THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Doc Contents      

[Page: H10672]  GPO's PDF
---

   Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 337, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2466) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes.

   The Clerk read the title of the bill.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. SHIMKUS). Pursuant to the rule, the conference report is considered as having been read.

   (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of October 20, 1999, at page H10517.)

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. REGULA) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. DICKS) each will control 30 minutes.

   The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. REGULA).

   GENERAL LEAVE

   Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2466, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio?

   There was no objection.

   Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

   (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

   Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, for the next several minutes, I wish all the Members would forget about partisan politics, forget about some of the personal things that they might not totally agree with and think what is good for the people of the United States of America. Two hundred seventy million people are depending on us to ensure that they have a park to visit, to ensure that when they go to a national forest they will be safe, that the facilities will be good, to ensure when a group of children go out in a bus to a fish and wildlife refuge to learn about the ecology of this Nation that there will be somebody there to tell about it, to ensure when they visit the Smithsonian, it will be open, that it will be well cared for, that the people will be there to serve them.

   I could go through a whole list of things. Millions of Americans will go to our facilities over the next 12 months, and the quality of their experience is being decided here. Likewise, think about the generations that are here and yet to come, because the legacy we leave them in terms of our national lands is being decided not by

[Page: H10673]  GPO's PDF

   For example, in this bill will be funds to do long distance learning through the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, an opportunity to tell the story of these marvelous institutions to all the young people of America, many of whom cannot travel to Washington. We have a responsibility to them that should transcend our own personal prejudices on this day. We did that on this bill earlier this year, by overwhelming majorities on both sides. We supported this bill. Sure there have been a few changes, some probably better, a little more money being spent, but the basic bill is the same. The basic bill provides the kind of services that the American people expect us to deliver. That is why we are sent here. And we have an opportunity today to reaffirm that judgment that we made several months ago.

   To vote yes, we are voting for a lot of positive environmental things. We are voting to clean up the streams of America through the abandoned mine law. We have increased it. We are voting to spend $77 million more dollars on the parks as well as allow them to keep the $100 plus million that they earn with the fee program. We are voting to diminish vandalism because through the fee program we have discovered that vandalism in the public facilities, the public lands , is reduced. We have in our hands today 30 percent of the land in this Nation, and we are responsible, each of us are responsible with our vote as to how we treat this wonderful, wonderful asset. It is a legacy that has been provided for us.

   Just think about New York City. If Frederick Olmstead had not had the vision to save 800 acres called Central Park, there would not be this oasis of beauty in that city. Think what that means to the 10 or 11 million people. Each of us today are going to vote, have an opportunity to do the same, to preserve these facilities. As we become more urbanized, as our cities become more heavily populated, it becomes even more important that we preserve these open spaces.

   This bill provides funds to purchase 95,000 acres called the Baca Ranch. I have been there. You walk out in the meadows and there are 6,000 elk grazing. They are not there with a halter around them tied to the ground. They are there as free spirits, free standing, because that is the great natural legacy of their existence. We have a chance to preserve that opportunity.

   We have an opportunity here to make good on a promise this body made several years ago. We said to coal miners who suffered with black lung, who suffered with all kinds of physical problems, we are going to help you, because this is a compassionate Nation, we care about people. So we passed a law to give these people some help. Today, we are providing some additional funds. The fund is depleted. Are we going to say to these people, ``Sorry, we made a promise but we're not going to keep it''?

   Those are just a few items that are embodied in this bill. Sure, I know we can talk about the riders. But these are important. It is important to the people that live along the shorelines of this Nation, be it California or Florida or North Carolina, that their offshore be preserved. That is a rider. It says there shall be no drilling offshore. It is important that there not be more patents issued to give away our public lands . That is in this bill. It is called a rider.

   We have a couple of others in here. They are much less severe than was the case in the language that was in the Senate, but in the process of a compromise that represents this report today, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. DICKS) and myself, members from both sides of the aisle, fought to mitigate those riders, to soften them but be fair to the people. We cannot say to a rancher that for 50 years he and his family have been running cattle that just suddenly we are going to cut you off tomorrow. That is not fair. But we do say, once we have done an EIS, if you do not meet the standards, you are going to lose your permit. And we give the Secretary of Interior the right to make that decision.

