news coverage. She has been recognized by numerous awards throughout her career in broadcast journalism. She is the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Emmy Award 1986-87 for her spot coverage of the Global Hilton hot air balloon crash and she was also given the UNM Professional Achievement Award. Ms. Armenta has been selected as one of New Mexico's 40 top influential people under 40 by New Mexico Business Weekly as well as a YWCA Woman on the Move. Ms. Armenta has also been a notable speaker at conferences, awards dinners and schools. Aside from being a famous and reliable TV anchor that thousands of New Mexicans welcome into their home every morning, Ms. Armenta has shown herself to be a vital leader in New Mexico and her new job with the Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation is a testament of her continued commitment to enhancing her community. Ms. Armenta has shown her dedication to bettering education and was a former journalism teacher at West Mesa High School. I commend her for embracing her roots in New Mexico and working to improve the educational system that has been such a part of her life. Ms. Armenta told a reporter in July, ``I'm a product of APS and I feel it's time for me to give back.'' I have enjoyed appearing with Monica on her program ``Eye on New Mexico'' and have consistently found her news coverage to be smart, informative and reliable. I admire her exceptional ability to balance her roles as a mother, a wife, a journalist and an activist. Although she will be greatly missed as a journalist, I am certain that she will be a wonderful addition to the APS community. Her energy, intelligence and enthusiasm have always translated into success and I anticipate that her career in the education community will not only be rewarding for her as an individual, but will provide the Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation with a wonderful new voice of leadership. Although the state of New Mexico is losing a valued journalist we are gaining a vocal and significant advocate for the school system. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing Monica and her family luck as they embark on this new chapter in their life. Thank you Monica, for your service and contribution to New Mexico.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Representative Ed Roybal, a towering figure whose tireless work on behalf of civil rights and health care were the hallmarks of his distinguished career, For three, decades, Representative Roybal served with distinction and honor in the House, and it is with sadness that we now recognize his passing. Born in Albuquerque only 4 years after New Mexico gained statehood, Ed Roybal's childhood was spent in the Land of Enchantment. His family had resided in the Southwest for several generations, its family lineage stretching to the founding of Santa Fe, the oldest capital in the Nation. When he was 6, Ed Roybal's father became unemployed during a railroad strike, and in 1922 they moved to Los Angeles, California. Over the next two decades, Ed Roybal became passionate on issues of discrimination, minority rights, health care, and senior citizens. After forming an organization to combat against housing and education discrimination against minorities, and after serving on the Los Angeles City Council, Ed Roybal in 1963 became the first Mexican-American from California elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his three decades in this role, he became a national leader and outspoken advocate for health care and minority rights, while at the same time being revered by his constituents for his never-ending attention to their needs. Representative Roybal can also be credited with creating the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), one of the leading Hispanic political organizations in the Nation. Several locally elected officials throughout my district often visit me while in Washington for NALEO conferences, and each and every one of them extol the virtues of the organization and its successes in promoting Hispanic action and service in the political field. I have no doubt that it is because of Representative Roybal's ceaseless and caring service that so many Hispanics serve today. I know for certain that one member of our own body was front and center for Representative Roybal's wonderful lessons in civics and public service. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, who now represents the district her father once represented, has continued her father's advocacy for the poor, for the voiceless, and for the disenfranchised. She, like so many of us, was able to learn from his exemplary service, and he was extremely proud of her. Mr. Speaker, Representative Ed Roybal added immensely to this distinguished body during his three decades of service. He is to be remembered for his hard work and his dedication and leadership on so many noble causes. I extend my sympathies to my colleague and to the rest of her family on this loss. We share their sadness on this occasion.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I rise today to introduce an important piece of legislation designed to strengthen our existing laws regarding lead in consumer products. Currently, we have laws that pertain to lead-containing paint and its many applications. The laws are explicit and focus mainly on the paint used in public housing around the United States. In the last three decades we have seen the rate of lead poisoning plummet and than plateau. These laws, though effective, are specific only to paint. We must do more to protect our consumers. That is why I am introducing the Lead Labeling Act of 2005 today, to direct the Consumer Products Safety Commission to establish regulations to require the labeling of dishware products sold in the United States that may contain hazardous amount of lead within them. Labeling these products will help consumers identify products that are potentially hazardous to their children through a simple labeling process. Mr. Speaker, there are many products imported every year and these imports are a vital part of our economy, but because they are manufactured outside the United States, they are not subject