Don Young

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. They will have access; they will have good health care; they will have the ability to take and receive the health care as they have in the past, in fact, improve upon it. But if we disburse it in very small areas, they will not have that. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

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

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. In response to the gentleman from Ohio, I am pleased that he accepted the point of order. We had this discussion last year. We have started the process of the hearings. We have had a report back from the GAO. We are looking into this issue. But I would like to stress one thing for those that may not be aware of this. Just disbursing moneys to all the tribes does not solve the health issue. One of the problems that I have had with the BIA, and especially this present administration, is that in my State they recognize 227 tribes. We do not have 227 tribes in my State. We have probably 11 tribes in my State. Those 11 tribes supply very good health services to all the members of those tribes because they have enough money to do the job correctly. And because of administrative costs, I would suggest all the smaller tribes would apply for money but yet not provide the health care. I have no one in my State that is asking for this type of pro-rata formula be used in my State. They think it would destroy a very efficient, very high class health system. And so for that reason, we are going to look at this. But I hope we are not trying to give everybody a little piece of the apple when there is not enough apple left to make a pie. Really that is what we are attempting to do. I want to thank the gentleman for his accepting the point of order, but this issue goes far beyond just supposedly being fair. This goes to the basics of good health care. We have the Yukon-Kuskokwim area which has one of the finest health care systems, it provides health care for basically 58 tribes. If we were to split that up in 58 small groups, we would have no health care for the recipients. So this is a health care issue which I feel very strongly on. We are going to work on it and try to get more money so that we can do it for everyone. But just to spread it out does not solve the problem of good health care.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlemen.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller). I will not use the full time. I was very disappointed the chairman accepted the amendment. It is a bad amendment. See, my money is, in fact, guaranteed money to the CMI. I am sure he pointed it out. This is a mischievious amendment. It should never have been offered. I would suggest respectfully that the amendment should be soundly defeated. We will not vote on it because the gentleman has accepted it. But it better not be in the conference when it comes back to this House floor.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today to assist in the resettlement and relocation of the people of Bikini Atoll by amending the terms of the trust fund established during the United States administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. This will permit the people of Bikini to use a portion of their fund for resettlement activities for the remaining 90 seniors who were affected by United States nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands without any additional federal expenditure and consistent with the intent of Congress. These individuals are still waiting to resettle after over five decades since the U.S. program began in their islands which resulted in their removal from their home atoll. At the Committee on Resources' May 11th hearing on the status of nuclear claims, relocation and resettlement efforts in the Marshall Islands, and as part of the May 10th Congressional pre-hearing briefing, the people of Bikini asked Congress to support a one-time 3 percent distribution from the Resettlement Trust Fund, which is used both for the cleanup of Bikini and for the ongoing needs of the Bikini people. Congress established this trust fund in 1982 pursuant to P.L. 97-257 and appropriated additional funds in 1988 pursuant to P.L. 100- 446. The Bikini people have explained that Dr. John Mauro and his team are preparing a report on the potential radiation doses and health risks to the people of Bikini and costs associated with various remediation options, which should be completed within three months. The exact cost has not yet been established, but it is estimated that the entire cleanup and resettlement process, from planning through execution, will take approximately ten years. As a result, it is certain that the Bikini elders, many of whom have not been back on their home islands for more than 53 years, will probably die on Kili without returning home. The Bikinians, for their part, have ensured the fiscal integrity of the Resettlement Trust Fund. They have selected reputable U.S. banks as trustees, hired well-respected and talented investment advisors and money managers, and provided for routine monthly financial statements and annual audits. Thanks to the money managers and the Bikini Council's voluntary restraint on the use of these funds, the corpus remains intact, the trust fund has earned almost 14 percent annually, every dollar has been accounted