Greg Walden

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, I want to commend the hard work and diligent effort of our colleague Mike Simpson from Idaho and his staff and the people he has worked with for a long time to bring this bill to this point and for our consideration. And I would heartily urge our Members to support it and remind them that it came out of the Resources Committee on a unanimous vote.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5025) to protect for future generations the recreational opportunities, forests, timber, clean water, wilderness and scenic values, and diverse habitat of Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present to the House the Mount Hood Stewardship Legacy Act. I want to thank Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo for his support of this legislation and his assistance in our work to move it forward at this time. I also want to express my appreciation to my Oregon colleagues, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Darlene Hooley for their work on the Mount Hood Stewardship Legacy Act, H.R. 5025. Together, we have crafted a bipartisan, locally written and widely supported plan to protect the special places on Mount Hood for future generations to enjoy, while working to improve access, recreation, forest health and watersheds. We have worked with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to fulfill treaty trust obligations and we have worked with local interests to resolve a nearly 30-year battle over development in the Upper Hood River Valley. This measure comes to the floor today in shape to become law at any time. I want to thank Earl Blumenauer for his leadership in starting this process nearly 3 years ago when he suggested that he and I could work together to consider the issues and pressures facing Oregon's icon, Mount Hood. Perhaps because our history goes back to the 1970s, we were able to rekindle a little bit of that Oregon spirit and dream by working together to develop a shared vision for Mount Hood, using a very public and collaborative process. I appreciate the detailed analysis that the Forest Service has put into carefully reviewing the Mount Hood Stewardship Legacy Act. Likewise, I appreciate the technical comments from groups like the American Forest Resource Council, the Campaign For America's Wilderness and American Rivers, the State of Oregon and the five county governments that are directly impacted by what takes place in the Mount Hood National Forest. Colleagues, H.R. 5025 is a balanced plan that not only protects extraordinary places for future generations, but also will lead to improved forest health conditions across a broad region of a forest that, frankly, in some areas is in trouble. Our measure seeks to protect water quality and quantity, while enhancing recreational opportunities for an ever-growing population. We address transportation needs and encourage continued public collaboration. The current version of the bill we will discuss here today is draft number 10 and was drafted from a concept paper presented to the public in two forums in December of 2005, one in Hood River, Oregon, and one in Portland, Oregon. The concept paper was drafted following two public summits which drew about 250 participants each. They specified or looked at challenges facing the Mount Hood National Forest conducted in August of 2003 and 2004. And we had a 2-day roundtable discussion at Timberline Lodge in July of 2005 where we had 50 key stakeholders. Then we followed that up with a 41-mile backpacking trip just about a year ago. When approved by the Congress, this legislation will provide the largest addition of forest wilderness to America's inventory in the last 3 years, the first additional wilderness classification on Mount Hood in the last 22 years and a 40 percent increase over existing designations. It will resolve a 30-year-old land management dispute in the Hood River Valley, and it designates 26 miles of wild and scenic rivers. It also calls for improved forest health conditions across a landscape that is in trouble. But let me be very clear about our intent for this legislation. We intend it to increase the amount of wilderness, but we intend that that adhere strictly to the 1964 Wilderness Act, increase the amount of Wild and Scenic