   We do not have a lot of time. I am going to stop here. We have others that want to speak. Just examine your conscience and say, What do I want my legacy to be? What do I want my vote to represent? Do I want it to represent enhancing, preserving, taking care of these great assets that are our legacies from other generations that served in this body. These 378 national parks just did not happen. They happened because people had vision, such as Teddy Roosevelt and many others.

[Time: 17:30]

   Today, we are shaping the vision that others who serve here in years that follow us will say, gee, they really cared about the people of this Nation, they cared about preserving their crown jewels, the parks, they cared about preserving their forests for recreation. That is the challenge that we have to meet when we put the card in the slot this afternoon.

• [Begin Insert]

   Today, as we take up the conference report making appropriations for Interior and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2000, you have the opportunity to voice your commitment to America's priceless natural and cultural resources. We can leave our children and future generations no more valuable legacy than our national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and wilderness areas, and our rich cultural heritage which defines who we are as a people and nation.

   I urge you to vote in favor of this conference report. Don't let politics or a dedication to fiscal austerity cause you to overlook all the many very positive things that can be achieved through this bill. The American people expect you to be the guardians of their most highly prized natural and cultural resources. Don't let them down.

   Getting to this point has been challenging, with many hurdles to overcome. The President sent the Congress a budget request for fiscal year 2000 that was balanced, only because it relied on budget gimmicks, increased taxes and new user fees. In contrast, this conference agreement sought to deal with real needs and important issues directly, fairly and in a way that best serves the public. This year's appropriation amount is $14.5 billion, a very modest increase of 1 1/2 percent over last year's $14.3 billion. This is a very small price to pay to protect and preserve the nation's natural and cultural resources.

   The House and Senate bills contained numerous differences, large and small, reflecting the concerns and priorities of the members of the two chambers. Reconciling these differences provoked spirited debate on all sides of the issues. Conferees argued their positions with reason and passion. But in the end, everyone's willingness to listen and seek common ground prevailed over our differences.

   As a result, I am pleased to report that the conference report you have before you effectively addresses the priorities Americans care most about. These include $1.4 billion for National Park Service operations to enhance visitors' safety and their enjoyment of America's great natural wonders; $40 million to purchase the Baca Ranch in New Mexico, preserving a unique expanse of the Old West; over $500 million for the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art so that visitors from across America and the world can enjoy the thousands of marvels of science, history, technology and the animal kingdom and the glorious works of art on display here; $68 million for the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, which is nearly depleted because of several recent court decisions, to ensure that elderly mine workers and their dependents continue to receive health care. I urge the authorizing committees to take up this issue and develop a long-term solution to this problem.

   We have continued an important commitment I have made to improve management of the agencies funded by this bill. This year we have worked with

   the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in examining the management of both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. We are instructing these agencies to take steps to implement NAPA's recommendations for more effective and efficient management.

   I wish to express my appreciation to Senator GORTON and his subcommittee members for their willingness to seek common ground to allow us to bridge significant differences in our respective bills. They worked diligently with us to achieve compromises on three key legislative provisions.

   First, regarding mill sites, the conference report does not prohibit the Department of the Interior from enforcing the Solicitor's decision that establishes a limit of one mill site per mining claim, as the Senate had proposed. Interior may enforce the limitation on new claims, but exceptions are made for existing mining plans of operation (already agreed to by Secretary Babbitt), plans of operation submitted prior to May 21, 1999, and patent applications

[Page: H10674]  GPO's PDF

   Second, the Senate included a provision which would have extended all expiring Bureau of Land Management grazing permits based on existing terms and conditions. The conference agreement clearly states that the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to alter, modify or reject permit renewals following completion of all required environmental analyses is not altered. The agreement also includes additional funding to accelerate the processing of these permits.

   Third, the Senate had included a provision prohibiting the Minerals Management Service from implementing a new rule on oil valuation through fiscal year 2000. The conference agreement prohibit the rule from being implemented for a period not to exceed 6 months, or until the Comptroller General reviews the proposed regulation and issues a report. There is no prohibition on implementation following the release of the report.