to the same stringent regulations that our products must meet. This is a concern, because many of the products that we eat out of, drink out of, and cook with are made of materials that contain levels of lead that we do not normally ingest. These products can release these leads into our foods and our water and the affects can be very damaging, especially to the development of our children. According to the National Institute of Health, lead, even in very low levels, can have damaging effects on our children. The Center for Disease Control states that approximately 310,000 U.S. children aged 1- 5 years have blood lead levels greater than the CDC recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. Also, lead can affect every system in our bodies. It has been linked to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, when our bodies are exposed to very high levels, lead causes seizures, coma, and even death. Lead in our products is a concern in our households. Labeling products containing lead will help ease these concerns and allow consumers to make more informed decisions. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this legislation for the health of American consumers.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois for introducing this resolution. I will be voting today in favor of H.J. Res. 65 because I believe the BRAC Commission's recommendations should be overturned. I commend the commission for their thorough and diligent work. They certainly had a very difficult job. However, I believe that now is not the time to implement a BRAC round, considering the number of operations our armed services are currently engaged in around the world. I have great concern about the Pentagon's ability to adequately assess our needs and assets while there are so many soldiers abroad and while the Pentagon awaits the results of the Quadrennial Review. I am also concerned about the Commission's recommendation to place Cannon Air Force Base in enclave status. This decision places Cannon in enclave status until 2009, or until a new mission can be identified for the base. I do view this recommendation as a partial victory for New Mexico since the Department of Defense initially slated Cannon for closure, but I firmly believe that Cannon should simply have been removed from the list altogether. Cannon offers the Air Force and its pilots unrestricted airspace and training ranges just off its runways. This is a rarity in today's Air Force, as more bases experience increasing encroachment. This unparalleled airspace is in the process of being expanded, making the base even more valuable. When approved, the New Mexico Training Range Initiative would make Cannon's airspace wider and taller and allow for training at supersonic air speed. I strongly believe we will be able to identify appropriate missions for Cannon Air Force Base to minimize the amount of time during which the base will remain in enclave status. Nevertheless, Cannon is too important to our national defense for it to be placed in enclave status. I urge passage of H.J. Res. 65.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Intel Corporation facility in Rio Rancho, in my home state of New Mexico. Intel Corporation came to New Mexico in 1980 with just 25 employees and a tremendous vision for the future; today Intel is the largest employer in Rio Rancho, an area now known as the Silicon Mesa. Intel Corporation is a vital part of the local economy and a major contributor to civic and educational programs in Rio Rancho and the surrounding area. Intel has been instrumental in the growth and economic development of Rio Rancho throughout the years; as plant operations expanded so did the number of employees and support services utilized by this technology giant. Intel expansion has resulted in numerous improvements in Rio Rancho; in 1997, the corporation donated $30 million dollars for the construction of a much-needed high school. Intel currently employs over seven thousand workers and subcontractors in New Mexico who benefit from wages that are well above the state average. Area businesses also flourish as Intel continually bolsters the local economy by purchasing goods and services in Rio Rancho. The city of Rio Rancho has grown, and continues to grow, around the presence of Intel Corporation. Intel's involvement in Rio Rancho extends far beyond economic consideration, and commitment to community is evident by the corporation's participation in numerous philanthropic programs. Intel employees regularly volunteer time on many local art, education and cultural projects which are then matched by corporate funding. Intel also awards monetary grants to local organizations seeking to better the community and the state of New Mexico. The Intel Corporation plays a key role in technology education in New Mexico. Intel partners with higher learning institutions in the state to create programs and curriculum that prepare students for employment at the Rio Rancho facility. Additionally, Intel provides access to technology in the Computer Clubhouse program and donates funding and equipment to local schools. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Intel Corporation on 25 successful years of business in Rio Rancho. Intel's presence in Rio Rancho has resulted in abundant resources for both employees and the surrounding community. Intel is an integral component in the growth of Rio Rancho and a stabilizing factor in the local economy. I thank the Intel Corporation for their consistent participation and lasting contributions to Rio Rancho and the state of New Mexico.