for, annual audits are prepared, and monthly financial statements are sent to the Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs. In light of the strength of the trust, its fiscal integrity, the lengthy time a cleanup and restoration will take, and the special circumstances of the elders, the Bikinians wish to make a one-time 3 percent distribution from the Resettlement Trust Fund, with the understanding that the primary beneficiaries of the distribution will be the 90 surviving Bikini elders. Because of the excellent management of the trust fund, such a distribution will not require an appropriation of funds by Congress, nor will it diminish the original corpus of the trust. The Bikini people would also agree that the amount of such distribution be deducted from any further additional ex gratia appropriations made by the Congress into the Resettlement Trust Fund. The corpus will remain intact with a 3 percent distribution. The original corpus of the trust was $110 million, based on the $20 million appropriated in 1982 and the additional $90 million in 1988. The market value of the trust today is approximately $126 million, so a 3 percent distribution, or approximately $3,780,000, will reduce the market value to $122.2 million, which remains well above the original corpus. This authorization to the people of Bikini is appropriate as it is what the community of Bikini desires and it is consistent with congressional intent for the resettlement of the people whose lives and homes were disrupted by U.S. testing. Without any additional cost to the U.S. taxpayer, Congress can help the remaining senior Bikini elders' resettlement and relocation. Following is a copy of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Council's May 12, 1999 Resolution on this matter, reflecting the full support of the Bikini community. Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Council: Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Resolution No. 2-1999 A Resolution This Resolution requests a one-time three percent (3%) distribution from the existing corpus of the Resettlement Trust Fund for the People of Bikini to benefit primarily the Bikini elders and to request appropriate U.S. Senate and House committees to hold hearings to determine the appropriateness of such request, the status of cleanup efforts at Bikini, current estimates of cleanup and restoration costs, questions concerning the guarantee of Bikini Atoll's safety and other appropriate issues. Whereas, the Resettlement Trust Fund for the People of Bikini (``Resettlement Trust Fund'') was established by the U.S. Congress in 1982 pursuant to the terms of Public Law No. 97-257, for ``the relocation and resettlement of the Bikini people in the Marshall Islands, principally on Kili and Ejit Islands;'' and Whereas, Public Law No. 97-257 also instructed that $3,000,000 of the Resettlement Trust Fund was to be made available ex gratia to the people of Bikini over a three-year period; and Whereas, the U.S. Congress appropriated additional funds for the Resettlement Trust Fund in 1988 and modified its terms to provide that funds could also be ``expended for rehabilitation and resettlement of Bikini Atoll;'' and Whereas, the people of Bikini have ensured the fiscal integrity of the Resettlement Trust Fund by (1) selecting reputable banks as trustees (American Security Bank and now FMB Trust), (2) hiring well-respected investment advisors (such as Alex, Brown and PaineWebber) and money managers (such as MFS, Gabelli, Fiduciary Trust, etc.), and (3) directing that every dollar of Resettlement Trust Fund expenditures be audited and that monthly financial statements and annual audits be routinely provided to the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, which oversees the Resettlement Trust Fund; and Whereas, the Resettlement Trust Fund has averaged a 14% annual return since inception; and Whereas, the Resettlement Trust Fund has paid out millions of dollars since inception for scholarships, health care, food programs, housing and electrical power construction, maintenance and repairs on Kili and Ejit, and infrastructure, cleanup and resettlement activities on Bikini Atoll; and Whereas, through prudent management and voluntary restrictions on the use of Resettlement Trust Fund monies, the market value of the Resettlement Trust Fund today is approximately $126,000,000; and Whereas, recently disclosed information previously withheld by the U.S. government reveals that the physical and radiological damage to Bikini Atoll caused by the U.S. nuclear testing program was more extensive than was or could have been known by the people of Bikini until the disclosure of such information; and Whereas, the people of Bikini have recently learned from well-respected scientists who have conducted extensive radiological cleanup cost estimates for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the restoration costs for cleanup and resettlement of Bikini Atoll will exceed several hundred million dollars; and Whereas, this means that many Bikini elders, who have not been back on their home islands for 53 years, will probably die without returning home; and Whereas, of the 167 of our elders who were moved off our islands in 1946, fewer than 90 are still alive; and Whereas, most of these elders live on Kili, an island one- ninth the size of Bikini Atoll which must support six