[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2483, THE MONTANA WILDERNESS ACT OF 
                                  1994

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 423 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 423

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 2473) to designate certain National Forest 
     lands in the State of Montana as wilderness, to release other 
     National Forest lands in the State of Montana for multiple 
     use management, and for other purposes. The first reading of 
     the bill shall be dispensed with. Points of order against 
     consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause 
     2(l)(6) of rule XI are waived. General debate shall be 
     confined to the bill and shall not exceed ninety minutes, 
     with sixty minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
     chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Natural Resources, fifteen minutes equally divided and 
     controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Agriculture, and fifteen minutes equally divided 
     and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. After general 
     debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 
     five-minute rule. It shall be in order to consider as an 
     original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-
     minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed 
     in the bill. Each section of the committee amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. Points of 
     order against the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute for failure to comply with clause 5(a) of rule XXI 
     are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill 
     for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to 
     the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any 
     Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any 
     amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill 
     or to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
     The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the 
     bill and amendments thereto to final passage without 
     intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or 
     without instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). The gentleman from Tennessee 
[Mr. Gordon] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield the customary 30 minutes, for the 
purpose of debate only, to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier], 
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose 
of debate only.
  (Mr. GORDON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 423 is an open rule which 
provides for the consideration of H.R. 2473, the Montana Wilderness 
Act.
  The rule provides for 90 minutes of general debate; 1 hour to be 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Natural Resources Committee, 15 minutes to be equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Agriculture Committee, and 15 minutes to be equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Merchant 
Marine and Fisheries Committee.
  The rule waives clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI--which requires a 3-day 
layover of legislation reported from committee--against consideration 
of the bill.
  The rule makes in order the Natural Resources Committee amendment in 
the nature of substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill 
for the purposes of amendment, with each section considered as read.
  The rule also waives clause 5(A) of rule XXI--which prohibits 
appropriations in a legislative bill--against the committee substitute.
  Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, since 1983, 10 pieces of legislation have been 
introduced making various wilderness designations in Montana, and 
numerous hearings have been held in the House and the Senate. Congress 
passed one of the bills in the 100th Congress, but it was pocket 
vetoed.
  H.R. 2473 adds nearly 1.7 million acres to the 3.4 million acres 
currently protected as wilderness in Montana and sets aside an 
additional 375,000 acres as wilderness study areas.
  Approximately 240,000 acres are set aside for special management by 
the Forest Service, and 3.2 million acres will be released from 
wilderness protection for logging, mining, oil drilling and road 
construction.
  I want to commend Chairman George Miller and subcommittee Chairman 
Bruce Vento along with Congressman Pat Williams for their hard work. If 
it were not for their dedication to the substance of the bill and their 
legislative ability, this legislation would not be before the House 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule. I encourage my colleagues to adopt 
the resolution.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks, and to include extraneous matter.)

                             {time}   1450

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Miller], chairman of the Committee on Natural 
Resources, for requesting an open rule on this bill, calling for an 
open amendment process. I like to refer to him as Mr. Open Rule for his 
unbroken streak of open rule requests. It is unfortunate, however, that 
streak apparently is going to come to an abrupt end next week when we 
bring up the California Desert Protection Act.
  The request of the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], 
notwithstanding, I oppose this rule because it waives clause 2(l)(6) of 
rule XI requiring a 3-day layover so Members can have an opportunity to 
review the bill before it is considered.
  The Committee on Natural Resources filed its report on H.R. 2473 on 
April 28, but the Committee on Agriculture, very ably chaired by our 
friend, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la Garza], which also had 
jurisdiction over the bill, did not file its report until May 10, just 
2 days ago, and a printed copy was not available until yesterday.