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 85th anniversary of Macaron's Sooper Market, the oldest business establishment in the town of Springer, in my home state of New Mexico. Founded in 1920, Macaron's Sooper Market has been family-owned and operated for the entire 85 years the store has been in existence. A testament to small business success in Northeastern New Mexico, Macaron's Sooper Market, the oldest business establishment in the town of Springer, in my home state of New Mexico. Founded in 1920, Macaron's Sooper Market has been family-owned and operated for the entire 85 years the store has been in existence. A testament to small business success in Northeastern New Mexico, Macaron's Sooper Market also plays a significant role in the history of Springer. Originally known as the Springer Confectionery Store, Joseph and Lillie Macaron purchased the establishment in 1920 and reopened the business in October as the Macaron's Sooper Market. In the thirties, more modern times necessitated the move to a newly constructed, larger building not far from the original location. The store was expanded again in the sixties to become the Macaron's Sooper Market we know today. The legacy continues as Fred, Betty, Gary and Marilyn Macaron, descendents of the store founders, carry on the family business and decades-long tradition. Macaron's Sooper Market is an enduring and historic feather of Springer and a staple of the Northern New Mexico small business community. Mr. Speaker, please join me in offering congratulations to the Macaron family as they celebrate 85 years in business. Family-owned small businesses like Macaron's Sooper Market are the heart of Northeastern New Mexico's economy.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

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

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, as the majority has explained, S. 55 provides for a land exchange at Rocky Mountain National Park in order to facilitate the relocation of a park trailhead. Madam Speaker, the proposed exchange will include private property within the park that will further the public use and enjoyment of a popular hiking trail. In addition, the legislation requires that a conservation easement be maintained on Federal land being conveyed in order to protect, preserve, and enhance the conservation values of that land. Madam Speaker, the terms of the exchange are satisfactory to both parties, and we know of no problems with the legislation. That being the case, we have no objection to the adoption of S. 55 by the House today. Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to just thank the majority and minority staff and especially Rick Healy of the Resources Committee.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

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

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the majority and minority staff and especially Steve Lanich.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, we support passage of H.R. 177, the water recycling and desalting projects authorized in this bill. These projects will be eligible for limited financial assistance under the Bureau of Reclamation's title XVI water recycling program. These projects will reduce Southern California's dependency on imported water from the Sacramento River Delta, and will dramatically improve the reliability of water supplies in Southern California. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of Sergeant Robert J. Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 that flew combat missions during World War II. Mr. Hanson was a man of character, capacity, compassion and courage. We are all saddened by his loss. Robert was born in Walla Walla, WA, joined the military in 1941, and was assigned to the crew of the Memphis Belle. Early in World War II, the United States 8th Air Force decided to use its heavy bombers in daytime attacks against occupied Europe. The British predicted horrible losses during daylight raids. It was not surprising that the first bomber crew to complete 25 missions would be regarded as heroes. The crew of the Memphis Belle was the first to complete a combat tour. Between November 7, 1942 and May 17, 1943, the crew flew missions ranging from 4 to almost 10 hours in duration. For these missions Robert Hanson and his fellow airmen were awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Memphis Belle and its crew were then returned to the United States on a morale- building tour of aircraft plants. Sergeant Hanson served as the radio operator on the Memphis Belle. He put the name of his sweetheart, Irene, next to the window where he sat just in case someone needed to know who to contact if he died in combat. During its missions, the Memphis Belle was hit by flak, cannon shells and machine gun bullets. The plane's major parts were replaced at least once, and four crew members died during combat. Sergeant Hanson himself narrowly escaped serious injury or even death. He was writing in a log book one day and had to sneeze. As his head moved, a bullet missed him and put a hole through the book. He regaled family and friends with his experiences about a chase involving several German planes, the bomber's tail being shot off and a nose dive that left the crew wondering if they should use their parachutes. Upon leaving the service, he went on to work as a salesman for Nalley Fine Foods in Walla Walla, WA, and became a regional manager. He later worked for a candy company in Spokane, Wash. He and Irene recently moved to Albuquerque, NM, to be near their daughter. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, and when he was able, he toured the country speaking about his experiences aboard the Memphis Belle. Sergeant Hanson was a loving husband and father and a loyal friend. I extend my deepest sympathy during this time of bereavement to his wife of 63 years, Irene; his daughter, Mary Black; his son, Rick Hanson; and his six grandchildren. Not only was Robert Hanson part of our Greatest Generation, he was a true hero, aptly defined as one who inspires through manners and actions, who leads through personal example and accomplishments requiring bravery, skill, and determination. Mr. Speaker, when radio operators signed off using Morse code, they keyed Dit-Dit-Dit-Dah-Dit-Dah. And, Robert was fond of ending his phone conversations in this way. In honor to him, I ask my colleagues to rise with me and say Dit-Dit-Dit-Dah-Dit-Dah.