times the number of people who lived on Bikini; and Whereas, we wish to compensate these elders with a one-time 3% distribution from the corpus of the Resettlement Trust Fund; and Whereas, unlike people living on other atolls in the Marshall Islands, our people on Kili cannot fish because Kili has no lagoon and no reef, thus requiring our community to supplement our U.S.D.A. food by purchasing other canned goods at great expense; and Whereas, a one-time 3% distribution from the Resettlement Trust Fund will not require an appropriation of any funds by the U.S. Congress; and Whereas, given the good management of the Resettlement Trust Fund a 3% distribution would not diminish the original corpus of the trust fund; and Whereas, Congress has previously authorized ex gratia per capita payments from the Resettlement Trust Fund; and Whereas, the House Resources Committee (formerly the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs) has held many oversight hearings on Bikini-related issues during the past 25 years, covering such issues as health care, education, agricultural and food programs, establishment and oversight of ex gratia trust funds for the Bikini people, Bikini Atoll cleanup, Compact of Free Association Section 177 Agreement cover-up of the 1954 Bravo shot, and vaporization of islands at Bikini; Now, therefore, be it resolved, that: (1) The Council requests a one-time only 3% distribution from the existing corpus of the Resettlement Trust Fund, with the understanding that the primary beneficiaries of this distribution will be the Bikini elders. (2) The Council agrees that the amount of such distribution shall be deducted from any future additional ex gratia payments made by the U.S. Congress into the Resettlement Trust Fund. (3) Legal counsel Jonathan M. Weisgall is instructed to forward a copy of this Resolution to Allen P. Stayman, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior; Senator Frank Murkowski, Chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and Representative Don Young, Chairman, House Resources Committee, and to urge these Senate and House Committees to hold hearings, as necessary, to determine the appropriateness of the above request and to obtain information concerning the status of cleanup efforts at Bikini Atoll, current estimates of cleanup and restoration costs, questions concerning the guarantee of Bikini Atoll's safety, and other appropriate issues. Final and passed by the KILI/BIKINI/EJIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL on the 12th day of March, 1999, at a meeting on Kili Island.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the great state of Alaska and all Americans, I extend heartfelt thanks to Master Sergeant Randolph J. Saunders, who gave more than twenty years of dedicated service in the United States Air Force. He entered active duty on 11 July 1978 and, after less than four years as an administrative specialist, Randy became an enlisted historian. Even before his formal retraining, he demonstrated noteworthy capability as a researcher and writer. Consistently outstanding histories became his hallmark, and these provided senior leaders with the data and analysis they needed to make informed, well reasoned decisions. The recipient of numerous command and Air Force-level awards over the next sixteen years, Sergeant Saunders earned a reputation as one who could quickly rebuild faltering unit history programs. He did this from Alaska to Texas, Idaho, Korea, California, and Colorado. Ultimately, Randy was hand picked to become the first-ever senior enlisted historian at Headquarters, Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In a matter of months, Randy's unparalled leadership rendered that command's field history program the best in the entire Air Force. We deeply appreciate Sergeant Saunder's contribution to the preservation of the United States Air Force history. I personally wish him and his entire family all the best as they return to civilian life.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on the eve of his 80th birthday, I rise tonight to pay tribute to an American hero, Captain Curtis J. Zane, United States Navy Retired. Captain Zane, or Casey, as he is known among his friends, is not a hero in the popular sense of media. He is really one of those many silent and unsung American heroes who, when their Nation called, put everything on the line to protect our freedom. He is one of those heroes who strives every day to find the right balance between devoting time to work and financial success and just taking time to experience the sheer joy of living. Born on July 4, our Independence Day, in 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, Casey Zane has seen and lived the greatest part of this century, the American century. His parents came from Poland at the turn of the century, and like so many millions of immigrants, came to this country to begin a new life. They married here and had five children. Casey is the youngest. While his father worked long and hard hours in the Cleveland steel mills, Casey attended school in Cleveland, selling newspapers before and after school with his brothers, Hank and Al. After taking a year off to work following the tragic death of his father at the hands of a drunk driver, Casey graduated from John Hay High School in 1938. He was elected president of his graduating class. Casey's