Tom Udall

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 434 to commend wildland firefighters and I do so in praise and appreciation for the splendid and courageous job that these firefighters performed this year. As many of you know, this year marked one of the most horrific fire years in our Nation's history. Almost 7 million acres burned and it's still not over. As many of you know the Cerro Grande fire, which occurred within my district, scorched over 40,000 acres and consumed over 400 homes and businesses within Los Alamos, NM. The New Mexico firefighters displayed exemplary courage and professionalism when combating this inferno. Even today, in North Carolina, Missouri and Illinois for example, large fires still burn uncontrolled as a result of low moisture and high winds. This year more than 30,000 firefighters, including 6 military battalions, performed firefighting duties enduring numerous hazardous conditions away from their friends and loved ones. Through it all, these committed men and women performed with enthusiasm and bravery despite their many hardships. I strongly believe that we will continue to see severe fire years in the future and will therefore again call upon these professional and dedicated firefighters to utilize their skills in service to their fellow men and communities. Notwithstanding this prognosis, I am optimistic that our cadre of firefighters will continue to perform when called upon. On the same note, I am also pleased with the bipartisan support of H.R. 2814, The Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act, cosponsored by myself, and Mr. Pombo which provides fair and equitable pay to the thousands of wildland firefighters. This legislation has passed this chamber and now awaits Senate approval. I strongly support H. Con. Res. 434 in tribute to all of those who have sacrificed this year. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), first of all, that we believe in rural America and the reason the gentleman in New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is offering this motion is because we support rural America; and we want accountability. I rise in strong support of this motion. Congress has a responsibility to protect seniors and stop protecting the HMO industry. This motion is designed to require accountability for Medicare HMOs. This issue is especially important to my home State of New Mexico. Earlier this year, between 15,000 and 17,000 New Mexico seniors were told that by year's end, they were being dropped from their Medicare+Choice coverage. Needless to say, a frantic plea for help rang out from seniors asking for a solution. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to the solution offered by the majority to shovel more and more money to HMOs; and I urge support of the Pallone motion.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Robert J. Torrez, the New Mexico State Historian and one of New Mexico's most recognized, respected and honored historians, recently announced his retirement to be effective December 22, 2000. Mr. Torrez has served in his official position with New Mexico's state government since 1987. During his years as State Historian, Mr. Torrez has made many noteworthy contributions to support greater awareness of the richness and depth of the more than four and a half centuries of New Mexico history--a written record of history in the United States that has few, if any, direct parallels. And a record that continues to grow as New Mexico continues to make its unique contributions to our country. One of the areas in which Mr. Torrez has focused his scholarship is the history of New Mexico's judicial institutions and how those institutions responded to crime, punishment and other legal dilemmas under the Spanish, Mexican and American governments. He has written many articles on the subject and has pointed out the effectiveness of the Spanish and Mexican systems in dealing with crimes in the context of not only providing justice, but also community-wide resolution and acceptance of the application of justice through those systems in ways that also preserved the integrity of the individuals and families involved in progressive ways. He has long-running regular column that is published in the monthly public employee-oriented newspaper, Round the Roundhouse, that has pointed out many little-known aspect of New Mexico's history. Mr. Torrez is a recognized expert on one of New Mexico's--and the Southwest's--most challenging issues. And it is an issue that is not only close to my heart but touches on the soul of every traditional Hispanic community in New Mexico: the question of New Mexico's land grants. Those grants made by Spanish and Mexican governments were ostensibly protected by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the United States' war with Mexico in 1848. Mr. Torrez has presented countless lectures and discussions concerning this matter and he served as a member of the Guadalupe Hidalgo Task Force created under the auspices of the New Mexico Attorney General's Office in order to assist the United States General Accounting Office conduct their ongoing study of New Mexico's grants. Mr. Torrez has also contributed significantly tothe preservation of New Mexico's historical documents and cultural propoerties. As only one notable example, in 1988, he worked with the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board to obtain a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. He then ensured that the grant funds were applied to a much-needed project for locating and identifying historical records throughout New Mexico and then assessing their condition and making recommendations for maintaining and preserving them for posterity. The result was a report, New Mexico's Historical Records--An Assessment, that was published and circulated throughout the State in 1990. Despite his widespread recognition and his scholarly position, Mr. Torrez has also deliberately chosen to remain accessible to the many citizens struggling to understand their family, cultural and state history. It is part of his commitment to promoting the understanding and dissemination of the history that he clearly so deeply loves. And as a consequence, he is not only widely recognized and warmly received wherever he travels in the state, but is also deeply appreciated as a living, breathing cultural treasure in our State. I, my wife, Jill, adn countless other New Mexicans join in extending our sincere thanks and congratulations to Mr. Robert Torrez for his years and dedication and commitment to the history of our Land of Enchantment. We know and are glad that he will be able to continue his work from the comfort of his well-deserved and more leisurely state of retired public servant. One who has exemplified the highest standards of public service. We wish him continued rewards in the years to come.