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, we support passage of S. 156, the Ojito Wilderness Act. This bill designates the Ojito Wilderness Study Area, an area totaling approximately 11,000 acres, as a permanent wilderness to be protected pursuant to the 1964 Wilderness Act. The bill also provides for the purchase and transfer of adjacent Bureau of Land Management lands to the Pueblo of Zia. These lands, totaling approximately 13,000 acres, are contiguous to the current boundaries of the Pueblo. This area will be taken into trust and held for the benefit of the Pueblo by the Secretary of the Interior, and will be managed in perpetuity by the Pueblo as wilderness. As the lead co-sponsor in the House, I would like to take this opportunity to greatly acknowledge my colleague from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) and fellow co-sponsor. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Resources, for bringing the Ojito Wilderness Act to the floor. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is the result of good-faith collaboration and cooperation among many people in New Mexico and among many of us here in the United States Congress. This is truly a compromise bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it. I am proud to say that New Mexicans recognize how vitally important it is to protect natural areas, to encourage the stainable use of our State's natural resources, and to honor the role land plays in the lives of Native Americans. As this Ojito legislation demonstrates, with creativity and cooperation, we can find solutions compatible with all of these necessities. This proposal has been under consideration for many years. In 1991 Manuel Lujan, the Secretary of the Interior in the former President Bush's Cabinet, recommended the Ojito area to Congress for wilderness designation. The BLM has evaluated this area and found it qualifies for full wilderness status and protection. The legislation has the explicit support of the Governor of New Mexico, the counties of Sandoval and Bernalillo, individual members of the State government, including our State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons, the Pueblo of Zia and its members, the adjacent private land owners and ranchers who graze their cattle on the land, numerous environmental groups, and business owners and private citizens living and working nearby. The Ojito Wilderness Study Area is characterized by pristine and dramatic landforms and rock structures and by several rare plant populations that are indigenous to the area. Ojito is also recognized for its high density of cultural and archeological sites, including sites that have religious significance to Pueblo Indians. This legislation is of particular importance for the Pueblo of Zia. The Pueblo's reservation lands currently lie in two noncontiguous sections. Zia has made a concerted effort over years to adjoin its reservation lands. This legislation will help make that long-standing goal a reality. The Pueblo has consistently and openly worked in cooperation with other interested parties to reach a mutually satisfactory arrangement for the protection of these important lands as undeveloped open space with continued public access. And, in an additional gesture of good faith, the Pueblo has waived its sovereign immunity from suit for matters arising under the provisions of this bill. Considering the above, I think this bill does the right thing by ensuring the preservation, protection, and public accessibility of this special area of New Mexico for future generations of Americans. Allow me to express a special thanks to New Mexico Senators Bingaman and Domenici, the sponsors of this bill in the Senate. Let me further express my gratitude to the Governor of Zia, Zia Pueblo, Teofilo Pino, and to the Pueblo's former Governor and current Tribal Administrator Peter Pino, and also to Martin Heinrich, Albuquerque City Councilor and long-time volunteer for the Coalition for New Mexico's Wilderness for their strong and fair efforts in reaching a meaningful and positive compromise. I would also like to fondly acknowledge my Senior Legislative Assistant Johanna Polsenberg and my field representative Sarah Cobb as well as Rick Healy and Rob Howarth on the Committee on Resources for their tireless and dedicated work on this important and far-sighted legislation. Finally, I would like to thank my father, Stewart Udall, for his work over 40 years ago on the enactment of the Wilderness Act during his tenure as Secretary of the Interior. It is with the deepest respect and awe in the warp and weft of history that I might find myself on the floor of the House today honoring my father's legacy and his tremendous dedication to ensuring the preservation of wilderness, as stated in the act itself, lands ``in contrast to those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, where the Earth and its communities of life are untrammeled by man.'' Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to authorize the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to carry out five collaboratively created pilot projects dealing with post-disturbance rehabilitation. For those communities that remain at risk from wildland fire or other disturbances, it is important to consider, in advance, scenarios for rehabilitation should a wildland fire, insect infestation, hurricane, or other disturbance event occur. The National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act does just that--this legislation promotes pro-active planning and collaboration to accelerate the approval of rehabilitation projects following uncharacteristic disturbance events. The National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act will create five pilot projects for post-disturbance rehabilitation. Federal forest land communities can apply to participate in the pilot program by meeting a number of different criteria, with specific consideration given to communities that have a proven track record of working in a collaborative manner to resolve natural resource issues. This bill includes independent, third-party monitoring of the forest areas following rehabilitation operations to track the short-term and long-term impacts of logging, replanting, stream restoration, road removal, or other rehabilitation activities. The legislation further creates a National Oversight Committee of scientists to provide scientific and socioeconomic monitoring and evaluation of the pilot program. The National Oversight Committee will submit reports to Congress on the