mom and brothers and sisters pulled together and were determined that he, Casey, would be the first of the family to attend college. In 1939, he started at Ohio State University. After 3 years there, with war clouds looming, Casey signed up for and took Navy flight training from November of 1941 through September, 1942, in Kansas City and Corpus Christi. From November, 1942, through June, 1943, Casey flew PBY's and B-24s in combat patrol missions in the South Pacific with Patrol Squadron 14, and beginning in March of 1943, with the famed Black Cat Patrol Squadron 101, under the command of Lord Louie Mountbatten. Casey flew combat patrol missions that covered areas in Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Coral Sea, the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, and the Java Sea. During those perilous years of combat and sacrifice, some of Casey's closest friends lost their lives or were wounded at the hands of the imperial Japanese forces. Fortunately for us and for myself, Casey is one of the survivors. After combat duty from July, 1944, through May, 1946, Casey was instructing B-24 pilots at Hutchinson, Kansas. He was married on March 10, 1945, to a wonderful lady, Dorothy Dix Kavanagh, Dickey, as we call her, Kavanagh, whom Casey had met while in Ohio State, one of seven children born to Ohio farmers Fred and Mabel Kavanagh. All seven of the Kavanagh children have lived to see their 50th wedding anniversaries. Casey and Dickey have been married for 54 years and have two daughters, two sons-in-law, one son, a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. They have the kind of mutual respect and supportive relationship that lasts forever. Both Casey and Dickey have a deep and abiding faith in God and continue to live honest and moral lives. Throughout the remainder of Casey's Navy career, he continued to put it on the line for this country. After the war, Casey and Dickey served in Saipan. In fact, after transiting aboard the vessel Breckenridge from Norfolk to Saipan, Dickey and new daughter Susan had more sea time than Casey did at that time. Further assignments included Fleet Air Wing Staff, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, then aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Leyte as communications officer. Later the Zanes were transferred back to Jacksonville, Florida, where Casey served as executive, then commanding officer, Patrol Squadron 18, performing anti-submarine warfare missions off Florida and in the Caribbean. During the Cuban missile crisis, Casey served at the Command Post of the CINCLant Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia. In the early sixties he was stationed at the Navy's Bureau of Personnel, and in 1965 took command of vital Cold War U.S. Navy communications bases at Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and Thurso, Scotland. After duty in Ireland and Scotland, Casey returned to his last hitch at the Pentagon and retired as a Navy Captain in November of 1968, having served our Nation defending our freedom for a little over 27 years. During his Navy years, Casey completed Navy flight and aviation pilot training, U.S. Command and General Staff College, Aviation Ordnance School, General Line School, post-graduate Naval Command Communications School, and U.S. Naval War College. His medals and decorations include the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Air Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, for three stars; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal, one star. After the Navy, Casey was not finished by a long shot. He and his wife decided it was time to work, to hunker down and make a little money. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s and early nineties Casey and Dickey both became hard working real estate agents and brokers in the greater Northern Virginia area. Casey had a very successful second career in land development and commercial and industrial real estate. My personal relationship with Casey goes back for more than 25 years. During that time he visited my home State of Alaska many times. In fact, as a great campaign supporter and worker he rightfully credits himself with more than one of my narrow campaign victories. As a young man Casey was a scratch golfer and later carried a single digit handicap for years. Over 30 years a member of the Army-Navy Country Club, Casey can still break 90 on a regular basis. Even as he approaches his 80 years young this Fourth of July, Casey is as active as ever. He works out three times a week, stays in excellent shape, maintains a delightful sense of humor, and still drinks his vodka on the rocks, sports a license plate that declares life is too short to smoke cheap cigars. God willing, my wife Lu and I will have many more years of close friendship to look forward to with this very special man and his very special family. As I recollect on the meaning of July 4, I will, along with many other friends and family, celebrate on that day the birth of a particularly good friend, an American hero who was willing to give his all to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, please join my colleagues and me in wishing a very happy 80th birthday to Captain Curtis J. Zane, United States Navy Retired. Happy birthday, Casey. You are my sweetheart.