[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11484-S11488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 1296

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask 
unanimous consent, after consultation with the distinguished Democratic 
leader, that we may turn to the consideration of the conference report 
to accompany the Presidio bill, and when the Senate turns to the 
consideration of the conference report, at this time, the reading be 
dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. On behalf of a number of my colleagues, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I obviously regret hearing the 
objection from the other side to dispense with the reading of the 
Presidio conference report. I am informed by the clerk that this would 
take awhile. It has been estimated at some 10 hours or thereabouts. 
Needless to say, the Senate has many very important pieces of 
legislation that we must enact prior to the end of the fiscal year.
  This objection is an obvious indication that Members on the other 
side of the aisle do not intend or do not want to have this significant 
parks bill have consideration before this body. The objecters have been 
informed, it is my understanding, if they were to let the Senate turn 
to the conference report, that I, as leader, was to immediately ask 
unanimous consent that the conference report be recommitted back to the 
conference committee in order that the conferees could address several 
issues raised by the President. Consequently, since the objection was 
raised, that conference committee unfortunately will be unable to meet 
and address these concerns.
  So, obviously, the will of the Members will not have been addressed, 
they will not have an opportunity to proceed with that. I regret that 
the Senate Democrats feel a need to block the Senate from enacting this 
massive omnibus parks bill, the single largest environmental package we 
have had before us that affects 41 States and includes 126 separate 
parks and public land matters.
  Each Member will continue to work with the Democratic leader. 
Speaking for the leadership, Senator Lott has indicated he will 
continue to work with the Democratic Members who have objections, but 
time is running out. So I urge all Members to rethink this objection, 
allow the conferees to address this very important issue.
  Further, Mr. President, we are prepared--the Republicans are 
prepared; as chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I 
am prepared; our conferees are prepared--to recommit this bill to 
conference. We can fix the provision which the leader referred to in 
his statement which causes that small problem in the House.
  What it was, was a small tax-related problem. As you know, most all 
tax issues must originate in the House, so we have taken that out. We 
have the report here, Mr. President, ready to go, 700 pages, the result 
of 2 years of work, 126 separate sections are in here, 41 States are 
represented in here.
  We have heard from the administration, but they objected to the Utah 
wilderness. Utah wilderness was not included. They went ahead and 
initiated an action under the Antiquities Act. That is another story 
for another time.
  Grazing was a major issue, more objection from the administration. 
Grazing is not in here. The Tongass issue in my State to extend a 
contract for 15 years so we could build a new pulp mill and save 4,000 
jobs, 1,000 directly in the pulp mill by extending the contract. That 
mill will never be built. The existing mill will be shut down. We will 
lose our jobs. I do not know what those people will do. That was taken 
out.
  Up in Minnesota, the Minnesota wilderness lakes bill was objected to 
by

[[Page S11485]]

the administration. We took that out. We have had communication with 
the administration. We have tried to be responsive. They keep changing 
the goal posts. They move them back. So now we are in a position where, 
I suppose, the administration has prevailed on some Members on the 
other side, and we are down in this mire again.
  Now, we have still, if we can clear those objections, an opportunity 
to move this. We are ready to go, Mr. President. As I have said, the 
work is done and our committee has acted. What we have is a rather 
curious process around here where the authorizing committees, when we 
get down to the end, seem to have no voice. But the appropriations 
effort is now to pick a few things out of here, put them on the 
Appropriations Committee, and abandon the rest.
  I looked at a list that came in from the White House last night, and 
it is significant, Mr. President, to see what they want deleted. They 
want conveyance to the city of Sumpter, which authorizes the Secretary 
to convey 1.5 acres to the city of Sumpter, OR, for public purposes. 
They are prepared to veto the whole package. This is supposed to be the 
people's President. What in the world does he have against a place for 
kids to play?
  I just met with a spokesman for the White House. They do not have any 
idea what is in here. They are simply carrying the bucket. Somebody 
said, object to that, we do not want it. That is Senator Hatfield's 
will.
  Section 218, Shenandoah National Park--Senators Robb and Warner and 
Congressmen Bliley and Wolf in the House. It is interesting to identify 
who is who, because there is a certain amount of partisanship that you 
cannot help but see as a reality. It adjusts a 1923 boundary 
authorization to meet today's park boundary. The White House staff 
informs me they would have reached the same conclusion on the boundary 
adjustment but they needed more ``process.'' Now, when they invoked the 
Antiquities Act, they did not need more process. They made a land grab 
in Utah of 1.8 million acres. It does not take anything away from the 
park. The old map authorized 500,000 acres. If we went to that limit, 
there would not be enough money in the Treasury to buy all the private 
farms and homes that would be in the park.