short and long-term results of the pilot project. The results of this report will allow Congress to make the most informed decisions on post-disturbance rehabilitation in the future. Community collaboration has shown great promise in resolving controversial issues before Federal agencies. While I reserved concerns with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108-148, one good that came out of the legislation is that it recognized the promise in collaboration by encouraging the development of community wildfire protection plans. These plans have allowed communities across the country to work in a collaborative manner to resolve natural resource issues concerning wildfire protection. There is no doubt that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When Congress passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, Congress clearly recognized the priority of preventing wildfires through active thinning of Federal lands in the wildland-urban interface. It is just common sense that we need to invest more on the front end in the name of fire prevention to avert major spending post- fire. While I believe that there were inadequacies with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, I do believe that we are being penny-wise and pound- foolish by cheating our budget for forest thinning. To date, forest thinning has not been funded even close to the level authorized. This needs to improve for the sake of protecting our communities and public lands. Mr. Speaker, the National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act represents a balanced and collaborative approach to post-disturbance rehabilitation. I am pleased to introduce my legislation today with my colleagues Mr. Nick Rahall and Mr. Raul Grijalva. I urge my other colleagues to support this bill so that we can promote a collaborative approach to restoring forest ecosystem health and diversity following unusually intense disturbances.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Low-Income Gasoline Assistance Program Act of 2005. I want to thank the original House cosponsors that have joined in this effort. Recent high gasoline prices are taking a serious toll on American's pocketbooks. The monthly budgets of hard-working, low-income families are currently dominated by the unexpected price increases at the pumps. We all must do our part to conserve fuel and reduce our national demand for petroleum and I applaud those individuals who have begun or continue to walk, bike or take public transportation on a daily basis. Unfortunately, not all people have these options. Due to lack of available public transportation, people living in rural areas are often forced to commute to everyday activities by automobile. The Low-Income Gasoline Assistance Program Act or LIGAP is designed to assist American families most affected by high fuel prices. LIGAP is modeled after the successful LIHEAP program that helps low- income citizens pay for seasonal heating and cooling. In short, LIGAP calls for qualifying recipients to receive $25-$75 per month for 3 months to pay for gasoline. Additionally, another 3 months' benefit will be made available if prices do not soften. LIGAP will allow States and tribal organizations to make grants to low- and fixed-income individuals and families who have no option but to drive at least 30 miles a day, or 150 miles per week for work, school, or medical care to defray the cost of purchasing gasoline. States are also encouraged to use their welfare reform block grant to provide transportation stipends to parents who meet the same distance standards. This measure will enable States to operate the program through their Community Action agencies or welfare departments. Additionally, tribal organizations may directly request assistance. Thus, States will have the flexibility to set income-eligibility standards similar to the current eligibility for LIHEAP. The prices at which the program triggers on and subsequently releases will then be set for each jurisdiction through consultation between the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Energy. LIGAP is not meant to be a substitute for the long-term energy solutions we all seek for our Nation. Each of us understands the necessity of a comprehensive and balanced approach to energy development, but we must realize that in every State there are hardworking people and elderly individuals whose monthly budgets are being overwhelmed by the cost of gasoline. While we must approach this country's energy demand with the willingness to make the tough, long- range choices demanded of us, it is equally important that we heed the immediate damage being caused by the current high prices. We must show a willingness to provide some comfort for those Americans who are most at risk. Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that people are suffering and that something must be done to help with the high cost of gasoline. I urge my colleagues to join us in this forward thinking and comprehensive proposal.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to authorize the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to carry out five collaboratively created pilot projects dealing with post-disturbance rehabilitation. For those communities that remain at risk from wildland fire or other disturbances, it is important to consider, in advance, scenarios for rehabilitation should a wildland fire, insect infestation, hurricane, or other disturbance event occur. The National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act does just that--this legislation promotes pro-active planning and collaboration to accelerate the approval of rehabilitation projects following uncharacteristic disturbance events. The National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act will create five pilot projects for post-disturbance rehabilitation. Federal forest land communities can apply to participate in the pilot program by meeting a number of different criteria, with specific consideration given to communities that have a proven track record of working in a collaborative manner to resolve natural resource issues. This bill includes independent, third-party monitoring of the forest areas