[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8526-S8527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WARNER CANYON SKI HILL LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1997

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 136, H.R. 1944.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1944) to provide for a land exchange involving 
     the Warner Canyon Ski Area and other land in the State of 
     Oregon.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I urge the Senate to pass the bill H.R. 
1944, authorizing an exchange of lands between the U.S. Forest Service, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Lake County, OR.
  My colleague from Oregon, Senator Smith, joined me in introducing S. 
881 on June 11. The chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee, Senator Murkowski, was extremely helpful and the bill was 
included in a hearing on various land exchange bills on June 18th. The 
U.S. House passed the companion measure, sponsored by the chairman of 
the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Smith, on July 22. The 
Energy Committee reported the House bill yesterday, and I greatly 
appreciate the Chairman's excellent work to bring the bill to floor for 
final passage today.
  This legislation will go far to keep the Warner Canyon Ski Area of 
Lakeview, OR, in business. If ever there was such a thing as a 
community ski area, this is it. It is low tech. It is run by a non-
profit local organization. This legislation is clearly in the public 
interest of Lakeview, OR, and the Nation.

[[Page S8527]]

  This bill has important benefits to the Hart Mountain Antelope 
Refuge, as well. Management of our National Wildlife Refuges can be 
burdened when there are privately owned lands inside of a refuge 
boundary, and this measure allows the refuge to take ownership to more 
than 300 acres of county owned lands inside the refuge. With this 
acquisition we move closer to the permanent protection of this 
important Oregon wildlife refuge.
  I was pleased to be joined in this effort by Senator Gordon Smith, 
and I urge its passage.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill appear at 
the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1944) was deemed read the third time and passed.

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