Don Young

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3657 was introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono). This legislation will convey a little over an acre of Forest Service land to a radio station located in the San Bernardino National Forest in California for fair market value. The bill was amended in the Senate to allow the Forest Service to use the San Bernardino County revenues derived under the Receipts Act for land acquisition. I would like to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono) for all her diligent work on this important legislation. I urge all Members to support H.R. 3657. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1586, the proposed Indian Land Consolidation Act Amendments of 2000, would reduce the fractionated ownership of Indian trust lands. Fractionated ownership describes the division of ownership of a parcel of land among a large number of individuals. This has become a significant problem as Indian owners have died without wills and the undivided ownership of those parcels has passed to multiple heirs. In many instances, parcels of lands are owned by several hundred individuals, some of whom are unaccounted for and cannot be located. The administration of these lands by the Federal Government has become very expensive and extremely complicated. The Indian Lands Consolidation Act has been amended on various occasions. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has found a portion of the 1928 act to be unconstitutional. S. 1586 is intended to prevent further fractionation of Indian trust lands, consolidate fractionated interests, and vest beneficial title to fractionated lands in tribes. It allows tribes to adopt their own probate codes and to probate the estates of their members in their tribal courts. S. 1586 would also add new sections to create a pilot program for the acquisition of fractional interests. These provisions are intended to compliment the pilot program started in 1994 to solicit input on how to address land fractionation. S. 1586 requires the Secretary to continue this project for 3 years and then report to Congress on the feasibility of expanding the program. Mr. Speaker, may I say this is an issue that has caused great concern. I have had calls from Secretary Babbitt and this administration and previous administrations that support this legislation because it is very nearly impossible for the agency, the BIA, or any form of the Interior Department to manage these fractionated lands. Consequently, there are many things that cannot be done that should be done especially for the natives themselves. So I urge passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1586) to reduce the fractionated ownership of Indian lands, and for other purposes.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank my esteemed colleague, Senator Frank Murkowski, for his hard work on this important piece of legislation. Recognition should also go to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) for his efforts on a companion House bill. Both of these men are to be congratulated for constructing this commendable piece of legislation. S. 1367 is a simple bill that would modify the boundary and increase appropriations for the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in the State of New Hampshire. Dedicated to the great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this historic site was the first park dedicated to an artist. Authorized in 1964, the site consists of 150 acres of land, 11 historic buildings, 15 acres of wetlands, 2.5 miles of trails, and a large collection of the artist's original artworks. This is a good bill that will help bring much-needed improvements to one of our Nation's most unique and beautiful national historic sites. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1367. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1367) to amend the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2950, introduced by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell from Colorado, establishes the area of Sand Creek Massacre as a National Historic Site. The Sand Creek Massacre remains a matter of great historical, cultural, and spiritual importance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and is a pivotal event in the history of relations between the Plains Indians and Euro-American settlers. This piece of legislation also directs the Secretary to develop a site management plan, administer the site as part of the National Park Service, and to prepare programs which educate the public about the site. In addition, S. 2950 would dedicate a portion of the site to certain burial and commemorative remains and objects. I urge my colleagues to support S. 2950. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2950) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in the State of Colorado.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1275 will enable the Bureau of Reclamation to provide visitors to Hoover Dam an opportunity to buy educational materials. It also will allow material removed from the dam during recent rehabilitation work to be used to create memorabilia, otherwise such material would become surplus and require alternate disposal. Sales authorized by this legislation are expected to generate revenues which will reduce the cost overruns incurred in constructing the visitors center. I urge support of S. 1275. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1275) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to produce and sell products and to sell publications relating to the Hoover Dam, and to deposit revenues generated from the sales into the Colorado River Dam fund.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1211 authorizes an increase in the ceiling of the Salinity Control Program from $75 million to $175 million. In addition, the legislation requires the Secretary of the Interior to file a report on the status of the implementation of the program designed to minimize salt entering the Colorado River from Bureau of Land Management lands. In 1995, the Subcommittee on Water and Power amended the Salinity Control Act and created a pilot program authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to award up to $75 million in grants, on a competitive-bid basis, for salinity control projects in the Colorado River Basin. The result of this entrepreneurial initiative has been a substantial drop in the cost per ton of salt removal. This legislation will continue to provide assistance to further reduce the salt content of the Colorado River. I urge an aye vote on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1088 was introduced by Senator Jon Kyl. It would allow the Forest Service to consolidate and relocate the administrative facilities in the State of Arizona. It would also allow the Forest Service to convey land at fair market value to the City of Sedona for a much-needed wastewater treatment plant. Back in May of 1999, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), our esteemed colleague, introduced H.R. 1969 which is the House companion to S. 1088. He worked diligently to see his legislation favorably passed through the subcommittee. However, because we have so few legislative days remaining and the Senate version is ready, in the interest of time, we are here today to consider S. 1088. Let me close by saying, although this was a House bill originally, I support S. 1088. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1088) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain administrative sites in national forests in the State of Arizona, to convey certain land to the City of Sedona, Arizona for a wastewater treatment facility, and for other purposes.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2300, the Coal Market Competition Act of 2000. Today, half of our Nation's coal supply comes from the west side of the Mississippi River, where the vast majority of that coal is mined in States with significant Federal ownership of the mineral estate, including the ownership of the coal resource. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, governs the disposition of the right to mine such coal. Currently, the act limits an entity to no more than a cumulative total of 100,000 acres nationally under federal coal leases, and no more than 46,080 acres in any one State. Congress has increased coal acreage limitation three times since the passage of the original act, most recently in 1976. But the Statewide limitation has not been changed in 36 years, despite significant changes in the coal mining industry. S. 2300 would increase the acreage limit to 75,000 acres per State and 150,000 acres nationwide. These changes are necessary if our coal industry is going to remain competitive in the production of energy resource which is so important to domestic energy needs. The Coal Market Competition Act of 2000 will better serve America's energy needs by helping our coal industry plan for the future. Thus I ask my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2300) to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of Federal leases for coal that may be held by an entity in any 1 State.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2069, a bill to permit the conveyance of land in which the fire station in Powell, Wyoming, is located. This bill is necessary because the existing patent contains a requirement that does not allow the city to sell this land and use the proceeds to move the volunteer station to a better, safer location. The current fire estimation is too small to hold the fire department's new equipment and is located at Powell's busiest intersection. This situation has created a safety issue for both people traveling through Powell, and for the fire department when it goes out on calls. On numerous occasions, the fire department has been caught in traffic and was unable to respond quickly to calls. This land was originally deeded to the Powell township by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1934 with the stipulation that the land be used in perpetuity for public purposes. Mr. Speaker, S. 2069 will waive this condition of the patent, thereby allowing the land to be sold and proceeds used to purchase a lot in a better location to serve the needs of the community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2069) to permit the conveyance of certain land in Powell, Wyoming.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1894) to provide for the conveyance of certain land to Park County, Wyoming.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1894, an act to provide for the conveyance of 190 acres of Bureau of Reclamation-administered public lands to Park County, Wyoming, for the appraised fair market value. In the other body, the amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted to meet the concerns the administration had with the original text. The General Services Administration will manage the sale of this property, known as the Cody Industrial Area. The Bureau of Reclamation determined in 1996 this parcel is no longer needed for bureau purposes and is suitable for disposal. Park County is 82 percent federally owned land. Mr. Speaker, S. 1894 will allow the county to encourage economic development by expanding a current industrial park which lies adjacent to this parcel. Mr. Speaker, S. 1894 is supported by the administration, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 610, a bill to direct the conveyance of certain BLM lands to the Westside Irrigation District of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, S. 610 directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey roughly 37,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management in Washakie County and Big Horn County, Wyoming, to the Westside Irrigation District. In turn, Westside Irrigation District will irrigate these lands and sell them as farmland parcels. Proceeds raised from the land sales will be given to the Secretary of the Interior for the acquisition of the land in the Worland District of the Bureau of Land Management, for the purpose of benefiting public recreation, increasing public access, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, and improving cultural resources. In recent years, expanded residential development in Washakie and Big Horn Counties has resulted in key loss to the economy: farmland. This legislation will afford communities an opportunity to retain their economic vitality, while protecting cultural and natural resources and the environment. I would personally like to congratulate everyone who worked so diligently on this measure. I believe it is a job well done between the Federal agencies of the State and individual landholders. I ask my colleagues to support S. 610. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1030, a land exchange bill introduced by Senator Enzi of Wyoming. This bill exchanges 9,480 acres of private land for approximately 20,000 acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is an equal-value exchange. Currently, over 17,000 acres of the public land identified for exchange are completely inaccessible to the public because of surrounding private lands. After the exchange, the resulting block of public land will consist of over 18,660 acres, accessible from a paved highway and located very close to Gillette, Wyoming. The land which will be acquired by the BLM is scenic, recreational land, containing timber, rugged topography, and excellent wildlife habitat. I would note this land exchange involves the transfer of surface interests only; no mineral interests are involved in the exchange. The BLM will reserve all minerals. The amendment adopted by the Senate at the urging of the administration makes clear that while a land-use plan amendment is prepared for the new Federal surface estate to be acquired, the mineral estate beneath it is segregated from the operation of the mining law. Passage of this legislation will permit the land exchange to go forward. As a result, it will be a lasting benefit to the citizens of Wyoming and the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1030. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.