  It is important to note that the bill reported by the Committee on 
Agriculture is different than the one reported by the Committee on 
Natural Resources. In addition, whereas the Committee on Natural 
Resources bill was reported by a voice vote, the Committee on 
Agriculture bill was reported by a very narrow 22 to 19 margin. While 
the Committee on Agriculture bill is not the text that the House bill 
will consider for amendment, Members deserve an opportunity to compare 
the two bills and understand why there was such strong opposition in 
the Committee on Agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, it is very important that the 3-day layover rule be 
followed, particularly on this legislation, because it raises a number 
of very complicated private property rights questions. For this reason, 
Mr. Speaker, I urge a no vote on the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, for the Record, I include some statistics on open versus 
restrictive rules in the 95th through 103d Congresses, as well as the 
roll call votes on this rule in the Committee on Rules.

     Rollcall Votes in the Rules Committee on the Rule for Montana 
          Wilderness Act (H.R. 2473), Wednesday, May 11, 1994

       1. Strike three-day layover waiver--Motion to strike waiver 
     of clause 2(1)(6) of rule XI (three-day layover requirement 
     for committee reports. Rejected: 3-4. Yeas: Solomon, Quillen, 
     and Dreier. Nays: Moakley, Derrick, Beilenson, and Gordon. 
     Not voting: Frost, Bonior, Hall, Wheat, Slaughter, and Goss.
       2. Report rule--Motion or order rule reported as moved. 
     Adopted: 4-3. Yeas: Moakely, Derrick, Beilenson and Gordon. 
     Nays: Solomon, Quillen, and Dreier. Not voting: Frost, 
     Bonior, Hall, Wheat, Slaughter, and Goss.

                                  OPEN VERSUS RESTRICTIVE RULES 95TH-103D CONG.                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Open rules       Restrictive rules
                      Congress (years)                       Total rules ---------------------------------------
                                                              granted\1\  Number  Percent\2\  Number  Percent\3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
95th (1977-78).............................................          211     179         85       32         15 
96th (1979-80).............................................          214     161         75       53         25 
97th (1981-82).............................................          120      90         75       30         25 
98th (1983-84).............................................          155     105         68       50         32 
99th (1985-86).............................................          115      65         57       50         43 
100th (1987-88)............................................          123      66         54       57         46 
101st (1989-90)............................................          104      47         45       57         55 
102d (1991-92).............................................          109      37         34       72         66 
103d (1993-94).............................................           64      14         22       50         78 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Total rules counted are all order of business resolutions reported from the Rules Committee which provide for
  the initial consideration of legislation, except rules on appropriations bills which only waive points of     
  order. Original jurisdiction measures reported as privileged are also not counted.                            
\2\Open rules are those which permit any Member to offer any germane amendment to a measure so long as it is    
  otherwise in compliance with the rules of the House. The parenthetical percentages are open rules as a percent
  of total rules granted.                                                                                       
\3\Restrictive rules are those which limit the number of amendments which can be offered, and include so-called 
  modified open and modified closed rules, as well as completely closed rule, and rules providing for           
  consideration in the House as opposed to the Committee of the Whole. The parenthetical percentages are        
  restrictive rules as a percent of total rules granted.                                                        
                                                                                                                
Sources: ``Rules Committee Calendars & Surveys of Activities,'' 95th-102d Cong.; ``Notices of Action Taken,''   
  Committee on Rules, 103d Cong., through May 12, 1994.                                                         


                                                        OPEN VERSUS RESTRICTIVE RULES: 103D CONG.                                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Rule                                      Amendments                                                                  
   Rule number date reported      type       Bill number and subject         submitted         Amendments allowed         Disposition of rule and date  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 58, Feb. 2, 1993......  MC        H.R. 1: Family and medical     30 (D-5; R-25)..  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 246-176. A: 259-164. (Feb. 3,
                                           leave.                                                                       1993).                          
H. Res. 59, Feb. 3, 1993......  MC        H.R. 2: National Voter         19 (D-1; R-18)..  1 (D-0; R-1)..............  PQ: 248-171. A: 249-170. (Feb. 4,
                                           Registration Act.                                                            1993).                          
H. Res. 103, Feb. 23, 1993....  C         H.R. 920: Unemployment         7 (D-2; R-5)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  PQ: 243-172. A: 237-178. (Feb.   
                                           compensation.                                                                24, 1993).                      