following rehabilitation operations to track the short-term and long-term impacts of logging, replanting, stream restoration, road removal, or other rehabilitation activities. The legislation further creates a National Oversight Committee of scientists to provide scientific and socioeconomic monitoring and evaluation of the pilot program. The National Oversight Committee will submit reports to Congress on the short and long-term results of the pilot project. The results of this report will allow Congress to make the most informed decisions on post-disturbance rehabilitation in the future. Community collaboration has shown great promise in resolving controversial issues before Federal agencies. While I reserved concerns with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, Public law 108-148, one good that came out of the legislation is that it recognized the promise in collaboration by encouraging the development of community wildfire protection plans. These plans have allowed communities across the country to work in a collaborative manner to resolve natural resource issues concerning wildfire protection. There is no doubt that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When Congress passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, Congress clearly recognized the priority of preventing wildfires through active thinning of Federal lands in the wildland-urban interface. It is just common sense that we need to invest more on the front end in the name of fire prevention to avert major spending postfire. While I believe that there were inadequacies with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, I do believe that we are being penny wise and pound foolish by cheating our budget for forest thinning. To date, forest thinning has not been funded nearly to the level of what was Congressionally authorized. This needs to improve for the sake of protecting our communities and public lands. Mr. Speaker, the National Forests Rehabilitation and Recovery Act represents a balanced and collaborative approach to post-disturbance rehabilitation. I am pleased to introduce my legislation today with my colleagues Mr. Nick Rahall and Mr. Raul Grijalva. I urge my other colleagues to support this bill so that we can promote a collaborative approach to restoring forest ecosystem health and diversity following unusually intense disturbances.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Miller-Boehlert substitute. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the substitute amendment in opposition to H.R. 3824. H.R. 3824 is being promoted as a piece of legislation that is good for business. As a senior member of both the Small Business committee and the Resources committee, I think I have an important perspective on this issue. I would like to draw a parallel between the Endangered Species Act and landmark legislation that has been passed by Congress to protect the health and safety of workers. One could easily and logically argue, if they were so inclined, that child labor laws and occupational safety and health laws were bad for business. But we don't because we intuitively understand that supporting the very foundation of business, the people who do the work, is a long-term economic benefit for society, even though it may cost a few dollars up front. That goes to the basic fact that practically every adult in America has worked hard at a job for a business or a corporation at some point in his or her life. All of us can easily relate to the problems caused by unfair labor practices and unsafe working conditions. However, very few of us are scientists. We are not a scientifically literate society. I am not here to say whether that is good or bad but just to offer one explanation why we find it so difficult to grasp that the health of our environment and the continuity of all the pieces in our environment is as important to the health of our society and the strength of our economy as sound labor practices. Legislation that hurts the health of the worker is not good for business. Laws, like the one being proposed today, that undermine the very foundation of our society's well-being and economic infrastructure, are not good for business. When we undermine the basic tenets and goals of the Endangered Species Act, we do so at our own peril. Most of us in the House were alive in the early 1960s when Rachel Carson published her book, Silent Spring. The silence of which she spoke caused by the extermination of songbirds, dying because the shells that protected their offspring shattered long before the young were ready to hatch. The eggs shattered and the next generation died because DDT weakened the structure of the eggs. The spring, once filled with the sound of songbirds, was growing ever more silent as DDT began to pervade every corner of our environment. DDT nearly exterminated our Nation's symbol of freedom, the bald eagle, because it shattered their shells. DDT nearly exterminated the endless flocks of brown pelicans flying low over the ocean's horizon, because it shattered the shells of their young. In my lifetime, I have witnessed the near extinction of these birds. And, thank God, I have witnessed their return because we banned that chemical. Even though the birds have returned, did we ban DDT too late, because we all know that every one of us harbors residues of DDT in our bodies, that DDT is found in our mother's milk? Or, were the eagle and the pelican sentinels, helping us to right our wrongs just in time, before they disappeared from this planet and our own bodies weakened along with, them. The Environmental Protection Agency banned DDT a year before the ESA was passed and here we are, 35 years later, about ready to pass a so- called ``ESA reform bill'' that would suspend all Endangered Species Act provisions related to pesticides. The Endangered Species Act is really about a single species--us, human beings. I am not going to be dramatic and suggest that our species faces extinction. At six and a half billion and growing, I think the human species is going to be around for a good long time. But the existence of today's young people is not the existence I remember from my youth. Bottled water, mercury poisoning