Don Young

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I have been in my office listening to the debate on the gentleman's amendment, and I have never heard so much energy wasted on an amendment that very frankly does damage to this Nation and not to the monuments. When I hear people talk about the Statute of Liberty and the Grand Canyon, they are full of it. That is really, in fact, not what this is all about. Mr. Chairman, if my colleagues want to know what it is about, read this report called ``A Monumental Abuse: The Clinton Administration's Campaign of Misinformation in the Establishment of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.'' I have it right here. This was passed by the Committee on Resources. Read it. It is the greatest blatant political piece of trash that administration did. There was no danger to that area of the Escalante, but because the environmentalists wanted it and Kathleen McGinty wanted it, they set this vast area of land, without consulting with the governor and without consulting with the local representative, and by the way he lost, because there was a huge coal deposit there and they did not want that coal deposit developed. Read your record. Do not vote for this amendment. It is nothing but a bunch of hot air.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, first, let me remind my colleagues that FEMA, which is also under my committee's jurisdiction, currently has $1.3 billion available in its emergency fund even after the recision goes into effect. I want my colleagues to remember that. I would like to also say, Mr. Chairman, that we have to understand one thing, I was not here for the Toomey-Flake-Tancredo amendment; but it violates the guaranteed funding levels established in T21 and Air 21 by requiring an across-the-board cut for Federal spending programs. Every State and every Member's highway transit project and urgently needed airport projects would be subject to reduced fundings. T21 and Air 21 have brought much-needed honesty and protections to those dedicated-user financed trust fund programs. This amendment attempts to thwart the will of Congress. America's modus and airplane passengers have already paid for these programs in the form of dedicated-user taxes which are established to pay for transportation improvements. Again, let me restate, FEMA has $1.3 billion available in its emergency fund right today. That amount should be sufficient to cut FEMA's emergency costs for the balance of the fiscal year. Mr. Chairman, I urge a no vote on both of these amendments.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I understand the gentleman's request. He is an important member of the Committee on Appropriations. I certainly hope that the House will accommodate his request. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, I do so to reserve a point of order. Although this amendment was not part of the original agreement, I will not make the point of order until the gentlewoman has concluded her 5 minutes on the amendment.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1599. This is a bipartisan bill. I thank the ranking member, the chairman of the Subcommittee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), and the ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), for her support, and those people directly involved. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that we are taking action today to authorize the funding for these important programs. H.R. 1699, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2001, authorizes the fiscal year 2002 Coast Guard budget at the level requested by the President, with an additional $300 million, as the gentleman has mentioned. I, being from Alaska, and my Alaskan constituents have had a love affair with the Coast Guard for as long as we have been a Territory and a State. The first Federal officer that was stationed in Alaska was a Coast Guard employee, a captain. They are dedicated people. They are committed and they are courageous, especially in search and rescue of our fishing fleet, which is the most dangerous fishing fleet in the world because of the climate conditions. Just this year, there has been numerous rescue attempts successfully done by the Coast Guard using equipment that is outdated and not properly, very frankly, funded for the fuel that needs to do the mission. They have done so. This bill does the authorization that we believe will not only fund them adequately, but will increase their deep water capability. Many of the ships that are used by the Coast Guard in Alaska and other areas of the United States are 50 years old and older. The living conditions of those ships is deplorable, and this Congress has been neglectful. Our President has recognized it, and this Congress has recognized it for the leadership of the chairman. We are now authorizing the funding as it should be. I have a little comment to make for those that may question the amounts of money. This is long overdue. We hope to have supplemental money in the supplemental appropriation bill for the backlog of $92 million that the Coast Guard was shorted last year. We have some people in OMB and other areas that have decided to make this an issue, and I will tell them and I will tell my colleagues on this floor, we are going to prevail to make sure our Coast Guard is adequately funded. This bill does that. We have to recognize the importance of this ability of this unit is really on the front lines all the time. I have great respect for my Army, my Navy. I have great respect for my Marines, my Air Force. But this unit of the Coast Guard is always on the front lines: drug interdiction, oil spill responsibility, immigration, all the things that they are charged with, we have not adequately done our job, and it is up to us to do so. Again, I want to thank those people that are directly involved in this, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of the subcommittee, who has actually mentioned the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) and himself have