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) for her leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the motion of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) to instruct conferees on dedicated funding for class size reduction and school renovation. The school classroom size reduction program is helping the schools in my home State of New Mexico. Of the $9.6 million that was awarded to New Mexico school districts, 87 percent was used to hire an additional 230 teachers, 9 percent for professional development, 2 percent for administration, and 2 percent for recruiting and training of teachers. These are dollars that are targeted and managed at the local level. This is not about Washington versus local control. This program supports local school districts to hire teachers. The locals do the hiring. The locals do the hiring. We are for the locals and for local control and local control management of our schools. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the motion of the gentlelady from New York to instruct conferees on dedicated funding for Class Size Reduction and School Renovation. The Classroom Size Reduction Program is helping the schools in my home state of New Mexico. The amount awarded to my state for the 1999-2000 school year was $9.6 million. Depending on the amount of funds received by the school district, funds could be used to recruit, hire, and train certified teachers and be used for professional development. Of the $9.6 million that was awarded to New Mexico school districts, 87 percent was used to hire an additional 230 teachers, 9 percent for professional development, 2 percent for administration, and 2 percent for recruiting and training of teachers. These are dollars targeted and managed at the local level. As you can see Mr. Speaker the Class Size Reduction program has had a huge amount of success in my state and district--as I'm sure it has in my fellow colleagues' states and districts. In the area of School Construction in my State: 69% of schools report at least one inadequate building feature (e.g., roof, plumbing, electrical, etc.) 75% of schools report at least one unsatisfactory environmental factor (e.g., air quality, heating, lighting, etc.) Enrollment in New Mexico increased 12.3% over the last decade. And current estimates indicate that my state faces a $1.8 billion cost for school modernization, including $1.4 billion for infrastructure and $340 million for technology needs. By supporting the President's request for $1.3 billion for grants and loans for emergency renovations--Schools in New Mexico and across the country would be able to compete for funds allocated to the state to assist them in their school construction needs. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about education we need not think of the politics which divides this chamber and polarizes our work. When we talk about education we need to think about our teachers who teach in over crowded classrooms. We need to think about our students who are being taught in crumbling classrooms and schools. We need to think about these current problems--And we need to act now, and act today by supporting the President's education agenda and supporting our nation's teachers and students. Our students and their families, and our country cannot afford anything less.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps for all of its contributions to our wonderful country. The participants in this New Deal program made an unparalleled contribution to our Nation and left a legacy of parks, forests, and recreational areas many of which still exist today. The CCC, which was founded in April 1933, coupled the need to put unemployed young men to work and the need to conserve the Nation's natural resources. During the program's 9-year life, the Federal Government employed over 3 million men on an extensive variety of conservation projects across the United States. At the program's peak in 1937, there were over 502,000 corpsmen working in 2,500 camps in all 48 States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Corpsmen enlisted for 6-month periods, lived in camps or companies of 200 men, and were paid $30 per month--$25 of which was sent directly to their families. The average participant was 19 years old, had only an eighth grade education, and was so underfed when he arrived that he gained 11 pounds during his first 3 months in the program. If the program's sole purpose was to help young men support their families, the CCC would have accomplished a great deal and would have been a tremendous success. But, Mr. Speaker, the CCC had another goal--that of conservation and restoration of America's natural resources. Between 1933 and 1942, enrollees hand-planted over 2 billion trees, built nearly 3,500 fire lookout towers and spent roughly 6 million man-days extinguishing fires. In addition to these remarkable feats in forestry, corpsmen also completed projects in erosion control, pond dam construction, soil conservation, and disaster relief assistance. Sadly, this is the largest group of forgotten people in the United States. Over 4 million CCC people have never been recognized or given credit for what they have done and are still doing for our country. I recently received a letter from Charles L. Singletary, who is the President of Chapter 141 of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni in my home State of New Mexico. In his letter he stated, ``The prodigious achievements of the `CCC boys' are on the verge of being forgotten by this cynical generation. Lamentably, the United States has never adequately recognized these achievements nor the men of the CCC.