Rivers on the Mount Hood National Forest, while in total agreement that these designations not reduce the amount of land that is specifically identified for timber emphasis harvest nor would they deliberately result in future land management conflicts. If recreational activities, such as snowmobiling, were to take place within view or earshot of a wilderness, then that activity would still be allowed to continue. Any landowners with private inholdings incorporated by the designations would be granted full access to their lands, although we don't believe there are any. We require the Forest Service to develop and implement through existing authorities a 10-year assessment to address bug-infested, disease-ridden and heavily overstocked trees and to take action using site-specific, environmentally reviewed, and publicly noticed projects to improve these areas to the optimum condition class. Where memorandums of understanding or legislative authorities do not currently exist between irrigation districts or municipalities and the Forest Service, the Forest Service would be directed to enter into MOUs that outline stewardship goals to manage watersheds for water quality and water quantity. Existing development footprints are the best places to enhance recreational opportunities and maximize future potential. These areas could potentially include the footprints of Government Camp, Ski Bowl, Timberline, Mount Hood Meadows, and lands allocated A-11 under the approved forest plan. Also if there are roads slated to be closed, they should be considered for other recreational uses. Establish a recreation working group comprised of local stakeholders to advise the Forest Service on planning for future recreational enhancements. Develop an integrated transportation network that brings people to and from Mount Hood National Forest and safely transports people from place to place on the mountain. We would require the Forest Service to enter into MOUs with Native American Tribes to provide for huckleberry picking and other customary and traditional harvesting of ``first foods'' to ensure healthy stands of huckleberries and other traditional plant species. We encourage cooperation with Mount Hood's local communities, counties, the State, the Tribes, and Federal land agencies to identify common ground, coordinate planning efforts around the mountain and make the Federal Government a better partner in building cooperative and lasting solutions. Last summer, Earl and I made history as probably the only bipartisan backpacking duo in the Congress to make the journey around Mount Hood. Over the course of 4 days and 3 nights, we hiked 41 miles, climbed and descended 9,000 feet, and along the way saw firsthand the mountain from every perspective, including the one my ancestors saw 161 years ago this fall when they completed their wagon train journey to the proposed land of Oregon. It is in this spirit of promise for a better future, nurtured by an on-the-ground appreciation, that we bring you this legislation and ask for your support. Finally, I will include for the Congressional Record an exchange between Congressman Pombo of the Resources Committee and Chairman Goodlatte of the Agriculture Committee. I thank Chairman Goodlatte for his cooperation in helping this bill be considered today. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, July 21, 2006. Hon. Richard Pombo, Chairman, Committee on Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for forwarding a draft copy of H.R. 5025, the Mount Hood Stewardship Legacy Act, which the Committee on Resources favorably reported. As you know, the Committee on Agriculture received an additional referral. Because of your wish to expedite this legislation and the history of cooperation between our Committees on these matters, I will agree to discharge H.R. 5025 from further consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. The Committee on Agriculture will discharge the bill with the understanding that discharge does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over this issue or similar measures. Furthermore, in the event a conference with the Senate is requested on this matter, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees. Again, I am grateful for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman.

