[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 122 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES 107, CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS 
                          FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BARBARA CUBIN

                               of wyoming

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2004

  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, it is with frustration that I rise today to 
oppose H.J. Res. 107, to make continuing appropriations for Fiscal Year 
2005, as it is currently drafted.
  I want to be clear--I am not opposing the need for, or principle of, 
this resolution. I, like any of my colleagues, do not believe our 
nation's federal agencies and numerous, federally-funded programs 
should suffer just because Congress has failed to reach agreements on 
12 of the 13 appropriations measures.
  I do, however, take issue with one specific provision attached to the 
Continuing Resolution (CR) which extends, for the duration of the CR, 
fee collection authority under the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977. Commonly known as the Abandoned Mine 
Land or ``AML'' program, this fee collection authority was intended to 
expire at the end of this fiscal year, or tomorrow, Sept. 30, 2004.
  Layered in bureaucracy, the AML program is one badly in need of 
reform. Believing in the principle of the AML program, however, I have 
been working diligently with my colleagues from Pennsylvania, West 
Virginia, other members of the Resources Committee, Appropriators, 
Leadership in this body, and the Administration in the effort to 
provide that much needed reform before this program expired. 
Unfortunately, largely due to election year politics and an 
unwillingness to meet a reasonable compromise by some parties involved, 
comprehensive reform legislation still lags at the Committee level.
  As we continue to negotiate such a comprehensive fix, extending this 
broken program as the bill under consideration today will do, does not 
move us any closer to finding a solution that best addresses the needs 
of all parties involved. In addition to accumulating debts to other 
certified states and tribes, Wyoming alone is owed approximately $400 
million, as authorized by SMCRA. Notwithstanding that fiscal 
obligation, Wyoming has never received what it is due. The AML 
extension language included in H.J. Res 107 only further exacerbates 
this failure to make good on the nation's responsibility to my home 
State of Wyoming.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I would prefer not to oppose this resolution 
today. Unfortunately, the decision to include the AML extension 
language in H.J. Res 107, despite my continued and consistent 
opposition to such an action, provided me with no other option but a 
``no'' vote.