[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.
____________________