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting and paying tribute to this extraordinary group of young men. In short, the CCCs changed the face of our Nation. I am proud of the many accomplishments the CCC made during its 9-year existence, and it is no accident that this public works program was perhaps the most widely accepted and popular of the New Deal programs, even among those who generally opposed the Roosevelt Administration. The hard work, dedication, and many successes of the CCC participants provide us a shining example of the American spirit, and they showed us that we as a united Nation can work together, face any peril, and succeed.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, one of the finest and most respected news anchors in New Mexico, Deanna Sauceda, is departing KRQE television of Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a distinguished career with the news station for nearly 12 years. She has often been credited with making a major contribution toward building KRQE's solid reputation. There are thousands of loyal KRQE watchers who have great faith in what they see from the Channel 13 KRQE newscasts. They believe them to be fair and thorough--providing news coverage that keeps them well informed by separating fact from opinion. As the lead anchor for the program, Deanna Sauceda insisted on good reporting, crisp writing, visual stories, and accuracy in every thing covered in KRQE's news reports. I had the privilege of being interviewed by Deanna just over a week ago. That opportunity was afforded because KRQE has committed to giving all the candidates for federal office 5 minutes of free air time to help constituents learn what the issues are and where candidates stand. I applaud KRQE for providing this service and engaging its viewers in our democracy. The professional that she is, during our interview Deanna asked me some hard-hitting and engaging questions. While she was tough, she also had a wonderful sense of humor and it was a lovely dialogue. I know that Deanna Sauceda will be missed for her judgment, experience, toughness under pressure, and for her vast knowledge of the people, places, and events that have made New Mexico over the last two decades. Deanna, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavors.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention a concept that I believe has the potential to inspire all people, but particularly middle-school children. It's a unique idea called ``Paying it Forward.'' I am only too pleased to tell my colleagues about this idea. The idea I am referring to has been encapsulated in the book by Catherine Ryan Hyde entitled ``Pay it Forward.'' This book was also recently released as a motion picture. It is the tender yet powerful story of Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy with a vivid imagination and a paper route, who takes to heart the challenge of an extra-credit assignment for his Social Studies class: Think of an idea for world change, and put it into action. Responding to the challenge, Trevor chooses three people for whom he will do a good deed. Then, rather than allowing them to pay him back, he tells them to ``pay it forward'' by doing something good for three more people. In turn, those three people are to help three more people and so on. In this way, Trevor believes his acts of kindness will multiply out, geometrically, until the world is a different place. Mr. Speaker, in the end, ``Pay It Forward'' is the story of seemingly ordinary people participating in the extraordinary through the simple faith of a child. It has been brought to my attention that there is a Pay It Forward Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to encourage middle school children to get involved in their local communities and to ``pay it forward.'' As children create their own ideas for how to pay it forward with their schools and communities, teachers can incorporate relevant social needs and current affairs into their discussions. A Pay It Forward project can be applied to all aspects of academic institutional life. This is a worthy mission that not only helps the surrounding communities, but also helps our students realize that they can change the world. Quite frankly, that is a message that is long overdue. It is a message about overcoming the belief in our individual cynicism that has resulted in withdrawal from participation in our governmental, educational, and community activities. I encourage each and every one of you to take the message to heart. We can never do enough to make the world a better place.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, this important legislation is the product of years of negotiations among the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe of California, Federal and State land managers, private landowners and many others. It will provide the tribe with a permanent land base within their aboriginal homelands. The tribe is in great need of access to lands for housing, health care, education and other governmental functions. Since 1850, this tribe has been without a permanent land base and this bill will finally right that wrong. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I yield back 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. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I just wanted to also recognize the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and Senators Feinstein and Boxer for their hard work on this bill.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would like to ask the chairman the question again. I am unclear what the cost of the bill is now.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I yield to the gentleman from Alaska.