done the job that I believe is correct for this great agency which serves every man, woman and child. There is a tendency sometimes to believe that the Coast Guard only serves those on the coast. That is why they call it the Coast Guard. But the fact is it serves every person in the United States inland and along the coast through drug interdiction, illegal immigration, oil spill responsibility. The work that they do affects every man, woman and child in the United States. So I urge this Congress to, not only to pass this bill, but to pass it overwhelmingly. At this time, I would also like to compliment numerous people that had amendments. There will be some dialogue between those people. We have kept this a clean bill. There is nothing in here to slow it down like happened last year. We have agreed and reached a compromise with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant). He will be offering an amendment which we will accept. But it is the only amendment because it pertains to Buy America. But the rest of the amendments, and some of them were very well-warranted, we will talk about, we will discuss, and then they will be withdrawn. I will compliment the wisdom of those Members to keep this bill clean so when it goes over to the Senate, they will not have the opportunity to do what they tried to do last year and put a lot of garbage on the bill that should have been passed. So I want to congratulate those involved.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on May 3, 2001, eighteen of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle and I introduced H.R. 1692, a bill to simplify and make more equitable the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. I am very pleased today to add the names of two of our distinguished colleagues, Representative Wes Watkins, a cosponsor from last Congress and Member of the Ways and Means Committee to which the bill was referred, and Representative Mark Souder. Also, in my statement upon introduction of the bill, there were two items that need correcting. First, Representative Frost, Representative Bono, and Representative Stupak should have been referred to as ``Representative'' as were the other cosponsors. And, in the last paragraph of the statement, the word ``vetted'' was inadvertently transcribed in the Record to read ``vetoed.'' With that edit, that paragraph should have read: A version of this bill was included by the Ways and Means Committee in legislation last Congress that was vetoed and a version of it passed the Senate as well. This current version of the bill we are introducing today has been vetted over the past several years with the tax writing committees of Congress in the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Department of Treasury. It addresses the key deficiencies in the current law. I urge that it be included in tax-related legislation considered by the House in this session of the 107th Congress and that our colleagues join the co-sponsors of the bill in supporting this meritorious legislation.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 1831, The Small Business Liability Protection Act. Like most Members of Congress, I know small businessmen in my district who have been caught up in Superfund litigation. It is terrible to see the toll it takes on the lives of these individuals. They don't know if they will lose their businesses, or even their homes. If there is one thing all of us should be able to agree on, it is liability relief for small businesses that sent only 2 drums of waste or only ordinary garbage to a Superfund site. Congress never intended that these parties be subject to Superfund liability. To those of you who are concerned about ``Cherry-Picking'' Superfund reforms--let me assure you I am very interested in addressing additional Superfund legislation in this Congress. We still need to address natural resource damages, liability relief for innocent parties, finality for state cleanup programs and Brownfields generally, and Superfund's joint and several liability scheme. I urge you to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1831.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a great leader in the maritime community, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, owner of the A.P. Moller Group--a global transportation provider whose fleet of ships make it the world's largest shipping company and also the largest US-flag carrier. When Germany invaded Denmark in 1940, the company's fleet numbered 46 ships and many of those vessels were used by the United States and its allies during WWII. Maersk Moller and his wife spent the war years in the United States. After almost eight years in America, Maersk Moller and his father faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding their company. A number of ships were purchased from the United States government and slowly the company was rebuilt. A.P. Moller has made significant contributions to the U.S. economy over the years. The company's United States headquarters was founded in 1943, and in 1947 a notable affiliate--Maersk Line, Limited--was chartered in Delaware. Today Maersk has 10 United States corporate entities devoted to terminal operations, trucking, rail transportation, and third party logistics and it generates employment for approximately 9000 Americans. Maersk serves more than 30,000 US exporters and importers dedicated to international trade. Today A.P. Moller is the largest carrier in the world. It operates approximately 250 ships including container vessels, tankers, bulk carriers, supply ships, car carriers, and drilling rigs. 53 of these ships fly the Stars and Stripes and are owned, operated or chartered by Maersk Line, Limited. It is the largest U.S. flag carriers serving the foreign trades of the United States. Allow me to recognize some other important contributions. Maersk Line, Limited ships were the first vessels to arrive in Desert Storm and off-load critically needed Marine Corps supplies and equipment. Space on Maersk commercial ships was provided free of charge to the U.S. government so we could load much needed supplies for our troops during the sustainment phase of the operation. Prior to Desert Storm, Maersk Line, Limited obtained a secret clearance ftom the Department of Defense and now has a top- secret clearance to operate ships for the U.S. Navy. This important mission and valuable program continues today. Mr. Speaker, I am very interested in strengthening a cost effective U.S.