H. Res. 106, Mar. 2, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 20: Hatch Act amendments  9 (D-1; R-8)....  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 248-166. A: 249-163. (Mar. 3,
                                                                                                                        1993).                          
H. Res. 119, Mar. 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 4: NIH Revitalization     13 (d-4; R-9)...  8 (D-3; R-5)..............  PQ: 247-170. A: 248-170. (Mar.   
                                           Act of 1993.                                                                 10, 1993).                      
H. Res. 132, Mar. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 1335: Emergency           37 (D-8; R-29)..  1(not submitted) (D-1; R-   A: 240-185. (Mar. 18, 1993).     
                                           supplemental Appropriations.                     0).                                                         
H. Res. 133, Mar. 17, 1993....  MC        H. Con. Res. 64: Budget        14 (D-2; R-12)..  4 (1-D not submitted) (D-   PQ: 250-172. A: 251-172. (Mar.   
                                           resolution.                                      2; R-2).                    18, 1993).                      
H. Res. 138, Mar. 23, 1993....  MC        H.R. 670: Family planning      20 (D-8; R-12)..  9 (D-4; R-5)..............  PQ: 252-164. A: 247-169. (Mar.   
                                           amendments.                                                                  24, 1993).                      
H. Res. 147, Mar. 31, 1993....  C         H.R. 1430: Increase Public     6 (D-1; R-5)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  PQ: 244-168. A: 242-170. (Apr. 1,
                                           debt limit.                                                                  1993).                          
H. Res. 149 Apr. 1, 1993......  MC        H.R. 1578: Expedited           8 (D-1; R-7)....  3 (D-1; R-2)..............  A: 212-208. (Apr. 28, 1993).     
                                           Rescission Act of 1993.                                                                                      
H. Res. 164, May 4, 1993......  O         H.R. 820: Nate                 NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (May 5, 1993).    
                                           Competitiveness Act.                                                                                         
H. Res. 171, May 18, 1993.....  O         H.R. 873: Gallatin Range Act   NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (May 20, 1993).   
                                           of 1993.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 172, May 18, 1993.....  O         H.R. 1159: Passenger Vessel    NA..............  NA........................  A: 308-0 (May 24, 1993).         
                                           Safety Act.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 173 May 18, 1993......  MC        S.J. Res. 45: United States    6 (D-1; R-5)....  6 (D-1; R-5)..............  A: Voice Vote (May 20, 1993)     
                                           forces in Somalia.                                                                                           
H. Res. 183, May 25, 1993.....  O         H.R. 2244: 2d supplemental     NA..............  NA........................  A: 251-174. (May 26, 1993).      
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 186, May 27, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 2264: Omnibus budget      51 (D-19; R-32).  8 (D-7; R-1)..............  PQ: 252-178. A: 236-194 (May 27, 
                                           reconciliation.                                                              1993).                          
H. Res. 192, June 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 2348: Legislative branch  50 (D-6; R-44)..  6 (D-3; R-3)..............  PQ: 240-177. A: 226-185. (June   
                                           appropriations.                                                              10, 1993).                      
H. Res. 193, June 10, 1993....  O         H.R. 2200: NASA authorization  NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 14, 1993).  
H. Res. 195, June 14, 1993....  MC        H.R. 5: Striker replacement..  7 (D-4; R-3)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  A: 244-176.. (June 15, 1993).    
H. Res. 197, June 15, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2333: State Department.   53 (D-20; R-33).  27 (D-12; R-15)...........  A: 294-129. (June 16, 1993).     
                                           H.R. 2404: Foreign aid.                                                                                      
H. Res. 199, June 16, 1993....  C         H.R. 1876: Ext. of ``Fast      NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 22, 1993).  
                                           Track''.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 200, June 16, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2295: Foreign operations  33 (D-11; R-22).  5 (D-1; R-4)..............  A: 263-160. (June 17, 1993).     
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 201, June 17, 1993....  O         H.R. 2403: Treasury-postal     NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 17, 1993).  
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 203, June 22, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2445: Energy and Water    NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 23, 1993).  