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to clarify the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts authorized by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. This legislation is very similar to a bill that I introduced with my colleagues, Congressman George Miller and J.D. Hayworth, last Congress. The bill has been further improved from last Congress and a companion measure was introduced in the Senate recently. This bill will be cited as the ``Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Settlement Trusts Remedial Tax Act of 1999''. Federal law first authorized settlement trusts in 1988 to permit Alaska Native Corporations to provide a variety of benefits to their shareholders in a long term permanent manner. Present law requires settlement trusts to report tax information to their beneficiaries on Form K-1, rather than Form 1099 which corporations use. This causes confusion to the beneficiaries and encourages misreporting of income. This legislation requires all settlement trusts to use Form 1099. In recent years I have written to the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee informing him that what had started as a simple proposition, promoted by Congress in the Settlement Trust legislation--to provide aid from a protected source to Alaska Natives who often have very little in other available assets to sustain them and in particular in their retirement years--had become a complex and bewildering situation which frustrated the use of the settlement trust provisions in law. This result stems from an IRS interpretation calling for the immediate taxation to potential beneficiaries when these trusts are established by Alaska Native corporations which have earnings and profits, as opposed to taxation when the money is actually received by the beneficiaries. Put simply, in the case of some beneficiaries, particularly the elderly, who have to prepay taxes in order to receive their benefits and, if they die prematurely, they will not even receive the amount of their prepaid taxes back. Needless to say, this is a substantial impediment to setting up and continuing such beneficial trusts. But those Native corporations having favorable tax situations which enable them to make contributions to trusts which are not immediately taxable to their beneficiaries face other impediments. The IRS has taken the position that there is no authority to withhold tax from beneficiary payments, which prevents a simple way for a Native to pay his or her tax. The IRS requires that trust reporting to beneficiaries be accomplished via the complex so-called ``K-1'' form as opposed to the simple 1099 form, so familiar to most of us. As you can imagine, the requirement to use the former, particularly in rural areas in the state of Alaska where accountants may not be readily available, presents major reporting problems. We believe the IRS internally has been supportive of such a change but has advised in the past that it would need to be accomplished by statute. Finally, the original authorizing legislation failed to provide a mechanism to encourage sustaining the longevity of these trusts dedicated to the goals enumerated. Such trusts are currently treated as regular trusts and penalized for accumulating income with an assessment of the highest marginal tax rate. Accordingly, from the standpoint of a settlement trust, it currently makes good tax sense to distribute all income to the beneficiaries rather than leaving it to be taxed at the current trust tax rate. This, however, does not make good social sense and encourages the opposite result one would envision for these entities, whose goal is to sustain the funds on a long-term basis in order to fulfill the objectives envisioned for Settlement Trusts. Therefore, I am pleased that, on a bipartisan basis, I can join my colleague and Ranking Minority Member on the Resources Committee, Mr. Miller, and my other distinguished colleagues Mr. Hayworth, Mr. Kildee and at least 16 other cosponsors to introduce this important remedial legislation. I am attaching a brief summary and section by section analysis of the legislation.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today we honor Mr. Richard Goldstein and his students Alan Amaya, Cynthia Barber, Maria Benner, Christopher Bond, Elliott Bundy, Cynthia Clark, Daniel Cleary, Leah Davis, Courtney Duffin, Lizza Easley, Earlene Eaton, Karoline Enzenberger, Lindsey Faulkner, Justin Garretson, Katherine Greim, Namita Kalyan, Rebecca Lindermann, Kristin McCarrey, James McElligott, Brooks Miner, Justin Mohr, Aaron Tucker, Benjamin Wagner, James Welt, Gretchen Wieman, and Eric Wieman from West High School in Anchorage, Alaska. These students won an award at the We the People . . . the Citizens and the Constitution national finals held in Washington D.C. in May 1999. These students were recognized for their expertise on Unit 1: What are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System? Of the We the People . . . text. This award is presented to the school achieving the highest cumulative score during the first two days of the national finals in each of the six units. These outstanding young people competed against 50 other classes from throughout the nation and demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the fundamental ideals and values of American constitutional government. Congratulations students and Mr. Goldstein on your achievement!