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill we are bringing up this evening is vastly different from the bill we reported from the Committee on Resources a few weeks back. The funding problems that Indian tribes face when assuming responsibility for Federal programs is serious and complex. Congress has time and again reiterated its support for Indian tribes to take over and run Federal programs that have previously been run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. We have found that tribes are able to run these programs more innovatively and often provide better services to their tribal members. Unfortunately, not all start-up and costs are covered in these funds provided tribes for these programs. This bill was introduced and designed to address those shortfalls. But in its current form, I am not sure that it meets the honorable goal of its author, the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young). The administration has informed us they oppose the bill. And while I would like to pass contract support cost assistance, I will ask for a de novo vote so we will have an additional day to work on this bill. I would also like to ask the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) if the cost of this bill has been worked out based on the new structure here.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), who also has worked with the Committee on Resources and played a key role on this legislation.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5225 would revise the boundaries of the Richmond National Battlefield Park in Virginia to include important resources related to the Civil War battles in and around the city of Richmond, Virginia. The park was established in 1936 to preserve and commemorate several Civil War battles that took place as part of the capture of the Confederate capital. However, several important sites and resources are not currently within the park boundaries. H.R. 5225 would correct the situation and provides a means to protect and interpret additional Civil War resources. In addition, the bill provides recognition for the New Market Heights Battlefield where 14 Medals of Honor were awarded to African Americans. This is a fitting tribute to the extraordinary bravery that was exhibited there. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5225 has the support of the administration and the local community. We support it as well and urge its adoption by the House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4281, the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000. ICCVAM, or the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Validation of Alternative Methods, was established by the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 1994 in response to a directive in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 instructing the National Institute to establish criteria and processes for validation and regulatory acceptance of toxicological test methods. H.R. 4281, which was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), has broad bipartisan support, as well as endorsements from the administration, the animal rights community and the stakeholder industries. It provides statute authority for ICCVAM to continue its work of establishing, as feasible, guidelines and recommendations that promote the regulatory acceptance of scientifically valid new or revised or alternative test methods. It was reported unanimously by the Committee on Commerce. H.R. 4281 clearly delineates the purposes, duties, and responsibilities of ICCVAM. It also establishes how ICCVAM's scientific recommendations will be transmitted to Federal agencies involved in toxicology testing and how agencies are expected to respond. These steps recognize the important role of ICCVAM in maintaining an open, collaborative, scientific review process for validating new and existing testing methods and perpetuating the promotion of alternatives to the use of animals in the critically important field of toxicology testing. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the ranking member, for his leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the grand opening of Traditions! which is located in my district. Let me first start by thanking Michael Gallegos and James Long and the many others who have worked so hard to establish a shopping and cultural center that keeps alive the culture, traditions and heritage of New Mexico. While New Mexico proudly proclaims itself as the State of many cultures--some call it a melting pot, others a mosaic--we all have at least one thing in common, and that is keeping together our strong connection to the history and traditions of our state. The heritage of those cultures is rich and proud, is very much alive here today, and one which should be cherished and passed on. Traditions! has been boasted in various articles as most likely being the largest incubator program for start-up retail businesses my state has ever seen. Traditions! is one of the few multicultural centers in the country that showcases and preserves New Mexico's unique rich, and historical cultures. This center will contain unique stores and shops that will showcase Indian and Hispanic Arts. Visitors find restaurants which reflect the culinary specialties of New Mexico--like posole, tortillas and green chile burgers. The center will serve as a gathering place where both residents and tourists can come to learn about the culture and traditions of New Mexico. Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo cultures will all be featured during year round events and performances--such as exhibits, shows, and festivals. The economic impact that the center will have is also impressive. More than a hundred jobs will be created, and over a thousand artists will be invited to showcase and sell their work. That is why Traditions! is so relevant. For our future to be as promising as our past has been successful, we need to keep alive the cultural traditions, history, and heritage of our state. This center not only contributes to the economy of our state--it also helps to preserve our history and spirit.