  The Tular conveyance, CA, big issue in the House, affirms that land 
sold by the railroad to citizens in Tular, CA, is free from any title 
problems. That is section 219. They want that out. This was an attempt 
to bring some stability and certainty to land ownership in the town of 
Tular. This administration does not seem to care about the town, the 
folks, or their future.
  Section 210, the Alpine school district, Senator Kyl and Senator 
McCain, 30 acres of lands for a public school facility. What in the 
world is wrong with supporting a school district and aiding in the 
education of schoolchildren? I thought this was the educational 
President. We took these up. We have had hearings, 2 years of hearings. 
We set up a process. This administration, in some of their rabbit-trail 
clearance process has come up with this lesson and said this is 
unacceptable.
  I am saying we have an opportunity to move this, to remove the 
objections. If we do not, there is another opportunity and we can put 
the parks package as passed with the objectionable items they 
threatened to veto that I already outlined, and we will put the whole 
package in the appropriations bill and let it go. I pleaded with them 
to do that this morning. Well, they cannot accept all these little 
things. These are the little things they cannot accept now.
  Coastal barrier resource system, all Florida issues, transfers 40 
acres of development property out of 2.1 million acres of undeveloped 
resource area. This is what the Florida delegation and the Governor 
believes, Democratic Governor believes, is in the best interest of 
their citizens. Since this President knows better than the States and 
the elected officials what is good for the people, there is certainly 
no longer a need for State-level elected officials, if that is the 
case.
  Section 224, conveyance to the Del Norte County unified school 
district, a big issue in California and House Members, transfers a 
small acreage to the school district for educational purposes. I guess 
it now takes more than a village to raise a child. The title to the new 
President's book is, ``All You Really Need Is a President To Raise a 
Child.''
  I find this incredible, Mr. President. Here we are, picking the 
bones, if you will, of this legislation to suggest that Presidio should 
be lost, San Francisco Bay area should be lost, Sterling Forest should 
be lost. That is what they are saying. The Alaska peninsula subsurface 
consolidation, one of mine, authorizes the Secretary to exchange 
subsurface holdings of a small native corporation on an equal value--
equal value--for lands and interest owned by the Federal Government. 
This will complete exchanges approved earlier. It was this provision of 
the bill that caused the tax problem. That was unfortunate. We have 
taken care of it. From this action I can only conclude that the 
President thinks it is a good idea to have private inholdings in 
national parks. We have taken that out.
  Section 304--Olympic Committee, wake up--Snow Basin land exchange--I 
do not know whether they have simply written off the State of Utah as 
they have perhaps Alaska. Senators Hatch and Bennett, Representative 
Hansen. This allows expedited land exchange to facilitate the 2002 
Winter Olympics which would be an economic boom to Utah, economic boom 
to the West, and an economic boom, of course, to the United States as 
well--the United States, Utah, the West. This has been in the process 
for 6 years, and we have received absolutely nothing from the Clinton 
administration as they try to balance some environmental objection. 
They want to balance it. I am not sure what the President has against 
the Olympics or the people of Utah. Maybe he would like to see the 
United States, I do not know, embarrassed in the eyes of the world by 
not coming through. As far as Utah, Alaska, Idaho, and a few other 
States, we are ready to secede from the Union. We would do better 
ourselves than trying to deal with a legislative process that this 
administration has dictated.