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 206, June 23, 1993....  O         H.R. 2150: Coast Guard         NA..............  NA........................  A: 401-0. (July 30, 1993).       
                                           authorization.                                                                                               
H. Res. 217, July 14, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2010: National Service    NA..............  NA........................  A: 261-164. (July 21, 1993).     
                                           Trust Act.                                                                                                   
H. Res. 220, July 21, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2667: Disaster            14 (D-8; R-6)...  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  PQ: 245-178. F: 205-216. (July   
                                           assistance supplemental.                                                     22, 1993).                      
H. Res. 226, July 23, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2667: Disaster            15 (D-8; R-7)...  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  A: 224-205. (July 27, 1993).     
                                           assistance supplemental.                                                                                     
H. Res. 229, July 28, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2330: Intelligence        NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (Aug. 3, 1993).   
                                           Authority Act, fiscal year                                                                                   
                                           1994.                                                                                                        
H. Res. 230, July 28, 1993....  O         H.R. 1964: Maritime            NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (July 29, 1993).  
                                           Administration authority.                                                                                    
H. Res. 246, Aug. 6, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 2401: National Defense    149 (D-109; R-    ..........................  A: 246-172. (Sept. 8, 1993).     
                                           authority.                     40).                                                                          
H. Res. 248, Sept. 9, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2401: National defense    ................  ..........................  PQ: 237-169. A: 234-169. (Sept.  
                                           authorization.                                                               13, 1993).                      
H. Res. 250, Sept. 13, 1993...  MC        H.R. 1340: RTC Completion Act  12 (D-3; R-9)...  1 (D-1; R-0)..............  A: 213-191-1. (Sept. 14, 1993).  
H. Res. 254, Sept. 22, 1993...  MO        H.R. 2401: National Defense    ................  91 (D-67; R-24)...........  A: 241-182. (Sept. 28, 1993).    
                                           authorization.                                                                                               
H. Res. 262, Sept. 28, 1993...  O         H.R. 1845: National            NA..............  NA........................  A: 238-188 (10/06/93).           
                                           Biological Survey Act.                                                                                       
H. Res. 264, Sept. 28, 1993...  MC        H.R. 2351: Arts, humanities,   7 (D-0; R-7)....  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 240-185. A: 225-195. (Oct.   
                                           museums.                                                                     14, 1993).                      
H. Res. 265, Sept. 29, 1993...  MC        H.R. 3167: Unemployment        3 (D-1; R-2)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  A: 239-150. (Oct. 15, 1993).     
                                           compensation amendments.                                                                                     
H. Res. 269, Oct. 6, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 2739: Aviation            N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 7, 1993).   
                                           infrastructure investment.                                                                                   
H. Res. 273, Oct. 12, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3167: Unemployment        3 (D-1; R-2)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  PQ: 235-187. F: 149-254. (Oct.   
                                           compensation amendments.                                                     14, 1993).                      
H. Res. 274, Oct. 12, 1993....  MC        H.R. 1804: Goals 2000 Educate  15 (D-7; R-7; I-  10 (D-7; R-3).............  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 13, 1993).  
                                           America Act.                   1).                                                                           
H. Res. 282, Oct. 20, 1993....  C         H.J. Res. 281: Continuing      N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 21, 1993).  
                                           appropriations through Oct.                                                                                  
                                           28, 1993.                                                                                                    
H. Res. 286, Oct. 27, 1993....  O         H.R. 334: Lumbee Recognition   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 28, 1993).  
                                           Act.                                                                                                         
H. Res. 287, Oct. 27, 1993....  C         H.J. Res. 283: Continuing      1 (D-0; R-0)....  0.........................  A: 252-170. (Oct. 28, 1993).     
                                           appropriations resolution.                                                                                   
H. Res. 289, Oct. 28, 1993....  O         H.R. 2151: Maritime Security   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 3, 1993).   
                                           Act of 1993.                                                                                                 
H. Res. 293, Nov. 4, 1993.....  MC        H. Con. Res. 170: Troop        N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 390-8. (Nov. 8, 1993).        