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, S. 2917, the Santo Domingo Pueblo Claims Settlement Act, sponsored by Senators Domenici and Inouye, settles certain outstanding land claims by the Santo Domingo Pueblo, located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am the cosponsor of the House companion, H.R. 5374. As such, I recognize the importance of this legislation for the Pueblo people, the citizens of New Mexico, and the Federal Government. For years, the Pueblo of Santo Domingo has been asserting claims to lands within its aboriginal use area in north central New Mexico. The claims have been subject to numerous lawsuits, and a certain number of them remain unresolved. For example, the Pueblo has asserted a claim to 25,000 acres of land based on the Pueblo's purchase in 1748 of the Diego Gallegos Land Grant. The Pueblo possesses the original deed reflecting the purchase under Spanish law; but, after the United States assumed sovereignty over New Mexico, titles to land, including the Pueblo's title to these lands, were never confirmed by the Federal Government. Many of these lands were later treated as public domain with title being claimed by Federal agencies, the New Mexico Land Commission, other Indian tribes, and numerous private parties. Litigation is currently pending over these issues to resolve the land and trespass claims of the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. Such action would be expected to take many years, with the outcome of such litigation unclear. The settlement agreement is the result of a little over 4 years of intense negotiations and compromise between all parties involved. This measure accomplishes three major points. Number one, it removes the cloud on titles to land in the State of New Mexico resulting from the claims of the Pueblo of Santo Domingo; the Pueblo claims against the United States and third parties; the land, boundary and trespass claims of the Pueblo. It does this all in a fair, equitable and final manner. Number two, it provides for the restoration of certain lands within the Pueblo's land claim. Number three, it ratifies the settlement agreement between the United States and the Pueblo, to include the Pueblo agreeing to relinquish and compromise its land and trespass claims. Madam Speaker, the Santo Domingo Pueblo Claims Settlement Act serves as an excellent example of how Federal and State governments can come together with Native American nations and individual citizens to resolve disputes in the best interest of all parties. This bill represents the negotiated settlement, and passage would ratify the agreement to resolve all existing land claims. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to pass this measure and ratify an agreement that I believe has taken into proper consideration the many interests involved. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

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. Madam Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for all his hard work on this bill. Madam Speaker, the Five Nations Citizens Land Reform Act of 2000 is a significant Indian land bill affecting the restricted allotments of members of the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations in eastern Oklahoma. This legislation would bring equity and fairness to the Indian people who own allotted lands of the Five Great Indian Nations in eastern Oklahoma. For much of the 20th century, these people have been the subject of special laws applicable only to their lands that are unlike any other Federal laws on Indian lands. Many of these laws have provided much less protection to the Indian lands in Oklahoma than is afforded in the rest of the country. Under current Federal law, the allotted lands of the Five Civilized Tribes are subject to the State law of adverse possession, the result of which has been loss of land owned by many individual Indians. This legislation would bring law affecting the Oklahoma lands in line with land owned by tribes living in the rest of the States. State courts of Oklahoma currently have jurisdiction over probating, partitioning, and transferring restricted lands and the leasing of restricted mineral interests owned by members of the five tribes. This often places a great financial burden on Indian families who must hire private attorneys to probate estates or transfer interests in restricted land. For this reason, many estates in eastern Oklahoma that include restricted land are not being probated, and landownership is becoming increasingly fractionated. Elsewhere in the United States, the Department of the Interior is responsible for probating estates, partitioning lands, and effecting other transactions involving allotted lands. This bill would do the same for the restricted allotments of the five tribes. I want to thank the sponsor, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), for working with the Committee on Resources to assure that this bill does not adversely affect any other tribes in Oklahoma. I know that that was not his intent, and I feel that this bill is now clear on that matter. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

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. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4646 adds approximately 10,570 acres to the National Wilderness Preservation System in George Washington National Forest in the State of Virginia. The two additions, the Priest and Three Ridges areas, were recommended for wilderness study in the forest management plan in 1993. The areas, within easy access of the Appalachian Trail, contain rugged terrain and spectacular mountain scenery. We are pleased to see this addition to the wilderness system. We are also pleased to see the removal of a provision allowing tree cutting and motorized use by county firefighters and rescue squads in and around wilderness areas. The Wilderness Act allows motorized use in wilderness areas only in the event of emergencies and to control fire, insects and disease. Forest Service policies allow forest supervisors to approve motorized equipment and vegetation cutting in emergencies. The removal of the provision makes H.R. 4646 consistent with the Wilderness Act. It also makes the bill identical in substance to Senator Robb's companion measure, S. 2865, which passed the Senate on October 6, 2000. If the House had chosen to take up Senator Robb's bill, it would have been on its way to the President. By choosing to take up the House version, the House is unnecessarily protracting the process and risking not getting a bill. While I regret this choice, the bill enjoys administration and widespread public support, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.