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to introduce the Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 1999. This bill has three fundamental purposes: creating new jobs for Americans, sustaining and continuing economic growth, and strengthening national security. The Act accomplishes these purposes through directing the environmentally sound leasing of the 1002 oil reserve area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refugee (ANWR) to oil and gas exploration and development. The 1002 oil reserve comprises most of the 1.5 million- acre coastal plain of the 19.6 million-acre ANWR, and is named after the section of the Alaska Lands Act that specifically set the region aside for study and consideration of developing its giant energy potential. Experts believe this area holds America's largest untapped energy resource. ANWR is enormous in size, the size of South Carolina. Almost one-half is already designated wilderness. Congress considered making the 1002 area wilderness, but rejected it in favor of studying its energy potential to meet future domestic needs. The Reagan Administration endorsed legislation to authorize leasing because the relatively light footprint occupied by development is so negligibly tiny in comparison to the great benefits oil development brings. Put into perspective, opening the 1002 oil reserve would take up less space than a single airport within an area the size of South Carolina. With national production declines occurring and world production nearing its peak, the legislation is urgently needed. Because at least 10 years of environmental planning, study, and review are necessary to carry out a responsible development plan in the 1002 oil reserve, opening the area now would assure state, federal, local, and industry planners enough time to implement necessary safety and environmental measures. If Congress waits for an oil crisis to occur before recognizing that opening ANWR is necessary, rest assured that in the haste to get the oil, most careful environmental planning will go by the way-side. Opening the area now assures that we can take all 10 years--or more if necessary--of anticipated lead time to move cautiously and responsibly. The most important benefit of opening the 1002 oil reserve is job creation. Up to 735,000 jobs, many of which are union jobs, could be created throughout all 50 states if a large oil and gas reserve is indeed confirmed and developed. Jobs in the oil industry are among the highest-paying private sector jobs available, but they will be lost if new development and opportunity is not created through a wise-use policy for America's public lands. As hard as it is to believe, there are some who don't think the escalation of oil imports and correlative decline in domestic production is cause for concern. This has manifested itself in a Clinton-Gore Administration policy to discourage new development of resources on public lands. Unfortunately, the result is a future of ever more dependence on foreign sources of oil and record trade deficits. In fact, the rate of imports has grown from 36% at the time of the energy crisis of the 1970's to 56% today * * * and it is growing rapidly. Excessive reliance on foreign supplies coupled with the paucity of new domestic energy development gives other nations opportunities to unduly influence our economic and foreign policy. While working Americans understand the importance of oil, they also place high value on the environment. This Act reflects these priorities by balancing resource development with stipulations and conditions that effectively require the environmental standards of North Slope development to match or exceed those of any country upon which we rely for our imports. Such is already the case in Prudhoe Bay, America's largest oil field, where the factual record shows that resource development--when done right--is consistent with conservation of the environment. Alaska's arctic has accounted for one-quarter of the United States' oil production in over twenty years, yet biologists cannot identify any declines in wildlife attributable to the Arctic oil activity. None. In fact, Caribou even outnumber the entire population of Alaskans. This is no mere coincidence, but the result of careful planning and regulations that recognize development and environmental protection are compatible. But don't take my word for it. Listen to the Inupiat Eskimos--the first environmentalists. They support this legislation. They understand that with careful planning and regulation using the most advanced technology available, oil development is compatible with the conservation of wildlife, habitat, and their Arctic environment.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Aviation Reform and Investment Act of the 21st Century. We need to invest in our aviation infrastructure. More people are flying than ever before. The Aviation Trust Fund continues to accumulate unspent revenue. We have a responsibility, no, an obligation, to return and invest those tax dollars of the aviation American system. If it is the will of Congress not to make the investment, then we should stop collecting those taxes. In 1998, the Aviation Trust Fund collected $6 billion of taxpayer money but Congress only invested $5.9 billion of it in aviation. As a result, our constituents continue to face delays and frustrations. If we continue the current budgetary gimmickry, the cash balance in the trust fund will grow from $12 billion in 1999 to $91 billion by the year 2009. Again, if Congress will not spend these dedicated tax dollars, then we have to reduce taxes and fees collected from aviation users. Without the investment, the FAA will continue to experience system outages. That means air traffic control will lose sight of a plane on radar. The FAA says there can be as many as 5,800 flights in the air over the U.S. at any one time. As the number of those flights in the air increase, congestion will grow. Without further investment, the safety of air travel will degrade. Is this bill going to cut funding from other programs? No. Air 21 recaptures unspent aviation taxes that increases aviation spending by $14 billion over 4 years.