-flag fleet that is dedicated to the foreign commerce of the United States. The Maritime Security Program (MSP) will soon have to be reauthorized for our nation to maintain a U.S.-flag presence. It is important to recognize that during a contingency, companies participating in MSP like Maersk Line, Limited are contractually obligated to the statutorily mandated Voluntary Intennodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). Combined, Maersk and other U.S. vessels provide the intennodal infrastructure that includes terminal, truck, rail and sealift capacity the Department of Defense (DOD) would rely on to lift critically important military equipment during a conflict. Without the MSP it would cost the taxpayers billions of dollars in DOD spending to replicate what MSP carriers, like Maersk, provide. A strong, competitive commercial U.S.-flag presence in international trade is therefore vitally important. It is important we recognize that in order to maintain a strong, reliable and available fleet of MSP vessels the program must understand and meet carrier operating costs. It should be indexed to keep abreast of inflation and we should make sure that MSP benefits flow to the U.S. corporate citizen providing VISA assets to our military. I look forward to working with my colleagues and improving the Maritime Security Program. Mr. Speaker, Maersk Line, Limited plays a critical role in both the national security interest of the United States and the transportation of goods in and out of the U.S. I am proud to recognize Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller for the services his company provides and for his dedicated leadership in the maritime arena. He is a true friend of the United States of America.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce a bill to simplify and make more equitable the tax treatment of settlement trusts established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). This bill is the product of a unique bipartisan effort over the past two Congresses. Joining me as cosponsors of the bill are--the Chairman of the Committee on Resources, Congressman James Hansen, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, Congressman Nick Rahall, and the former Ranking Minority Member of that Committee who cosponsored this legislation in the last Congress, Congressman George Miller. Additionally, I am honored to join with a number of other members of Congress in urging the enactment of this bill. The cosponsors include Ways and Means Committee Members, Subcommittee Chairman Amo Houghton, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Minority Member Charles Rangel, Rep. Dave Camp, Rep. J.D. Hayworth, Rep. Scott McInnis, and Rep. Mark Foley. Colleagues from the Native American Caucus who are cosponsoring this bill are: the Co-chair of the Caucus along with Mr. Hayworth, Rep. Dale Kildee, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, Rep. Mark Udall, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Frost and Mr. Stupak. This bill would remedy several key deficiencies in the current settlement trust provision enacted in a 1987 amendment to ANCSA. That provision authorized Alaska Native Corporations organized pursuant to ANCSA to establish, from their own resources, settlement trust funds to ``promote the health, education, and welfare . . . and preserve the heritage and culture of Natives.'' Unfortunately, the Settlement Trust tax provision in existing law poses several significant impediments to the establishment and long-term maintenance of Settlement Trusts, and therefore, to the fulfillment of their purposes under ANCSA. A version of this bill was included by the Ways and Means Committee in legislation last Congress that was vetoed and a version of it passed the Senate as well. This current version of the bill we are introducing today has been vetoed over the past several years with the tax writing committees of Congress in the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Department of Treasury. It addresses the key deficiencies in the current law. I urge that it be included in tax- related legislation considered by the House in this session of the 107th Congress and that our colleagues join the co-sponsors of the bill in supporting this meritorious legislation.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to simplify and make more equitable the tax treatment of settlement trusts established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). This bill is the product of a unique bipartisan effort over the past two Congresses. Joining me as a cosponsors of the bill are--the Chairman of the Committee on Resources, Congressman James Hansen, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, Congressman Nick Rahall, and the former Ranking Minority Member of that Committee who cosponsored this legislation in the last Congress, Congressman George Miller. Additionally, I am honored to join with a number of other members of Congress in urging the enactment of this bill. The cosponsors include Ways and Means Committee Members, Subcommittee Chairman Amo Houghton, Ways and Means Committee, Ranking Minority Member Charles Rangel, Representative Dave Camp, Representative J.D. Hayworth, Representative Scott McInnis, and Representative Mark Foley. Colleagues from the Native American Caucus who are cosponsoring this bill are: the Co-chair of the Caucus along with Mr. Hayworth, Representative Dale Kildee, Representative Neil Abercrombie, Representative Eni Faleomavaega, Representative Mark Udall, Representative Frank Pallone, and Representative Patrick Kennedy. This bill would remedy