[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMERICAN LAND SOVEREIGNTY PROTECTION ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. BOB RILEY

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 7, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 901) to 
     preserve the sovereignty of the United States over public 
     lands and acquired lands owned by the United States, and to 
     preserve State sovereignty and private property rights in 
     non-Federal lands surrounding those public lands and acquired 
     lands:

  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 901, 
The American Land Sovereignty Act. No longer can we sit back and let 
the United Nations dictate US domestic policy or infringe on our 
national sovereignty.
  This is not a new argument. How many times do we have to hear about 
the abuses of the United Nations. In Alabama we hear that the United 
Nations is mired in one boondoggle after another, how we owe them $1 
billion, or how our troops are going to be forced to miss Christmas 
because some foreign dignitary believes it is reassuring to have our 
military guarding his personal possessions. Now we learn that the UN 
has declared certain pieces of United States soil to possess 
international status, independent of US sovereignty.
  This is becoming unacceptable and borders on ridiculous. How much of 
this are we going to stomach before we tell the UN that it does not 
control the United States. The People govern the United States, and, as 
Representatives, we here in Congress are given the honor of governing 
this nation on behalf of our constituents. We need to unequivocally 
inform the UN that this is our country, not theirs. We need to tell the 
UN that we are going to hold it under close scrutiny and question all 
its actions.
  Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 901. This important 
piece of legislation is a first step into curtailing the greedy 
clutches of the United Nations. It requires the Administration to seek 
Congressional approval before it can nominate any US land for inclusion 
on the World Heritage List. In addition, H.R. 901 stipulates that all 
lands that are to be included as a Biosphere Reserve must also be 
brought before Congress.
  This bill sends a clear message to the UN and President Clinton that 
we are not going to allow any organization to disregard American 
Sovereignty. If the UN wants to make decrees that affect the United 
States, it must learn that it has to go through proper channels and ask 
permission.
  The citizens of the United States, not the UN, will determine their 
own lives and their own futures.

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