                                           withdrawal Somalia.                                                                                          
H. Res. 299, Nov. 8, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 1036: Employee            2 (D-1; R-1)....  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 9, 1993).   
                                           Retirement Act-1993.                                                                                         
H. Res. 302, Nov. 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 1025: Brady handgun bill  17 (D-6; R-11)..  4 (D-1; R-3)..............  A: 238-182. (Nov. 10, 1993).     
H. Res. 303, Nov. 9, 1993.....  O         H.R. 322: Mineral exploration  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 16, 1993).  
H. Res. 304, Nov. 9, 1993.....  C         H.J. Res. 288: Further CR, FY  N/A.............  N/A.......................  .................................
                                           1994.                                                                                                        
H. Res. 312, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3425: EPA Cabinet Status  27 (D-8; R-19)..  9 (D-1; R-8)..............  F: 191-227. (Feb. 2, 1994).      
H. Res. 313, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 796: Freedom Access to    15 (D-9; R-6)...  4 (D-1; R-3)..............  A: 233-192. (Nov. 18, 1993).     
                                           Clinics.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 314, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3351: Alt Methods Young   21 (D-7; R-14)..  6 (D-3; R-3)..............  A: 238-179. (Nov. 19, 1993).     
                                           Offenders.                                                                                                   
H. Res. 316, Nov. 19, 1993....  C         H.R. 51: D.C. statehood bill.  1 (D-1; R-0)....  N/A.......................  A: 252-172. (Nov. 20, 1993).     
H. Res. 319, Nov. 20, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3: Campaign Finance       35 (D-6; R-29)..  1 (D-0; R-1)..............  A: 220-207. (Nov. 21, 1993).     
                                           Reform.                                                                                                      
H. Res. 320, Nov. 20, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3400: Reinventing         34 (D-15; R-19).  3 (D-3; R-0)..............  A: 247-183. (Nov. 22, 1993).     
                                           Government.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 336, Feb. 2, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 3759: Emergency           14 (D-8; R-5; I-  5 (D-3; R-2)..............  PQ: 244-168. A: 342-65. (Feb. 3, 
                                           Supplemental Appropriations.   1).                                           1994).                          
H. Res. 352, Feb. 8, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 811: Independent Counsel  27 (D-8; R-19)..  10 (D-4; R-6).............  PQ: 249-174. A: 242-174. (Feb. 9,
                                           Act.                                                                         1994).                          
H. Res. 357, Feb. 9, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 3345: Federal Workforce   3 (D-2; R-1)....  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  A: VV (Feb. 10, 1994).           
                                           Restructuring.                                                                                               
H. Res. 366, Feb. 23, 1994....  MO        H.R. 6: Improving America's    NA..............  NA........................  A: VV (Feb. 24, 1994).           
                                           Schools.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 384, Mar. 9, 1994.....  MC        H. Con. Res. 218: Budget       14 (D-5; R-9)...  5 (D-3; R-2)..............  A: 245-171 (Mar. 10, 1994).      
                                           Resolution FY 1995-99.                                                                                       
H. Res. 401, Apr. 12, 1994....  MO        H.R. 4092: Violent Crime       180 (D-98; R-82)  68 (D-47; R-21)...........  A: 244-176 (Apr. 13, 1994).      
                                           Control.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 410, Apr. 21, 1994....  MO        H.R. 3221: Iraqi Claims Act..  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Apr. 28, 1994).   
H. Res. 414, Apr. 28, 1994....  O         H.R. 3254: NSF Auth. Act.....  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (May 3, 1994).     
H. Res. 416, May 4, 1994......  C         H.R. 4296: Assault Weapons     7 (D-5; R-2)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  A: 220-209 (May 5, 1994).        
                                           Ban Act.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 420, May 5, 1994......  O         H.R. 2442: EDA                 N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (May 10, 1994).    
                                           Reauthorization.                                                                                             
H. Res. 422, May 11, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 518: California Desert    N/A.............  N/A.......................  .................................
                                           Protection.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 423, May 11, 1994.....  O         H.R. 2473: Montana Wilderness  N/A.............  N/A.......................  .................................