several key deficiencies in the current settlement trust provision enacted in a 1987 amendment to ANSCA. That provision authorized Alaska Native Corporations organized pursuant to ANCSA to establish, from their own resources, settlement trust funds to ``promote the health, education, and welfare . . . and preserve the heritage and culture of Natives.'' Unfortunately, the Settlement Trust tax provision in existing law poses several significant impediments to the establishment and long-term maintenance of Settlement Trusts, and therefore, to the fulfillment of their purposes under ANCSA. A version of this bill was included by the Ways and Means Committee in legislation last Congress that was vetoed and a version of it passed the Senate as well. This current version of the bill we are introducing today has been vetoed over the past several years with the tax writing committees of Congress in the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Department of Treasury. It addresses the key deficiencies in the current law. I urge that it be included in tax- related legislation considered by the House in this session of the 107th Congress and that our colleagues join the co-sponsors of this bill in supporting this meritorious legislatiion.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on the Budget for bringing this resolution to the floor. The intent of this resolution is to honor the funding guarantees in TEA21 and AIR21 and provides substantial increases for other important transportation programs, such as the Coast Guard. It is my understanding that due to errors in the functional totals that were provided by the Office of Management and Budget and perhaps other discrepancies between OMB and CBO, the Function 400 totals in this resolution were inadvertently understated. I have been assured that a technical correction will be made in conference so that the final budget resolution accurately reflects the funding levels necessary to fully fund highways and transit under TEA21, and the Federal Aviation Administration's operating capital, and airport grant programs under AIR21, as well as provide increases for other transportation programs, such as the Coast Guard. I would like to ask the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) if my understanding accurately reflects his intention.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Iowa on House Concurrent Resolution 83, the fiscal year 2002 House budget resolution.

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

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from Alaska who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in his community. Justin Gonka of Anchorage has just been named one of Alaska's top honorees in The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Mr. Gonka is being recognized for his dedication and continuous support of the Special Olympics. Justin has assumed numerous roles within the Special Olympics and hopes to one day become a coach. Besides being a great student, Justin has also helped to recruit other young people get involved and volunteer for the Special Olympics. In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans are less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contribution this young man has made. People of all ages need to think about how we, as individual citizens, can work together at the local level to ensure the health and vitality of our towns and next door neighbors. Young volunteers like Mr. Gonka are an inspiration to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. The program that brought this young role model to our attention--The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards--was created by The Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all young volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Over the past six years, the program has become the nation's largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, with nearly 100,000 youngsters participating since its inception. Mr. Gonka should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I applaud Mr. Gonka for his initiative in seeking to make his community a better place to live, and for the positive impact he has had on the lives of others. He has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. His actions show that young Americans can, and do, play an important role in our communities.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from Alaska who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Kari Wise of Anchorage has just been named one of Alaska's top honorees in The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ms. Wise is being recognized for developing a program designed to help middle school students lead healthy and positive lives as they begin high school. Her program, named ``View on Your Future Is All About YOU,'' helped young students realize destructive behavior is not the answer for dealing with difficult life experiences. In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that we encourage the selfless contributions this young woman has made. People of all ages need to think more about how we, as individual citizens, can work together at the local level to ensure the health and vitality of our towns and neighborhoods. Young volunteers like Ms. Wise are inspiring all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program brought this young role model to our attention. This program was created by The Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all young volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued. Over the past six years, the program has become the nation's largest youth effort based on community service, with an estimated 100,000 youngsters participating since its inception. We are extremely proud that Ms. Wise has been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I applaud Ms. Wise for her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. Clearly, she has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can, and do, play an important role in our communities.