   In summary, this conference report is not about politics and partisanship. This report reflects our commitments to protecting America's most valuable natural resources for future generations and promoting culture, science and history for the benefit of communities, large and small, throughout this country. Passage of this report means meeting our responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and continuing essential research to increase energy efficiency and maintain a clean, healthy environment. Again, as strongly as I possibly can, I urge you to vote for its passage.

   There are three corrections that need to be made to the conference report. The number for the Historic Preservation Fund in the National Park Service should be $75,212,000, the number of Forest Service land acquisition should be $79,575,000 and in section 310, ``1999'' should read ``2000.''

   We will take the necessary steps to ensure these corrections are made.

   Also, in the statement of the managers, the first sentence under the Historic Preservation Fund in the National Park Service should read, ``The conference agreement provides $75,212,000 for the Historic preservation fund instead of $46,712,000 as proposed by the House and $42,412,000 as proposed by the Senate.''

   At this point Mr. Speaker, I insert into the RECORD a table detailing the various accounts in the bill.

[Page: H10675]  GPO's PDF

[Page: H10676]  GPO's PDF

[Page: H10677]  GPO's PDF

[Page: H10678]  GPO's PDF

[Page: H10679]  GPO's PDF

   Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

   (Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

• [End Insert]

   Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the conference report on the Fiscal Year 2000 Interior and related agencies appropriations bill. I will explain my reasons for this position in a moment, but first I want to state categorically that my opposition to this measure does not in any way impugn the job done by the chairman of the subcommittee, my good friend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. REGULA). As chairman of the conference, he had the virtually impossible task of trying to bridge insurmountable differences of opinion between the Houses, the parties and the branches of Government, and I also want to at this time commend the staff of the subcommittee, Debbie Weatherly and the members of the majority staff, Del Davis, and the minority staff. These people have worked very hard under very difficult circumstances to bring this conference report, and they are highly professional people who work for the best interests of the House of Representatives.

   In many ways the recommendations of the conferees on this measure represent improvements compared to the bill that passed the House in July. However, in other important ways, specifically the addition of three environmentally damaging legislative riders, this agreement is much worse than the House bill and will almost certainly be vetoed by the President. The inclusion of the riders is especially troublesome given the vote of the full House on the motion to instruct conferees.

   Two hundred eighteen members of this House, a majority, voted to instruct conferees to support the Rahall amendment limiting the number and size of mill sites on public lands to support the Senate, the other body's position increasing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities by $5 million each and to reject the Senate's anti-environmental riders. Unfortunately the only part of the instruction that was followed was to agree with the Senate's funding increase for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

   Environmentalists and the administration have roundly criticized the Senate bill. While it may be true that the conference agreement has marginally improved some of the riders, the resulting provisions are still opposed by the administration and have no place in this appropriations bill. The provisions relating to mining mill sites, delaying hard rock mining regulation, delaying oil royalty evaluation regulations, and grazing should not have been accepted by the conference.

   The conferees' decisions on funding for the National Endowment for the Arts is a major disappointment. Despite the fact that the conference agreement provides a total of 600 million more for agencies and programs funded in the bill than the amount in the House-passed bill and despite the fact that the House had instructed its conferees to agree with the slightly higher funding levels for the NEH, the conference ended with no increase for the arts. Once again opponents of the NEA dredged up outdated information and outright misinformation. Once again the views of the ultra-conservative caucus representing a minority of one body have been allowed to override the wishes of a majority in both Houses.

   Another feature of the bill that causes great concern is the inadequate funding provided for the administration's new Land Legacy program, one of the major initiatives of the 2000 budget. The administration proposal was to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the fully authorized level of 900 million, including roughly 800 million in the Interior appropriations bill.

   The conference agreement, while improving on the 190 million included in the House bill, provides only about one-third, or 266 million, of the amounts requested. While the conference agreement is 600 million higher than the House bill, funding for the administration's top priority was only increased by 75 million. The recommendation of the conferees does not even match last year's level. It is 62 million less. And last year's bill was 500 million less in total than this year.

THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Doc Contents