  You know, I used to think, Mr. President, because we control the 
House and the Senate, we could perhaps get a few things done around 
here. It doesn't seem to be the case.
  Section 309. Sand Hollow Exchange. Senators Hatch and Bennett. 
Another Utah. They seem to be pointing at Utah. Equal value exchange to 
add acreage to Zion National Park and allows additional water to flow 
through the park.
  His ``own'' people and the environmental community have pushed this 
exchange. I don't know what the President has against Utah. All I can 
conclude is that, perhaps, as a young man, Bill Clinton must have been 
pushed down by a big kid from Utah during recess. That is the best 
explanation I have heard.
  Section 311. Land Exchange, city of Greely, CO, Senators Campbell and 
Brown. Equal value exchange to secure property needed by the city to 
secure ownership of a city's water supply.
  Well, apparently, this administration would like to manage the city 
of Greely's water supply--having achieved world peace and cured the 
common cold, they apparently are bored and need something to do. Well, 
sorry, Greely.
  Section 312. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve land 
exchange and boundary adjustment. That is mine, Governor Knowles, 
Senator Stevens, and Representative Young.
  This exchange would have led to more than a 2 million acre expansion 
of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska--in 
exchange for lands in Naval Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
  Since when is helping the national parks a bad idea in the Clinton 
administration? The only conclusion that can be drawn is they don't 
like it because it is not their idea. I don't know what else.
  Kenai Natives Association land exchange. This would facilitate an 
exchange between the Kenai natives and the Fish and Wildlife Service to 
allow an Alaska Native Corporation to gain the economic use of their 
land, which would result from the acre-for-acre exchange.
  There seems to be no rhyme or reason in the White House position. On 
one hand, they don't want to add 2 million acres to a national park 
and, on

[[Page S11486]]

the other hand, they want to double the acreage put into a withdrawal.
  Now, I know we can debate the merits of some of these. We did it in 
committee. But we had a committee action, Mr. President. We had a 
committee vote. We brought the package before this body. You can vote 
up and down on the package. Some members said, ``Senator Murkowski, why 
do you have this big package with 126 sections in it?'' The reason we 
have this big package is obvious: Because Democrats--one specific 
Democrat from New Jersey had a hold on every single bill out of our 
committee. There were holds put on by the Senators from Nevada, one or 
the other. That is their own business. But that is why we could not 
move these bills in the orderly process associated with the every-day 
business of this body. So we waited until the end because that is all 
we could do, put it in the package, present it before the Senate, and 
that is where we are today.
  Section 401. Cashe La Poudre Corridor, Senators Campbell and Brown, 
their number one priority. Establishes corridor to interpret and 
protect unique and historical waterway.
  All I can conclude from their refusal to support this action is they 
don't think that the Cache La Poudre deserves to be protected. I guess 
the people of Colorado are wrong in wanting to preserve an important 
piece of their history.

  Section 405. RS2477, a western issue, Senators Murkowski, Hatch, 
Bennett, Stevens. Puts a moratorium on the putting new regulations in 
place without Congressional approval.
  What in the world is the objection to that? That is the democratic 
process. This is ``just'' moratorium language. The minority and the BLM 
negotiated this language with us. We were all in agreement.
  Out west again. Section 406. To be eliminated is Hanford Reach 
Preservation, Senator Gorton and Congressman Hastings in the House. 
Extends a moratorium on construction of any new dams or impoundments in 
this area.
  Can we conclude from this action that Clinton wants to start building 
dams on the river? I don't know.
  Section 502. Vancouver National Historic Preserve, Senators Gorton 
and Murray. It changes a historic site into a national park. I don't 
know whether Senator Murray and Senator Gorton don't know what their 
constituents want, but I assume they do.
  Section 602, stricken. Corinth, Mississippi Battlefield Act. This is 
Senator Lott, who has been working on it for a long time. Establishes a 
National Park Service Civil War site in Mississippi. Is there something 
wrong with honoring the events associated with the Civil War in 
Mississippi? Or could it be that this is the majority leader's State, 
Mississippi?
  Moving a little further north in the south, section 603. Stricken. 
Richmond National Battlefield Park, Senators Warner and Robb. 
Establishes boundary in accordance with a new National Park Service 
management plan, dated August of this year.
  The administration is concerned about the process. This did not seem 
to bother them when the President declared a national monument in Utah, 
which was created with no process. But the administration's excuse 
here, to establish a boundary in accordance with new National Park 
Service management plan, dated August of 1996. Is that an 
administration that is concerned about the process? Come on, give us a 
break.
  Where were the administration's explanations when the land grab was 
made of 1.8 million acres in Utah, over the objections, and without the 
knowledge of the process even occurring--no public hearings and no 
notification to the Utah delegation. They didn't do it, Mr. President, 
as you will recall, in Utah. They went to Arizona and put the desk on 
the edge of the Grand Canyon--a big show. The press bought it, they are 
gullible. They bought it hook, line, and sinker. They knew there would 
have been a few objections. A few school kids would have said, ``Hey, 
what about our school funding from some of this land?'' There was no 
public process. I tell you, when you start to try to identify who is 
responsible for these things, the accountability is awfully hard to 
find in this administration, but there are a lot of rabbit trails that 
are easy to find.
  Section 604. Revolutionary War, Senator Jeffords. That was a study to 
determine if these sites warrant further protection.
  Most of the problems we have had with this administration is that 
they simply leap before they think. I guess the idea of studying the 
need for something before doing it perhaps is a bit alien in the 
concepts of the White House. That has been proven time and again. This 
is very important to Senator Jeffords. It is a study to determine if 
these sites warrant further protection.
  Section 607. Shenandoah Valley Battlefield, Senators Warner and Robb 
again. There is an election in Virginia this year, I believe. This 
would establish a historical area. It doesn't make a new park. This 
they want stricken. This is what the delegation wants. That is why we 
held the hearings. That is why we had the input. That is why we 
responded. Can they not be trusted, their own delegation, to determine 
what's right for their own constituents? Evidently not, because the 
White House wants that stricken. That is part of their veto package.