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, attached is a copy of the Rules of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives. These Rules were adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by voice vote on February 7, 2001. We are submitting these Rules to the Congressional Record for publication in compliance with Rule XI, Clause 2(a)(2).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, in 1992 the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council established, and the Secretary of Commerce by regulation began implementing, the western Alaska community development quota (CDQ) program. Over the past nine years, the CDQ program has made a valuable contribution to improving economic and social conditions in the small Alaska Native villages on the coast of the Bering Sea that participate in the program. In 1994 a question was raised whether the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorized the Council to establish and the Secretary to implement the CDQ program. In response, in 1996 I sponsored a provision that the 104th Congress enacted as section 111 of the Sustainable Fisheries Act that amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act to explicitly authorize the CDQ program. The provision--section 305(i)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act--settled the authorization question; however, it does not provide guidance to the Secretary for implementing the CDQ program, nor does it authorize the state of Alaska to assist the Secretary to implement the program or establish the terms and conditions for the state's participation. In addition, over the past nine years the business activities of the six groups that the eligible communities have organized to participate in the CDQ program have become increasingly sophisticated. Initially, each CDQ group simply contracted with an existing fishing company to harvest the share of the total allowable catch of Bering Sea pollock that the group was allocated. In exchange, the group received a royalty payment from the company, as well as employment opportunities for village residents and other local economic development benefits. However, today the CDQ groups are participating in all Bering Sea directed fisheries through substantial equity interests in established fishing companies. In addition, in 1998 when it enacted the American Fisheries Act the 105th Congress created a loan program--contained in section 211(e) of the American Fisheries Act--that encourages CDQ groups to make additional investments. It is important that the implementation of the CDQ program reflect these new realities. For that reason, Congress needs to provide the Secretary, the CDQ groups, the fishing companies in which the CDQ groups own equity interests, and the state of Alaska clear guidance regarding how the CDQ program should be implemented. Last October I introduced H.R. 5565 whose enactment would have amended section 305(i)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide that guidance. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for the U.S. House of Representatives to consider H.R. 5565 prior to the adjournment of the 106th Congress. For that reason, I today am reintroducing the legislation in the 107th Congress. Mr. Speaker, this bill identifies that the objectives of the CDQ program are to provide eligible western Alaska communities the fair and equitable opportunity to participate in Bering Sea fisheries that Magnuson-Stevens Act National Standard 4 requires, and to assist eligible communities to achieve sustainable long-term diversified local economic development. The bill requires the Secretary to allocate to the CDQ program the same percentages of the total allowable catches and guideline harvest levels of Bering Sea directed fisheries that Congress through section 206 of the American Fisheries Act and the Secretary by regulation already have allocated to the program. In 1998 Congress directed the National Academy of Sciences to study, and then to report to Congress regarding, the CDQ program. In 1999 the National Research Council delivered that report and, in part, recommended that the process through which the state of Alaska assists the Secretary in implementing the CDQ program should be clarified. Pursuant to that recommendation, this legislation establishes a process for implementing the CDQ program. The bill I am introducing today establishes the terms and conditions for the state of Alaska's assistance to the Secretary in implementing the program. The bill also affords the CDQ groups an opportunity to decide among themselves the percentages of each Bering Sea directed fishing allowance that each group will harvest during a fishing year. If the CDQ groups cannot agree, the bill affords the groups an opportunity to jointly develop the criteria that the Secretary shall apply to allocate fishing opportunities among the groups (as well as for the state of Alaska to apply in developing its recommendations to the Secretary regarding the allocation of fishing opportunities). On October 4, 2000 the General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a legal opinion that concluded that the text of the definition of the term ``CDQ project'' in 50 CFR 679.2 is ambiguous regarding whether programs and activities of fishing companies in which CDQ groups own equity interests are ``CDQ projects''. For that reason, this bill defines the term ``CDQ project'' to clarify that a program or activity that is administered or initiated by a subsidiary, joint venture, partnership, or other entity in which a CDQ group owns an equity interest is not a ``CDQ project'' over which the Secretary may assert oversight authority if the program or activity is funded by the assets of the subsidiary, joint venture, partnership, or other entity, rather than by the assets of the CDQ group. The definition also clarifies that a program or activity that is administered or initiated by a CDQ group is not a ``CDQ project'' over which the Secretary may assert oversight authority if the program or activity is not funded by revenue that, during the duration of a community development plan, the group derives or accrues from harvesting the share of the percentage of the total allowable catch or guideline harvest level of a directed Bering Sea fishery that the Secretary authorized the group to harvest when he approved the group's plan. Finally, Mr. Speaker, in response to my introduction of H.R. 5565, at its December 2000 meeting in Anchorage the North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to organize a committee to review the Secretary and the state of Alaska's administration of the CDQ program and to identify needed changes. I am pleased that the Council did so, and I look forward to considering the committee's suggestions. However, the committee's work is not a substitute for action by Congress.