Don Young

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. First of all, I would like to commend Chairman Nussle of the Committee on the Budget for bringing this resolution to the floor. I am very pleased with the cooperative working relationship that has developed between our two committees. As you know, the President's budget proposes an $8.6 billion, or 27 percent, reduction in highway funding, from $31.8 billion in fiscal year 2002 to $23.2 billion in fiscal year 2003. Most of this proposed decrease in funding is based on the revenue-aligned budget authority provision of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, otherwise known as TEA-21, which I continue to support in principle. However, it is simply too harmful to our State transportation budgets and our economy to allow such a dramatic funding cut to take place next year. Therefore, my goal has been to restore the highway program to a reasonable, sustainable funding level of at least $27.7 billion, which is the funding level envisioned by fiscal year 2003 in TEA-21. Any language to the contrary in the report accompanying H. Con. Res. 353 does not accurately reflect my views on this subject. My position on this issue is made clear in H.R. 3694, the Highway Funding Restoration Act. H.R. 3694 calls for highway funding of not less than $27.7 billion in fiscal year 2003. The words ``not less than'' are profoundly important to me and the 315 cosponsors of the legislation. This is a fluid process, and I reserve the right of my committee to move this bill or some version of it in the future if necessary. If it becomes clear to me that the highway trust fund can sustain a higher funding level and at that time there is significant support for restoring more than $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2003, then I will actively support a further increase in highway funding. The budget resolution adds $4.4 billion for highways and highway safety, thereby increasing funding for the highway program to $27.7 billion. This is a significant improvement over the President's budget. For that and other reasons, I support the resolution and urge my colleagues, on my committee especially, to do likewise. I would like to clarify my views with the gentleman from Iowa and ask if there is anything in H. Con. Res. 353 that would preclude adding more than $4.4 billion to the highway program at some point in the future.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Iowa on H. Con. Res. 353, the fiscal year 2003 House budget resolution.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, next week the entire construction and construction materials industries are holding a convention, the CONEXPO-CON/AGG, in Las Vegas, NV. More than 125,000 people are expected to attend and over 2,300 exhibitors covering will show their construction material and equipment in 1.9 billion net square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. This convention is one of the best as it draws contractors and construction materials producers from around the world. Several organizations associated with these events, are conducting their annual conventions in Las Vegas: The Association of Equipment Manufacturers; the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the America Road and Transportation Builders Association; the Associated General Contractors of America; the Construction Materials Recycling Association; the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association; the International Road Federation; the National Fluid Power Association; the National Utility Contractors Association and the Society of Automotive Engineers. I congratulate them for the work they do to keep America moving. Some important facts about these industries should be noted. The construction industry represents 8 percent of our Nation's gross domestic product and accounts for 5 percent of total U.S. employment. The construction industry puts more than $850 billion of products in place annually and employs more than 8.6 million people. Even in a recession, the construction and construction materials industries added 63,000 jobs. These numbers are staggering and impressive and result from the very successful TEA 21 Act that funds the federal highway road program. These are America's builders. Through their hard work, the wilderness that was America was transformed into a stronghold of productivity and commerce. These groups build our roads and highways, airports, and rail beds-- the networks that connect our cities, our communities, and our families. They build our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our hospitals. They build and maintain our utilities, including water and sewer facilities, natural gas pipelines and telecommunications systems. They build these underground lifelines that keep America secure and thriving. Not only do they build--they rebuild. In the true spirit of America they responded after September 11 by sending manpower, materials, equipment, and money to the New York City World Trade Center and the Pentagon to help heal the wounds inflicted on America by the terrorist attacks. Members of these associations continue their efforts to erase these scars that mar our landscape. The construction and construction materials industries have built Americans' a quality of life and ensured a prosperous future for our country and its people. We all take pride in the work these ``Builders of America'' do every day. On the eve of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2002, we extend our sincerest thanks and best wishes to the construction and construction materials industries for a successful trade shows that is ``An Experience to Build On.''