  Ski Area Permits, 701. This simplifies a very complex ski area fee 
collection process, making collection easier, cutting down on the 
administrative costs, and it provides more funding for the Forest 
Service and other Federal agencies that are collecting ski area 
permits. It is supported by the ski industry and supported by the ski 
operators.
  As far as we knew there was not any objection to it. This is 
supported by the National Ski Association and the Western States 
elected officials. We are elected officials. That is what I do not 
understand about this process. We are supposed to know something about 
what the people want. We are supposed to hold hearings. We are supposed 
to initiate a process. We have done that in these 126 sections of this 
bill. Now they are saying this is what is wrong. This is what we want 
out. And we can only speculate that the rationale is based on the 
conversations we have had.
  Make no mistake about it. This is a process of long deliberations. 
This package is part of a process. That is why it is so important it 
stay together. We have taken again those items out that they want to 
initiate a veto on, and now they have come back again.
  Section 703--visitor services--would raise $150 million for parks to 
help with badly needed repairs of existing park structure. One hundred 
percent of new fees go back to the park.
  I do not understand the opposition to this. We had testimony in 
support of it. It is simply ridiculous. The Park Service needs these 
funds to maintain operations.
  This seems like a blatant attempt to tear down the national parks and 
blame the Congress. The national parks are over $4 billion behind on 
maintenance. Here is a way to generate some relief.
  Section 704--Glacier Bay National Park--raises fees to support 
research and natural resource protection through a head tax on 
passengers that go into Glacier Bay. And the only way you can get in 
there is the cruise ships. It is a 90-day season. It starts Memorial 
Day and ends Labor Day.
  What is wrong with that? Never let it be said that this 
administration would let scientific data get between them and a 
political decision.
  Section 803--feral burros and horses. This is a Missouri issue; 
Senator Ashcroft, and Senator Bond.
  Notice the trend here, Mr. President, as we address the partisanship.
  This bill would prevent the slaughter of wild horses by the National 
Park Service. It would prevent it. Take a look at it, you 
environmentalists out there.
  Section 803--feral burros and horses; Ashcroft, and Bond. The bill 
would prevent the slaughter of horses by the National Park Service.
  It is not bad enough that the White House has declared an open 
hunting season on people of the West. They want to shoot the horses 
that they rode into the West on as well, it seems. It is the only 
conclusion I can come to.
  Section 806--Katmai National Park Agreements. It means a lot to 
Congressman Young. It authorizes the U.S. Geological Service to drill 
scientific core samples. This is volcanic research. In Alaska we have a 
pretty hot plate. It blows up occasionally. It is about ready to do it 
here. We have volcanoes. We have earthquakes. This is volcanic research 
authorization.

[[Page S11487]]