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today we honor a truly great Alaskan: Mrs. Maxine Whitney. Mrs. Whitney is a long time Fairbanks, Alaska resident who, with her husband, Jesse, and their construction companies, helped develop and build the infrastructure of modern day Alaska. While pursuing a very active business life, Mrs. Whitney collected what was reportedly the world's largest private collection of Native Alaskan art and artifacts. As with many, her avocation became a vocation and she purchased a small private museum. Mrs. Whitney successfully ran the Eskimo Museum in Fairbanks for almost 20 years, from 1969 until the late 1980's. Throughout her 50 plus years in Alaska, Mrs. Whitney traveled extensively in rural Alaska gaining a deep understanding and appreciation of Native peoples and cultures. Her museum and collection shows intimate knowledge of Native Alaskan prehistory, history, and the importance of the Native contribution to Alaskan society. Mrs. Whitney has provided a legacy for all Alaskans and for all Americans. Maxine Whitney recently donated this world-renowned collection to Prince William Sound Community College in Valdez, Alaska, part of the University of Alaska system. The collection is known as the Jesse & Maxine Whitney Collection and is the nucleus of the Prince William Sound Community College--Alaska Cultural Center. This multi- million dollar donation will provide opportunities for people to learn about past and present Native Alaskan cultures and the natural history of Alaska. In donating the Whitney Collection, Mrs. Whitney has provided an educational gem for all who visit and view the collection. This gift should be celebrated and Mrs. Whitney commended for her extreme generosity to the State of Alaska and the USA. Her legacy will enhance the knowledge and appreciation of Native cultures across the country. It is people like Maxine Whitney, patrons of the arts and education, philanthropists, who enrich our lives with their precious gifts. Mrs. Whitney, thank you.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address an issue that is very critical to the constituents of my home State of Alaska. The issue I wish to speak about is the significant contribution which the cruise line industry has made to the great State of Alaska and this country. Alaska is a State where the land mass is larger than all of the Northeastern and Great Lakes States put together. Approximately 600,000 Americans live there. Many Americans have heard of Alaska and have some image of its wildness but fewer than 10 percent of Americans have ever visited. Nonetheless, the opportunity for Americans to visit this great state has increased tenfold with the presence of the cruise industry. Furthermore, the economic benefits that the cruise lines bring have greatly impacted Alaska. Recently, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) and Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates concluded a Study on the Economic Impact of the Cruise Industry on the U.S. economy. This study reveals that the cruise industry spent $6.6 billion in the United States in 1997, and generated an additional $5 billion of impact on the economy. In the United States alone, the cruise lines purchased $1.8 billion in transportation from airlines, $794 million in fuel and lubricants, $626 million in business services, $1 billion in financial services, and $600 million in food and beverage supplies. In the State of Alaska in 1998, the cruise industry spent with Alaskan business and service providers $363,274,000. These statistics are significant and make clear that the cruise industry has benefited both the state of Alaska and our Nation. This study also reveals that the cruise industry created 176,433 jobs for U.S. citizens in 1997. These jobs included direct employment by the industry and jobs attributable to the U.S. based cruise line suppliers and industry partners. Through its annual growth of 6-10 percent, the industry is responsible for thousands of new jobs every year for Americans. The cruise industry is the single largest direct employer in the maritime sector of the United States. In my State of Alaska in 1998, the cruise industry was responsible for the employment of 17,189 Alaskans. That is 3 percent of the population of our State. Another issue that I wish to address is the matter regarding Federal and State taxation of the cruise industry. Some critics state that the cruise industry does not pay federal and state taxes in the United States. This statement is false. In fact the recently completed study revealed that the industry pays millions of dollars in taxes each year. In 1997, the cruise industry paid over $1 billion in Federal, State, and local taxes in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the contributions made by the cruise industry to our great Nation. The benefits have been abundant, both throughout this nation and in my home State, Alaska. In view of the many contributions, I wish to acknowledge the vital role which the cruise industry plays in sustaining the economy and the maritime sector of this country.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to clarify the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts authorized by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. This legislation is very similar to a bill that I introduced with my colleagues, Congressmen George Miller and J.D. Hayworth, last Congress. The bill has been further improved from last Congress and a companion measure was introduced in the Senate recently. The bill's introduction in the House before the Memorial Day recess is aimed at expediting consideration of it in Congress and within the executive branch. Once the recess has ended, I am expecting that the original cosponsors from last year as well as additional cosponsors will reintroduce the legislation for consideration in the House. At the time the bill is reintroduced, those Members cosponsoring it and I will submit for our colleagues' information a detailed explanation of the bill along with background and history relating to it.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield 7\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Idaho. (Mrs. CHENOWETH asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, neither was I. So the gentleman is true to his word.

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to also recite Mr. Hodel, the past Secretary of the Interior. The last paragraph says, ``This legislation Chairman Young is sponsoring, H.R. 883, will bring welcome relief to property owners threatened by a United Nations bureaucracy that has grown out of control.'' I support H.R. 883 thoroughly. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, how much time remains?

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt).

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I believe my bill does that. It does limit it just to Federal properties. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

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

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.