[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HOMESTAKE MINE CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. HANSON. Mr. Speaker, the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce also have a jurisdictional 
interest in S. 1389, and it is with the cooperation of Chairman Don 
Young and Chairman Bill Tauzin that the bill was considered in such an 
expeditiously fashion by the House of Representatives. I have letters 
reflecting this jurisdictional understanding between our three 
Committees regarding H.R. 3299, a nearly identical bill, and I ask that 
they be placed in the Record at the appropriate place during debate on 
S. 1389.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                Washington, DC, December 18, 2001.
     The Hon. Don Young,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Young: I am writing to request that the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure waive its 
     right to seek a sequential referral of H.R. 3299, a bill 
     introduced by Mr. Thune regarding the disposition of the 
     Homestake Gold Mine in South Dakota.
       While the Committee on Resources received sole jurisdiction 
     of this bill upon its introduction, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure would receive a sequential 
     referral upon passage because of certain provisions in the 
     text.
       I acknowledge that your waiver of this right to a 
     sequential referral does not waive the rights of the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the future 
     on similar legislation. Further, I would recognize the right 
     of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to seek 
     conferees on any provisions of H.R. 3299, or similar 
     legislation, that are within its jurisdiction during any 
     House-Senate conference that may be convened. Accordingly, I 
     would support your request for the appointment of conferees 
     should such a conference be convened.
       Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James V. Hansen,
                                 Chairman--Committee on Resources.


         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                Washington, DC, December 18, 2001.
     Hon. James V. Hansen,
     Chairman, Committee on Resources, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the opportunity to review, 
     on behalf of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure, the amendment to H.R. 3299, the ``Homestake 
     Mine Conveyance Act of 2001,'' that the Committee on 
     Resources plans to bring to the floor under suspension of the 
     rules.
       The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has a 
     valid claim to jurisdiction over section 104 of the 
     amendment, as it relates to environmental reviews by the 
     Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 
     response actions to correct conditions that may present an 
     imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or 
     environment, and section 106 of the amendment, as it relates 
     to liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act and the Federal Water 
     Pollution Control Act.
       The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     recognizes the importance of this legislation. In view of 
     your desire to move H.R. 3299 to the floor in an expeditious 
     fashion, I do not intend to seek a sequential referral of 
     H.R. 3299. However, this should in no way be viewed as a 
     waiver of jurisdiction. I would appreciate your 
     acknowledgement of the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure over sections 104 and 106 
     of the amendment and an acknowledgement of the Transportation 
     and Infrastructure Committee's right to seek conferees in the 
     event that this legislation is considered in a House-Senate 
     conference.
       I look forward to working with you on this bill.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Don Young,
                                                         Chairman.


                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                Washington, DC, December 18, 2001.
     The Hon. James V. Hansen,
     Chairman, Committee on Resources, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hansen: I am writing with regard to H.R. 
     3299, the Homestake Mine Conveyance Act of 2001.
       I recognize your desire to bring this bill before the House 
     in an expeditious manner. Accordingly, I will not exercise 
     the Committee's right to a referral. By agreeing to waive its 
     consideration of the bill, however, the Energy and Commerce 
     Committee does not waive its jurisdiction over H.R. 3299. In 
     addition, the Energy and commerce Committee reserves its 
     authority to seek conferees on the provisions of the bill 
     that are within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate 
     conference that may be convened on this or similar 
     legislation. I ask for your commitment to support any request 
     by the Energy and Commerce Committee for conferees on H.R. 
     3299 or similar legislation.
       I request that you include this letter and your response in 
     the Congressional Record during debate on the bill. Thank you 
     for your attention to these matters.
       Sincerely,
                                            W.J. ``Billy'' Tauzin,
                                                         Chairman.

                                 ______
                                 

                                         House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                Washington, DC, December 19, 2001.
     The Hon. W.J. ``Billy'' Tauzin,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rayburn House 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     3299, the Homestake Mine Conveyance Act of 2001. I agree that 
     the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee has a 
     jurisdictional interest in H.R. 3299, and that by not seeking 
     a sequential referral of the bill, you do not compromise your 
     jurisdictional claim. I will also support your request to be 
     named as a conferee on this bill or the similar Senate bill 
     should one become necessary.
       As you know, yesterday the House of Representatives passed 
     S. 1389, the Senate companion measure to H.R. 3299, with an 
     amendment under suspension of the rules. S. 1389 had been 
     held at the desk and thus was not referred to any House 
     committee. However, the two bills are very similar. To 
     clarify the committee jurisdiction over this matter, I will 
     place your letter and my response in the Congressional Record 
     under the extension of remark authority granted during 
     consideration of S. 1389.
       Thank you again for your cooperation on this issue. I am 
     sure that Congressman John Thune, the author of H.R. 3299, is 
     also very grateful.
       Sincerely,
                                                  James V. Hansen,
                                                         Chairman.

     

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