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2538 as amended, and wish to clarify how the program authorized in this bill operates with respect to my Alaska Native constituents. H.R. 2538 as amended does not differ in substance from the bill as reported by the Committee on Small Business. Rather, the measure under consideration today simply recognizes the unique Native American policies that Congress has implemented in the State of Alaska, and clarifies how the grant program the bill authorizes will be implemented in that State. In the 48 contiguous States, Congress's policy on Native Americans has focused on recognizing groups of Native Americans as ``federally recognized tribes'' that are distinct political entities and a majority of whose members reside on reservations and other land that is owned by the United States in trust. However, while Congress has routinely designated groups of Alaska Natives as ``tribes,'' it has done so for the sole purpose of ensuring that Alaska Natives are eligible for programs and services that the United States provides to Native Americans because of their status as Native Americans. Congress has not recognized any group of Alaska Natives as a ``federally recognized tribe'' that is a distinct political entity. Instead, since 1884 Congress has required Alaska Natives to be, at all locations in Alaska, subject to the same criminal and civil state laws that non-Native Alaskans are required to observe. Consistent with that policy, in 1971 when it extinguished Alaska Native aboriginal title by enacting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Congress required Alaska Natives to organize business corporations under the laws of the state of Alaska and then directed the Secretary of the Interior to convey the corporations fee title to 44 million acres of Federal land. The amendments made to H.R. 2538 as reported by the Committee on Small Business simply acknowledge that Congress' Alaska Native policy is quite different from the Native American policy that Congress has implemented in the 48 contiguous States. It will also ensure that the intent of H.R. 2538 can be effectively met in Alaska for the benefit of Alaska Natives. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Mexico and the chairman and ranking members of the Small Business Committee, and their staff, for their assistance in making appropriate changes to the language in the bill as reported. These amendments will ensure the programs authorized by H.R. 2538 assist Alaska Natives as intended. I support H.R. 2538 as amended.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I want to get back to the point that when we work on legislation, we do the best we can within the House of the people. And to have other Members question the integrity of the House during a period of debate following the 2 weeks after we pass the bill, and then to have the Secretary of Transportation mention something that might be a reality, and to say that the administration is not fulfilling the obligation of the Congress is not correct. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request Members, do not use this as a political issue as has been used for the past 4 weeks. Let us seek good, sound security. Let us fund it and make it correct.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I believe I was recognized first. I also believe I have the right to indulge in a colloquy with the chairman, if he so desires.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Not at this point?

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I think I take precedence over this.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the language ``to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund'' found on page 183, beginning on line 24 and continuing on line 25, and also the language on page 184, lines 7 and 8.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I reserve the point of order, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I thank the gentleman, because this goes forth to the Senate side, or, I should mention, the other body. God knows what is going to happen on that side. Again, I say to my good friends, we must fund these projects. For those who have not gone over to the committee room, anybody on this floor listening to this telecast, look at the technology that is available, that is being shown there today. But it takes money to build those machines. We need those machines. The battle last week or 1-1\1/2\ weeks ago was all over federalization. The battle should be, can we rise to the occasion through technology. I believe we can do that. Go over and see what is there right now. The reason we have not used it, very frankly, is the FAA has been dragging their feet for the last 10 or 15 years. Under this bill we have passed, I believe the Secretary of Security can demand and issue the permits for the purchase of those pieces of equipment, but we need the money to do it. I thank the gentleman, the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) for a fine defense bill. I think this is a bill to be proud of, regardless of what has been said on the floor. We must get past this bill and move it forward.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw any statement that any Member might think I said that was out of order, just to speed things along, although I have been informed that I was not out of order; otherwise I will wait for the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. If it is the ``demagogue'' word, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. I am doing this for one reason. My good friend, the gentleman from Washington, if I am not mistaken, voted for the Senate bill, and in the Senate bill they had no bag screening at all, period. I read the paper today, and Mr. Mineta, unfortunately, did say what he said, and he is probably correct unless we do fund it; but I also see a couple of other Members jump up and holler in anguish, saying this is terrible, this is wrong, we are letting the American people down, who voted for the Senate bill. * * * In reality, the Senate bill had no screening of baggage at all.