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) will continue with this dialogue, one of the things that a lot of people in America do not realize is that the reason we have the prosperity we have today is because we have had cheap energy. Some people think that is wrong, that we ought to take and conserve all the energy. But if we want to grow, we have a supply and an abundance of energy so we can have the high-tech and the computer industry, by the way, which now uses 27 percent of our electrical power which did not happen 15 years ago. Twenty-seven percent of our electrical power today is consumed by computers. For those that are in the computer world, think about it: when power goes down, their computer goes off. That means the airplanes do not fly. That means the stoplights do not work. That means this country comes to a halt. And so what the gentleman has said, let us get a policy so that the future generations, yes, and the present generations in reality will have a constant supply of reasonably priced energy. But if the gentleman would like for one moment to address something for me, he mentioned that if we do this the OPEC countries may drop their price. I happen to agree. What would the gentleman think we should do, though, maybe what the commission can do, to solve that problem. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, again, the commission can probably recognize what we can do to solve that problem. Because I expect what the gentleman said will come true, the first time the OPEC countries sees that we are serious about setting up a supply of energy, they will lower their prices so maybe some of my constituents and his constituents and the people in Florida's House will say, well, there is no need for this, let us not drill an ANWR. Although, by the way, it only disrupts 12,000 acres out of 19 million acres.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, there is that possibility. I think it would be a terrible disservice to the country. I would like to remind the gentleman and people that might be listening that this area is a very small area that has a tremendous abundance of oil, probably 39 billion barrels of oil, that can be accessible to the people in the lower 48 so we would not have to buy that million barrels a day from Saddam Hussein. So if the President was to do that, it would be a terrible travesty; it would be wrong for the people and wrong for Alaska. But, most of all, it would be wrong for the people that are buying oil from abroad.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, we can do both. As the gentleman from Pennsylvania knows, in Alaska we have a bigger caribou herd, more wildlife, a better environment just from the development of Prudhoe. And I say this can happen again in ANWR. But more than that, if we want to see environmental damage, do not have the energy available and keep being dependent upon those countries overseas. I keep stressing the fact that now, this year, remember gas was $2 per thousand cubic feet last year; this year, right today, it is $9.42. That means the average home buying gas today, their heating bill will go up 300 percent this winter. And that is a jolt economically, and it also means we are running out of natural gas because we have not been allowed to develop those fields in the lower 48. So Alaska has got gas and we want to sell it to you, but the fact is we ought to be developing those gas fields in Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, and, yes, in Pennsylvania, they have gas in Pennsylvania, and go after those fields so we can have it available for the constituents that my colleague and I serve.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for doing this tonight on the floor of the House. I do appreciate his bringing this to light. He is from Pennsylvania. I am from Alaska. We recognize the need for an energy policy. Hopefully this new Congress and with the new President, this Nation will come forth with an energy policy that can deliver the needed Btus to every family and improve the way we live today and not have anyone suffer.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 161) to correct the enrollment of H.R. 5528 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, first let me compliment the gentleman on his outstanding piece of legislation. It does bring to the forefront the lack of an energy policy, and his bill does set up a commission to say, we have to address all forms of energy so we have what I call the wheel of energy to provide the necessity for the center of the wheel to make it work. As the gentleman mentioned, with coal, 64 percent develops our electrical energy now. We need nuclear. We need gas. We need oil. And, yes, even some hydro, wind power, solar power, all collected in the need for the BTUs. We have requested, I have requested, an energy policy for the last 20 years and been turned down by the past administration that has not sought to not seek an energy policy. So I want to compliment the gentleman for bringing this to the forefront. Because gas right now, natural gas, 1 year ago was $2 and today it is $9 on the market. So we do need this policy, and I want to compliment the gentleman for his resolution.