                                           Act.                                                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note.--Code: C-Closed; MC-Modified closed; MO-Modified open; O-Open; D-Democrat; R-Republican; PQ: Previous question; A-Adopted; F-Failed.              

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Agriculture reported H.R. 2473 on April 
28, 1994, and filed the report on May 10, 1994. The bill was reported 
out of the Committee on Agriculture without amendment. The committee 
report consisted of 11 pages, including additional minority reviews. 
The report was available to the membership yesterday.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Montana [Mr. Williams].
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Committee on Rules, the 
Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Agriculture, and the 
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries for bringing this bill 
before us today. The Montana wilderness bill has been under 
consideration in every Congress since 1986, and with no resolution. So 
I have begun this process in this Congress with determination, but also 
with patience, and frustration.
  I began this process 16 years ago because I believed that this 
consideration is critically important. Our Federal land managers 
believe it is critical to the future management of the public land in 
Montana. Our resource dependent industries, timber and mining, cry out 
for a resolution and management certainty. Our State's public and our 
State's private game managers believe it is important if we are to 
continue our world class quality hunting in Montana without resorting 
to a lottery.
  The citizens in our local communities are demanding, insisting, for 
an end to the 16 years of controversy and disagreement.
  With this bill, I have introduced five pieces of legislation 
specifically addressing the remaining RARE II wilderness designations 
in Montana. This is the 15th piece of legislation introduced by some 
Member or other of the Montana delegation on this issue. If this bill 
is fortunate enough to move through the House of Representatives, it 
will be the sixth time this House of Representatives has passed 
legislation, and once both the House and Senate passed the same 
legislation, and it was vetoed, tragically, by former President Reagan.
  The statistics of consideration are impressive by any legislative 
standards in the history of this country. Fifteen pieces of legislation 
introduced over 16 years. This issue has been the subject of 50 
congressional hearings. We have had 235 hours of direct testimony. The 
Congress has 20 volumes of printed hearing records on this issue. We 
have testimony from many hundreds of Montanans. We have testimony from 
dozens of Montana organizations. And, by the way, the other day I 
counted, these organizations have claimed in total to represent 
citizens of Montana who double the actual number of people living in 
our state.
  My colleagues, Montanans and Americans have waited long enough. This 
is a good bill. This is a bill about the public lands, and the bill was 
made in Montana. It enjoys the support, almost overwhelming support, of 
the members of the three committees to which it was referred. I am 
pleased again with the members of the Committee on Rules, who have 
brought this bill out on the floor with an open rule.

  I want to say, finally, that I requested an open rule on this bill. I 
want openness on this bill. And heaven knows, that after 16 years and 
two-hundred-plus hour of direct testimony, after multiple 
considerations in both the House and Senate, this wilderness 
consideration process has been as open, if not more open, in fact more 
open, than any that has come before the Congress in its long history. 
And I am pleased that the Committee on Rules is again today asking for 
an open rule, so that all Members are protected in their attempt to 
make whatever changes they desire in my legislation.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento], the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, that shepherded this bill 
to the floor.
  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule offered by our 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Gordon]. I 
think this is a fair rule. The primary jurisdiction for wilderness 
designations is with the Committee on Natural Resources. We have worked 
in a deliberate manner with open hearings on the issue and dealing with 
a significant classification of these wild lands in Montana. There are 
nearly 6 million acres of national forest roadless lands in the Great 
State of Montana, the Great Sky Country.
  The rule makes the Committee on Natural Resources version of H.R. 
2473 the vehicle for floor action. This is appropriate. As I say, we 
have the jurisdiction over these Western wilderness designations. We 
share some jurisdiction with the Committee on Agriculture simply on the 
manner in which the lands that are not declared wilderness will be 
released. The Committee on Agriculture reported the bill as introduced 
and did not make the modifications in the release language, as we call 
it, that is, the language that directs the management of the remaining 
lands in this area that are not designated as wilderness.