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to address my colleagues for a moment. I talked to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and I talked to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and we were not going to insist on the point of order with the aviation money. I will tell the Members why, although it is in our jurisdiction of our committee. We passed the security bill last week, and I am very proud of it. It also needs to be funded. I thought it would be time now to try to put this behind us and get this screening system in place, get the screeners in place, get the equipment in place, and achieve what we sought to do a week ago Friday. It has been decided not to do that by Members of the Committee. But I do believe the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and I dealt honorably together. I thought we had reached an agreement on the aviation part of the legislation; we had not on the highway part of the legislation. I just urge my colleagues to understand one thing: We have to fund this program. It has to be funded. We have to get it done. Members heard about Mr. Secretary Mineta saying he doubts he can meet the 60-day requirement. He is probably correct. We will do everything possible, but he needs the money to do it. May I suggest respectfully, the other thing that can happen if he does not do it, the faith of the flying public will be eroded. We have to act very rapidly to fund this. I believe the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations was trying to do that. I do think the White House, very frankly, the administration, did not communicate that need to our committee. It did not inform us that this is very, very important, and frankly, I did not know about this until yesterday afternoon. I suggested to them and to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) that the communication in the future be more evident and more forthwith, so we can reach a mutual agreement, so we can solve the problem. The points of order have been upheld; I understand that, and I am not going to delay it any longer. But the reality is that if we do not recognizes the need to fund the screeners, marshals, and all the other things that were in that security bill, we are not doing ourselves any favor, nor the flying public. So I urge Members to consider that. Later on down the road we can and we will make sure this is properly funded.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider a conference report to accompany the Senate bill (S. 1447) to improve aviation security, and for other purposes; that the conference report be considered as read; and that all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration be waived.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House, I call up the conference report on the Senate bill (S. 1447) to improve aviation security, and for other purposes.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am proud to bring this conference report to the full House floor today after very serious negotiations, and I would only suggest one thing that the people on this floor would just be quiet for a moment because they talked a lot during the debate on this bill. If they would sit down and listen, we might get a bill real quick. If they do not, we might take the full hour to discuss this bill. So I suggest that my colleagues sit down and be quiet. Mr. Speaker, this is probably the best, that I know, the best security bill ever to be voted on on this House floor. The Senate, the other body, the conferees took about 98 percent of the legislation that we voted on in the House, which shows that our bill was far superior to that bill. We did not achieve all things as all conferences are for. We did, in fact, have to compromise on issues very dear to some people's hearts, but the main thing is we have a security czar in reality that has the ability to set down rules and regulations without taking the required amount of time and also will give us the best security so people flying on American airlines will know that that plane is going to arrive safely at their destination without the opportunity of any future terrorism. We have screeners. We will have Federal management, Federal contracting. We will have baggage screening. We will have people on the ground all through our airports to make sure that we will not have the act of 9-11 again. It is my strong belief, with the adoption of the House provisions, that this will occur and will occur very rapidly. We will be able to, I believe, to make sure that the planes are safe that fly because the people on the Tarmac, the people that service the airplanes, the people that provide all services, including food service of the airplane, will all have to have background checks. They will have to be screened; they will have to be certified as trained; and they will have to be able to do the job as they are picked out to do so. Every screener at the station will have to speak English. Every screener at the station will have to be American citizens. We believe this is the way it should be because this is a security problem and this Congress is addressing it today. I am pleased to say that the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), my good friend, has worked well with me on this legislation in the conference, offered suggestions. We did have some difficulty on the Senate side, but that is the way it usually is; but we prevailed, as I mentioned, 98 percent of the way. I am proud to be the chairman of this committee on the committee work and as is done by this committee. This is a historic moment because, again, as I must repeat, it is the best security bill this Nation has ever had for the flying public, and I want the public to know that now and from now on and forever more that when we get on that plane, the opportunity of someone doing a dastardly deed as was done on 9-11 will not occur again. I believe they will gain the faith to be back on our airplanes, and I want them traveling as they did prior to 9-11, and I think this will allow them to do that. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), the subcommittee chairman.