Greg Walden

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1496) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a pilot program under which up to 15 States may issue electronic Federal migratory bird hunting stamps.

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 Senate 1496, the Electronic Duck Stamp Act. I would also like to compliment the author of this legislation, Senator Mike Crapo, and the sponsors of the House version, Congressmen Ron Kind and Chip Pickering. The first Federal duck stamp was issued in 1934. Since that time, hunters and wildlife art enthusiasts have purchased more than 122 million stamps that have produced more than $700 million in revenues. With those funds, the Migratory Bird Commission has conserved more than 5.2 million acres of land that have provided essential habitat for countless migratory birds. Senate 1496 is a positive step in the right direction of bringing this program into the 21st century. Today, hunters and fishermen throughout the United States can obtain their necessary State licenses online. The Electronic Duck Stamp Act will direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 3-year pilot program by allowing certain States to issue electronic Federal migratory bird stamps. Under the terms of the bill, the Fish and Wildlife Service will approve the application of any interested States that will include the format of the stamp, a description of any processing fees, the process of delivering the actual printed duck stamp and the issuance of any duplicate stamps. In addition, the legislation contains safeguards to ensure customer satisfaction, the maintenance of traditional stamps and adequate retail availability of the actual stamp. Senate 1496 is the result of successful negotiations between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the States and conservation organizations. It is a sound bill that will provide customer convenience without undermining the Federal duck stamp program. After the 3-year trial period, Congress can then decide whether to make the electronic duck stamps a permanent fixture. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on Senate 1496. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) for a colloquy.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's question. The CBO does estimate, indeed, that the implementing legislation would cost the Federal Government $750,000 over the next 3 years, assuming the availability of appropriated funds. However, this is also set up and estimates the Fish and Wildlife Service would spend $250,000 annually to carry out the 3-year project, again, assuming the availability of appropriated funds, but the legislation makes it very specific that they can recoup their costs as an administrative fee when they issue the duck stamp. So it should become very self-supporting. Just as you referenced in the other program, they can actually add a cost to cover their administrative costs. We are just trying to simplify this, make it available online to duck hunters as an ease. They will still get the duck stamp in the mail, but we anticipate fully in the legislation the cost to be recovered by the users.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. That is my understanding, yes.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. If the gentleman will suspend for a moment.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. It is a several page bill. If we had had a little advance warning, we could have had it highlighted here. Section 6(3)(c), Electronic Stamp Issuance Fee. A State participating in the pilot program may charge a reasonable fee to cover costs incurred by the State and the Department of the Interior in issuing electronic stamps under the program, including costs of delivery of actual stamps. Does that clarify?

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Does that satisfy the gentleman's question then?

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Very good.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support S. 1496, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 60) designating the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Senate Concurrent Resolution 60, introduced by Senator Talent, would designate the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Because of racism and segregation laws that barred African Americans from playing baseball on major league teams in the first half of the 20th century, black baseball players were forced to form their own teams and the first Negro baseball league. Between 1920 and 1955, more than 70 teams played in these leagues. However, by the early 1960s, attendance dropped at Negro league games, and the last of the Negro league teams went out of business. Then, in 1990, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was established in Kansas City, Missouri, to preserve and interpret the history of the Negro leagues. Although the National Baseball Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of baseball's greatest players of all races, the Negro Leagues Museum tells the story of the black athletes who built a successful baseball league. I urge adoption of the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I encourage that our Members support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam 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. 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Senate 203 includes several titles in this carefully constructed bill. Title I provides for the temporary reduction of soda ash royalties; title II establishes 10 National Heritage Areas; title III authorizes three suitability and feasibility studies for new heritage areas; titles IV makes improvement to and reauthorizes the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor; title V authorizes an important water storage study; title VI authorizes a special resources study in the State of Delaware to determine the suitability of including certain sites in the National Park System; title VII reauthorizes the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor; title VIII authorizes the California Reclamation Groundwater Remediation Initiative; and title IX makes corrections to the National Coal Heritage Area Act. I urge my colleagues to support Senate 203. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, at this time I am honored and privileged to yield to my colleague, Mr. Ryun, who has been very active on parts of this bill that pertain to his interest in his district and State, and I yield him such time as he may consume.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 203) to reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced, to establish certain National Heritage Areas, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3817) to withdraw the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest in New Mexico from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield my such time as I may consume. H.R. 3817, introduced by New Mexico Representative Tom Udall, would withdraw roughly 101,000 acres, known as the Valle Vidal Unit, from mineral exploration or development. This includes patent under mining claims and mineral leases for geothermal or mining materials. Any valid existing rights would continue to be recognized; but if those rights were relinquished or bought out, that area would also be withdrawn from the mining laws. This area is known for its recreation, namely, horseback riding and hiking, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Currently, the Forest Service is revising its management plan for the Carson National Forest and is likely, through public comment and collaboration, to withdraw mineral development in this area independent of the legislation. The area in question is entirely within Mr. Udall's district. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALDEN of Oregon

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.