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

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to thank my colleague from Oregon especially, Congressman Blumenauer. We have had a great partnership over 3 years working on this legislation to bring it to this point, building it from the ground up. And we could not have done it without the very talented staff that he referenced in his remarks, Colby Marshall, Janine Benner and Hillary Barbour. They have just been terrific troopers, helping us every way, and went on the backpack trip with us, but let the record show clearly, we each carried our own packs along the trail. And my wife and son also accompanied us on that backpack trip. It was a great way to learn about the mountain and see it firsthand. It is truly a remarkable place and great piece of America. I hope others will come and enjoy it as we have. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and ask for your support for this very important and progressive legislation.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of the legislation.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 854) to provide for certain lands to be held in trust for the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe, as amended.

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

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 854 is a bill to provide for certain lands to be held in trust for the Benton Paiute Reservation in Northern California, home of Utu Utu Gwaitu Indian Tribe. H.R. 854 would transfer 240 acres of land from the Bureau of Land Management and place that land into trust for the benefit of the tribe. The 240 acres are contiguous to the existing reservation and have been classified as suitable for disposal through the BLM land use planning process. This acreage is of vital importance to the tribe in its quest for self-sufficiency and to enhance its potential for economic development. Additionally, because of the tribe's strong commitment to a solid economic future based on growth and hard work, the tribal council passed a resolution to prohibit gaming on the 240-acre parcel. This resolution makes it clear that the tribe will not carry out gaming activities on the land proposed for transfer. I commend the efforts of Congressman McKeon of California, the sponsor of H.R. 854, who has worked diligently since the 104th Congress to see this legislation enacted into law. I look forward to the support of this House on H.R. 854. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1307) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1307 introduced by Congressman Scott Garrett of New Jersey designates two segments of the Musconetcong River, totaling 24.2 miles, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In 1992, residents of the Lower Musconetcong River Valley formed a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting the river. In 1995, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recommended to the National Park Service that the river be included in the nationwide rivers inventory of candidate rivers for wild and scenic designation. Two years later, 18 river municipalities requested that the Park Service study the river for its suitability for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In June of 2004, the Park Service found portions of the river suitable, and these sections have been included in H.R. 1307. I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1307. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor and privilege to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), who has put an incredible amount of work into this legislation to bring it forward and has been a dutiful and diligent lawmaker in that respect.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey. I would look forward to that opportunity to come see this river that you have spoken so highly of and have now sought to protect in this very special way. We appreciate again your diligence in this effort in bringing this bill forward.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, indeed we have no further speakers, and I would yield back the balance of my time and encourage an ``aye'' vote on this measure.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4947) to expand the boundaries of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to support H.R. 4947, introduced by our colleague, Congressman Spencer Bachus, to expand the boundaries of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama. This refuge was legislatively created in 2000, and it has done a remarkable job of conserving 64 rare and imperiled species and 131 species of fish. The Cahaba River is the longest free-flowing river in the State, and it may have the greatest fish biodiversity per mile of any river in the United States. Under Congressman Spencer Bachus's legislation, an additional 3,600 acres would become eligible for acquisition. This would help to maximize the benefits of this refuge and ensure that unique plants like the beautiful Cahaba lily and the more than 60 other rare species survive in the future. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4947 proposes a modest increase in the size of the Cahaba River Refuge. It is enthusiastically supported by the local communities and the two major land owners. U.S. Steel and Forest Investment Associates have indicated that they are interested in being willing sellers in this expansion effort. I want to compliment Congressman Spencer Bachus for his tireless effort and effective leadership on behalf of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, which is a very special place in rural Alabama; and I would urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and encourage our Members to support this very important legislation brought to us by Spencer Bachus.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5057) to authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor Brigadier General Francis Marion, as amended.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5057 introduced by Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina would authorize the Marion Park Project to establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor Brigadier General Francis Marion. General Francis Marion, known as The Swamp Fox, was a Revolutionary War officer from South Carolina. He led a band of irregular fighters in the back- and low-country swamps of South Carolina to fight the British troops under Lord Cornwallis. He is generally credited as the father of guerilla warfare. Marion Park in the District of Columbia is named after the famous general; however, there is very little recognition of the man himself at the park. The Marion Park Project was established in partnership with the nonprofit Palmetto Conservation Foundation with the goal of placing a monument to General Marion at the park. The group has coordinated this effort with the National Park Service and is now seeking authorization from Congress so the project may move forward. No Federal funds will be authorized for the establishment of the commemorative work, and the Marion Park Project will be responsible for raising the funds. Finally, I would like to recognize the work of our colleague, Congressman Wilson, and the important contribution of Congressman Henry Brown in bringing this legislation to this House floor today, and I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5057. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 310) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Newlands Project Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility to the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District in the State of Nevada.

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

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Senate 310, introduced by Senator John Ensign, transfers 35 acres of Federal land to the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. This transfer, which includes the Newlands Project Headquarters and Maintenance Yard Facility, will allow the irrigation district to make permanent improvements on the property for the continued operations and maintenance of the facility. The bill also stipulates that environmental analyses, including those under the National Environmental Policy Act, must be completed prior to transfer. Congressman Jim Gibbons is the author of the House companion measure, H.R. 540, which passed the House of Representatives in May of 2005. He should be commended for his work and leadership on this issue. This legislation is a win for the local water users and a win for the American taxpayers. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, despite the overwhelming enthusiastic support for this legislation, we have no other speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.