the womb, rates of asthma attacks skyrocketing, beaches closed because E.coli pollutes the water and sickens our children. The Endangered Species Act is not about saving the tiny silvery minnow that lives in the Rio Grande and it is not about saving the spotted owl that exists in mature forests. It is about alerting us to the fact that our rivers no longer sustain fish and our forest no longer sustains birds. The Endangered Species Act sounds the five- minute buzzer for humanity and says ``Watch out!'' Our fellow creatures are sickening. The animals that share our water, our air, our soils are dying. Something is wrong and we better do something about it before it begins to weaken and sicken us and we have to scramble to pick up the pieces. Let me close where I began--whether or not a drastic weakening of the Endangered Species Act is good for business. The simple cost/benefit analysis often applied to endangered species protection only reflects what can easily be given a monetary value. This highly selective economic analysis only counts what can be most easily quantified--the cost of timber not cut, the cost of water not sold, the cost of crops not sprayed with pesticide. These economic analyses do not account for the cost if environmental protections are not put in place--an aquifer that dries up, a hillside that erodes into a river, people stricken with cancer from unsafe pesticides. It is easy to hold up the first balance sheet and say, ``Business will suffer'' in the same way one could say that by prohibiting the labor of children, ``Business will suffer''. But the cumulative costs of a thousand cuts into the environment that sustains us as humans will be borne by everyone in society, consumers and businesses alike. Without environmental laws, our economy polluted our rivers, darkened our air, paved our wetlands, and drained our rivers. The Endangered Species Act does not take property from private entities; it protects the property, the health and the wealth of all Americans.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding me time, and I also thank him for his excellent presentation on the rule. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. Once again the folks running this place have made a mockery of the legislative process. This bill was put on a rocket docket so that no one knows what is in it. Look at how we have proceeded here. First of all, last week, just a short 10 days ago, we first saw the bill. Some of the members of the committee did not even see it until Tuesday. Unveiled on Monday, and did not see it until Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans not knowing what is in the bill. On Wednesday, we had hearings, 2 short days later. We only had four witnesses and several hours of hearings; and the crucial witness in this case, the administration witness, would not even take a position on the bill. Here is the agency that for 30 years has administered the bill, with the scientists, with the expertise, and the administration witness walks in and says, We do not know. We do not have an idea. Just go ahead. We could have taken the time, I say to the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), to travel the country, to reach out and find out what was working with this law and what was not working and crafted a bipartisan bill. But that is not what we have here today. After we had that hearing with four witnesses, the very next day, rather than waiting a day or two and seeing how the hearing went and what the reaction was, we marked up the bill and reported it out of committee. So at the end of the week we thought we had one bill. Well, last night in the Committee on Rules, there were major changes to the bill again in the manager's amendment. So what the gentleman from California just said about the Democrats writing the bill, sure, we contributed some of the language, but the manager's amendment makes significant changes in this bill; and the things that we are really fighting over, we may have contributed 90 percent, but the things we are fighting over in the 10 percent are huge things at stake: this huge giveaway to big developers, major changes in the environmental laws. Those were written by others in the bill. So this bill is an abomination. It has made mockery of the legislative process. I urge my colleagues to defeat the rule and start once again, start once again with a process that respects this institution.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California tries to make the substitute and the bill that is on the floor sound the same; but there are major differences, and we should recognize that. First of all, let us talk about some of those differences. The bill before us is a huge giveaway to big developers. It creates a program where the burden is on the government to disprove. It basically does not put a dollar amount in the bill, because they are afraid of the dollar amount because it is an entitlement program for landowners that want to gut the Endangered Species Act. But the estimates are 10, 20, 30, 40 billion. Who knows how much this is going to cost. Our bill, the substitute, does not do that. It is modest. It says we should work with private landowners. It sets up a program so that the government goes out and works with those landowners to accomplish the goals of the Endangered Species Act. The majority bill, and this is another major difference, changes the Endangered Species Act in a radical, radical way, especially with the adoption of the manager's amendment. The substitute reforms the Endangered Species Act, while protecting the core provisions of that magnificent environmental law that has been on the books for 30 years. At the end of this, we have not respected this institution by the way we brought the bill before the floor, the way we have worked in committee to put it on a rocket docket and speed it through, speed it through this process. We need to slow down. We need to take a look at this and work in a bipartisan way. I urge my colleagues to defeat the rule.