  I think we have crafted a good alternative here, and commend it to 
Members. Obviously there has been some concern expressed how long the 
report from the Committee on Agriculture has been available, but really 
the basic changes have been before the body for a long time. They will 
have further time to review this before we take up the measure on 
general debate and under an open rule next Tuesday. So I think any type 
of concern about that should be allayed on that basis.
  We are moving deliberately and hopefully conclusively on the 
important issue of Montana wilderness, something that has been waiting 
for over a dozen years, as my colleague said. So I urge the support of 
Members for the rule, and thank the gentleman for yielding time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], the chairman of the full 
Committee on Natural Resources.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, once again the Natural Resources Committee is bringing 
before the House a statewide, national forest wilderness bill and once 
again that State is Montana. As before, the committee presents a bill 
that meets our obligation to protect the remnants of the magnificent 
wilderness that is at the heart of our natural heritage, while fairly 
and responsibly recognizing the legitimate interests and concerns of 
local residents.
  For more than a decade, it has been the House and the House Natural 
Resources Committee that has set the standard for achieving that kind 
of balance. When all the dust of competing proposals and amendments has 
settled, the record will show that the wilderness designations and the 
management provisions crafted by the House and the Natural Resources 
Committee have been the basis for laws signed by both Republican and 
Democratic Presidents.
  Once again today, you will hear this bill attacked from the left and 
from the right. You will hear that the bill locks up too many resources 
and that it violates Montana's rights to control its water. But as the 
gentleman from Montana [Mr. Williams] will tell you, we have worked 
long and hard with Montanans to draw the boundaries and select the 
wilderness areas that meet their concerns. At the same time, the 
release and water rights language are consistent with positions that 
the House has taken often and rightly so, and is so doing repeatedly 
and without exception rejecting amendments to weaken them.
  From the other side, you will hear that the Interior Committee bill 
is inadequate, even that it is a sell-out of Montana's remaining 
wildlands. I sympathize and share concern with those who have watched 
our forests mismanaged, our old growth cut down and our wilderness 
roaded and who warn that we have a real crisis on our hands. They are 
right.
  But to characterize the Natural Resources Committee bill as anything 
less than a strong statement for protection of Montana wilderness is 
just plain wrong. In 1979, the Forest Service completed its review of 
almost 6 million acres of roadless lands in Montana. It recommended 
900,000 acres for wilderness. Since that day, those 900,000 acres have 
been managed as wilderness and the rest--more than 5 million acres--
have been managed for multiple use under forest plans. Today, the 
committee bill proposes that every one of those 900,000 acres, plus 
another 2 million acres, be placed in wilderness or similar land 
management categories. In other words, every acre of Montana forests 
that have been managed as wilderness will continue to be so managed and 
another 2 million acres that have been managed for multiple use will be 
managed as wilderness. No lands receive a lesser standard of protection 
than they have today. Rarely has the committee been able to say this 
about any wilderness bill.
  Despite all the criticism, Mr. Speaker, I know that any honest and 
dispassionate analysis would conclude that this bill is cut from the 
same cloth as Forest Service wilderness bills--now law--for Washington 
and Oregon, for California, for Arizona and New Mexico, for Utah, 
Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming and many other States. They are all bills 
that sprung from this House and they are all laws of which this 
Congress and this Nation are justifiably proud. If anything, the many 
years of hard labor by Mr. Williams and Mr. Vento have made this a 
superior bill.
  The House has a responsibility to exercise its own considered 
judgement with regard to which areas should be designated wilderness, 
how the Federal rights to protect wilderness water resources should be 
exercised and how lands not designated should be managed.
  But I am confident that the Natural Resources Committee has done so 
in a responsible and reasonable manner under extremely difficult 
circumstances and I urge my colleagues to support it.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule, the 
reason being that this violates the 3-day layover provisions. All 
Members should have an opportunity to carefully consider this measure 
before we proceed. I hope that my colleagues will join me in voting 
against the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just remind the Members of two things: First of 
all, this is an open rule. Second, although we are passing the rule 
today, we will not be taking up this legislation until next Tuesday. 
There is plenty of time for Members to consider this bill, particularly 
keeping in mind that this has been before us for 16 years. I think it 
is time we move forward, move forward with an open rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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