  What is wrong with that? Maybe Mr. Clinton needs to live at the base 
of an active volcano, and he would appreciate the need for the advanced 
volcano research. And where do you do it? You do it where you have 
volcanoes. You don't do it in Vermont or Washington, DC. You do it out 
on the Alaskan peninsula.
  That is what this is all about. They object. They want to veto this 
over that.
  I hope the American public would just be indignant for picking out 
these--well, you have to judge for yourselves.
  Section 811--expenditures of funds outside the boundary of Rocky 
Mountain National Park.
  That is rather interesting because that again focuses in on the great 
State of Colorado--Senator Campbell, and Senator Brown.
  It simply allows the National Park Service to build a visitors center 
outside the park, mostly with private funds. They don't want that.
  Section 815--National Park Service administrative reform--provides 
authorities which the National Park Service has requested for years--
aid parks in protection of resources and provide facilities for 
employees; provides facilities for National Park Service employees; 
provides Senate confirmation of the National Park Service Director.
  In keeping with that theme, not only evidently does this 
administration--the President--not trust his park employees, now he 
wants them to live under substandard conditions, which a lot of them 
are doing.
  So what we have attempted to do--this isn't the Senator from Alaska 
doing this. This is a process that occurred in our committee by the 
introduction of the bill, hearings held, voting it out to the floor, 
and putting it into the package. That is the process. We had a process, 
not like the inequities in the Utah land where there was no process.
  Section 816--Mineral King--a California issue--extends summer cabin 
leases. I am not familiar with it--totally discretionary by the 
Secretary.
  Opposition to this provision I think is simply ridiculous. The Park 
Service needs these funds to maintain operations.
  This seems like a blatant attempt to tear down the national parks and 
blame the Congress, I guess.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I wonder if the Senator will yield.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I would be happy to yield. But I want to finish my 
statement, and then I would be happy to yield for a question.
  Mineral King--I want to finish that. That is a California issue--
extends summer cabin leases totally discretionary by the Secretary.
  Again, I can only assume that the President does not trust his 
Secretary of the Interior or his Park Service folks to do what, 
obviously, a majority of the committee felt was the right thing.
  This bill, of course, gives them complete control.
  Section 818--the Calumet Ecological Park--that is Senator Simon and 
Senator Moseley-Braun--a study to extend the I and M Canal National 
Heritage Corridor to incorporate a large portion of Chicago.
  I am not conversant on that. But it certainly sounds reasonable.
  Section 819--they want stricken--acquisition of certain property in 
Santa Cruz.
  There are goats evidently that are ruining the island. Provisions in 
this bill would allow the National Park Service to address the removal 
of the goats from the island and try to restore a more pristine 
condition. It does not authorize the shooting of the goats, I might 
add. This portion of the island that is not under Government management 
I am told looks like certain areas of Afghanistan. The remainder of 
this island needs to be protected.

  Section 1021--the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. This is 
a major issue for one Senator, Senator Campbell.
  It formally creates a recreation area. Changes monument status to a 
park. Creates a BLM conservation area. Creates 22,000 acres of 
wilderness. Has all the four management agencies involved operating 
under one complex. Extensive hearings; extensive support; no questions 
about this. But it is on the list for veto.
  National Park Foundation--I believe Senator Lieberman, and myself--
provides for the opportunity for the private sector to sponsor the 
National Park Service similar to the sponsorship of the Olympic games. 
We accepted Senator Bumpers' six amendments which clarify that the 
sanctity of our National Park Service will be maintained. Clarifies 
that in no way the corporate entity can overcommercialize the Park 
Service.
  The national environmental community is ginning up opposition against 
this. Well, let them come up with the $4 billion that is necessary to 
provide adequate maintenance in our parks.
  They are quick to criticize. But when somebody comes up with a 
solution, obviously, they criticize but they don't counter with a 
response.
  Mount Hood--Senator Hatfield--1028--exchange between private company 
and Federal Government. Provisions already in the continuing 
resolution.
  Section 1029--creation of the Coquille Forest--Senator Hatfield--
equal value exchange creating a tribal forest.
  Section 1034--Natchez National Historical Park--creates an auxiliary 
area to the National Park Service unit, and provides $3 million for 
intermodal transportation system and a visitors center.
  Is this administration opposed to creating less intrusive modes of 
transportation to allow more people to be able to enjoy the magnificent 
national park system, or are they just opposed to Republicans getting 
something for their home States? I don't know whether this is just a 
partisan shot. But it sure looks like it.
  Section 1036--rural electric and telephone facilities--it authorizes 
the BLM to waive right-of-way rental charges for small rural electric 
and phone cooperatives.
  Section 1037. Federal borough recognition, payment in lieu of taxes. 
This allows the unorganized borough in Alaska to receive PILT payments. 
They are unorganized, few people living there; 60 percent of the 
Federal lands in Alaska are in this borough. The administration did not 
oppose this during the committee action, and the language was worked 
out in cooperation with them. The administration supported this in 
committee. This is a slap in the face to my State, the rural Alaskans 
in my State, who lose out on economic opportunity because of the 
massive amount of public lands in their backyards. What could possibly 
be the reason for opposing this other than it is in a State that 
probably will not vote for the President?
  Alternative processing, 1038.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's 5 minutes under the morning 
business agreement has expired.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I have about 3 more minutes. I wonder 
if I may be allowed to complete this statement.
  Mr. DORGAN. Reserving the right to object, and I shall not object, 
certainly, I would like to ask if we might lock in some time for a bill 
introduction following the completion of the work by the Senator from 
Alaska. I would like to be recognized for 12 minutes; the Senator from 
California, Mrs. Feinstein, for 12 minutes; and Senator Reid of Nevada, 
for 12 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is that a unanimous consent request?
  Mr. DORGAN. Yes. I make that in the form of a unanimous-consent 
request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Chair hears none, and 
it is so ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank my colleague.
  Section 1038. Alternative processing. This is an attempt to save the 
remaining jobs in my State, in southeastern Alaska in a timber area. 
Why doesn't the President just tell us: I want the remaining jobs to go 
away. I want the communities to go away, or simply suffer.
  That is what he is doing. What this would do would be to simply 
transfer timber that is being used as pulp, as a designation of that 
timber under an 8-year contract that is binding to be transferred over 
to sawmill use so that, as we lose our pulp mills, we can continue to 
have a supply under a contractual commitment to our sawmills. We only 
have four sawmills, three of which are running. The other one is not 
because they do not have enough logs.