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today to commemorate the opening of The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This museum celebrates and honors the long-standing tradition of ballooning in the Land of Enchantment. This opening is the culmination of a tremendous effort on the part of the Anderson and Abruzzo families and devoted friends and business partners, all of whom have shared in the vision and dream to create a world class collection of ballooning memorabilia and equipment. The exhibits and programs stand as a testament to the history, science and art of ballooning. This museum will be a significant addition to the city known as the ``The Balloon Capital of the World'' and will prove to be a wonderful complement to Albuquerque's annual International Balloon Fiesta. This commanding building is a fitting tribute to Albuquerque balloonists Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson who are recognized internationally for their first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by gas balloon. Not only will this museum serve as a constant reminder of their legacies, but it will also offer extensive and educational exhibits that will inform and broaden ballooning enthusiasts for years to come. The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum will serve as an educational institution. The museum's innovative educational outreach plan includes field trip opportunities, lectures, and an emphasis on integrating the Balloon Museum into the Albuquerque Public Schools curriculum. I am pleased to congratulate the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum and all of those whose efforts and contributions have made this opening possible. I would like to especially thank the Anderson and Abruzzo families, whose vision and continued dedication have been the driving factor in the museum's completion. I would also like to thank the City of Albuquerque for embracing and financing this project. I am proud to join the community in celebrating this amazing new addition to New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all my colleagues rise to congratulate the many professionals and volunteers who have helped to make this wonderful new museum a reality.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, New Mexico recently lost a respected soldier, admired educator, beloved husband and father and distinguished citizen. William Collins died peacefully at the age of 84 on August 29, 2005, at his home in Albuquerque. Bill was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 14, 1920, but at a young age moved with his mother and sister to Boston, Massachusetts. It was there that his father, Robert Collins, was recuperating at a hospital from wounds suffered at the Battle of Somme in World War I. Growing up in East Boston, Bill excelled in baseball and football and attended Kents Hill Academy in Maine on a baseball scholarship. A later baseball scholarship led Bill to the University of Southern California, and after his first year, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge appointed him to the United States Military Academy. At West Point, Bill played on two national championship teams with Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard while simultaneously playing baseball as a feared left-handed pull hitter. Always a prankster who received numerous demerits, Bill would later claim to have held the all-time West Point record for ``walking the yard'' as punishment for his amusing deeds. The United States' involvement in World War II resulted in a 3-year, early graduation for Bill's West Point class. Upon graduation in 1945, he married Doris Leary in the Cadet Chapel. A lovely lady, Doris would be Bill's wife and best friend for 60 years, a union blessed with two sons and grandchildren. Bill then joined the 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He fought for his country in the Philippines and was preparing to parachute into Japan as a Pathfinder when the war ended. Serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, Bill was a Company Commander in the 28th Infantry Division in Germany and an R.O.T.C instructor at the University of Rhode Island. He was then transferred to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corp and served in Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and in Korea. Following his tour of duty in Korea, Bill served as project engineer for the Sidewinder and Redeye missile programs at White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico. He subsequently joined the Army's Intelligence Corp and served as a counter intelligence agent in Korea, recruiting, planning and directing intelligence-gathering missions into North Korea. Bill retired from the Army in 1964 with the rank of Major. After military retirement, Bill returned to school and earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico. For the next 30 years, he taught American and Latin American history as well as that of Spain, Portugal and Mexico at Purdue University. His classes were so interesting and filled with such quick wit that the walls of large lecture halls were lined with televisions to accommodate the overflowing attendance. In addition, Bill, who was ambidextrous, amazed his students by his ability to write on the blackboard right-handed and then switch the chalk to his left hand in order to continue writing without blocking the students' view. He received the ``Mobil Best Teacher of the Year'' award at Purdue 2 years running and then served on the selection committee. Bill loved Purdue football and was a long-suffering Boston Red Sox fan. When he was a youngster in Boston, he would travel by trolley car to attend games at Fenway Park for 25 cents. He recalled meeting famed Red Sox hurler Cy Young at Fenway and, with his father, meeting Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr when Doerr first came to the Red Sox in 1940. Bill watched every Red Sox game on television from his home in Albuquerque and was thrilled when the team won the 2004 World Series, their first time to do so in 86 years. When Bill passed away, he was wearing his Boston Red Sox wrist watch that he proudly wore for many years; he then fell asleep on the same pillow he had used 60 years before at West Point. Mr. Speaker, William Collins will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of this fine American.