[[Page S11488]]

  So we have taken our pound of flesh on this package. We have 
withdrawn what we hoped the administration would support and that was a 
15-year contract to allow a $200 million investment to bring our pulp 
mill up to environmental standard. They would not support that.
  Section 1039. Village land negotiations. This is another slap in the 
face of Alaska Native people. This provision just asks the Secretary to 
talk to five tiny Alaska villages that have waited more than 20 years 
for a conveyance that they were promised. This is a classic example of 
the Federal Government using the old bait-and-switch routine on 
America's native people and having no intention, evidently, of making 
good on the promises.
  Section 1040. Unrecognized communities in southeastern Alaska. That 
merely let five communities in Alaska establish as a group or urban 
native corporations. It involved no land transfer. It was a Alaska 
Native equal rights bill that gave these people simply an opportunity 
or the authority to proceed. No land transfer was associated with it--
another solution in which the Federal Government has turned its back on 
Alaska Natives.
  Section 1041. Gross Brothers. They served their country in uniform. 
They lost their deed. Their country is denying them the land they 
homesteaded, land they lived on.
  Section 1043. Credit for reconveyance. This would have allowed Cape 
Fox Corp. to transfer 320 acres of land near a hydro project back to 
the Forest Service. They would not have gotten any land in exchange. I 
do not know why they oppose that. We are giving the land back.
  Section 1044. Radio site report. A study to determine if radio sites 
are needed.
  Section 1045. Retention and maintenance of dams and weirs. Forces the 
Forest Service to maintain specific dams and weirs in the Immigrant 
Wilderness.
  Section 1046. Matching land conveyance, University of Alaska. This 
authorization is for the Secretary of the Interior to discuss--discuss, 
not mandate--a land grant with the University of Alaska, which has 
never received its Federal entitlement, on a matching basis with the 
State.
  Once again, this is an education President striking again against 
education, and I just do not understand the rationale. This is the only 
statewide university in our State. It is a land grant college. It has 
no land in the largest State.
  In conclusion, Mr. President, I want to advise my colleagues also 
that I have maintained that we have put this package in the most 
responsible form. It is ready to go. If it does not go, if it does not 
go in the package, it is not going to go. We will have to come back and 
start the process all over again. We will lose Presidio. We will lose 
the San Francisco Bay area cleanup. We will lose the issues in New 
Jersey, Sterling Forest. We will lose 126 sections of hard work that 
came out of the democratic process simply because, by executive 
mandate, this administration says they will not accept it. I find that 
unconscionable.

  I am very pleased with the action of our leader in introducing this. 
I hope we can address the concerns of the minority, and I am willing to 
work with the minority to try to do that in the time remaining.
  With that, I yield the floor. I thank the Chair and my friend for 
allowing me to continue. I appreciate their graciousness.
  Mr. DORGAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota is recognized 
for up to 12 minutes.
  Mr. DORGAN. I did not, when I asked the Senator to yield, intend to 
discuss goats or horses, or erupting volcanoes for that matter. I 
expect there will be a rejoinder at some point on the floor, but that 
was not my intention. I appreciate the courtesy of the Senator from 
Alaska.
  (The remarks of Mr. Dorgan and Mrs. Feinstein pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 2140 are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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