[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 155 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11049-H11051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 136) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to
assist certain local school districts in the State of California in
providing educational services for students attending schools located
within Yosemite National Park, to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, to adjust the boundaries of Redwood National Park, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 136
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
TITLE I--YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS
Sec. 102. Payments for educational services.
Sec. 103. Authorization for park facilities to be located outside the
boundaries of Yosemite National Park.
TITLE II--RANCHO CORRAL DE TIERRA GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California.
TITLE III--REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Redwood National Park boundary adjustment.
TITLE I--YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS
SEC. 101. PAYMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.
(a) In General.--(1) For fiscal years 2006 through 2009,
the Secretary of the Interior may provide funds to the Bass
Lake Joint Union Elementary School District and the Mariposa
Unified School District in the State of California for
educational services to students--
(A) who are dependents of persons engaged in the
administration, operation, and maintenance of Yosemite
National Park; or
(B) who live within or near the park upon real property
owned by the United States.
(2) The Secretary's authority to make payments under this
section shall terminate if the State of California or local
education agencies do not continue to provide funding to the
schools referred to in subsection (a) at per student levels
that are no less than the amount provided in fiscal year
2005.
(b) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Payments made under this
section shall only be used to pay public employees for
educational services provided in accordance with subsection
(a). Payments may not be used for construction, construction
contracts, or major capital improvements.
(c) Limitation on Amount of Funds.--Payments made under
this section shall not exceed the lesser of--
(1) $400,000 in any fiscal year; or
[[Page H11050]]
(2) the amount necessary to provide students described in
subsection (a) with educational services that are normally
provided and generally available to students who attend
public schools elsewhere in the State of California.
(d) Source of Payments.--(1) Except as otherwise provided
in this subsection, the Secretary may use funds available to
the National Park Service from appropriations, donations, or
fees.
(2) Funds from the following sources shall not be used to
make payments under this section:
(A) Any law authorizing the collection or expenditure of
entrance or use fees at units of the National Park System,
including--
(i) the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16
U.S.C. 460l-4 et seq.); and
(ii) the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16
U.S.C. 6801 et seq.).
(B) Any unexpended receipts collected through--
(i) the recreational fee demonstration program established
under section 315 of the Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6a
note; Public Law 104-134); or
(ii) the national park passport program established under
section 602 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of
1998 (16 U.S.C. 5992).
(C) Emergency appropriations for flood recovery at Yosemite
National Park.
(3)(A) The Secretary may use an authorized funding source
to make payments under this section only if the funding
available to Yosemite National Park from such source (after
subtracting any payments to the school districts authorized
under this section) is greater than or equal to the amount
made available to the park for the prior fiscal year, or in
fiscal year 2005, whichever is greater.
(B) It is the sense of Congress that any payments made
under this section should not result in a reduction of funds
to Yosemite National Park from any specific funding source,
and that with respect to appropriated funds, funding levels
should reflect annual increases in the park's operating base
funds that are generally made to units of the National Park
System.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION FOR PARK FACILITIES TO BE LOCATED
OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL
PARK.
(a) Funding Authority for Transportation Systems and
External Facilities.--Section 814(c) of the Omnibus Parks and
Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 346e) is
amended--
(1) in the heading by inserting ``AND YOSEMITE NATIONAL
PARK'' after ``ZION NATIONAL PARK'';
(2) in the first sentence--
(A) by inserting ``and Yosemite National Park'' after
``Zion National Park''; and
(B) by inserting ``for transportation systems or'' after
``appropriated funds''; and
(3) in the second sentence by striking ``facilities'' and
inserting ``systems or facilities''.
(b) Clarifying Amendment for Transportation Fee
Authority.--Section 501 of the National Parks Omnibus
Management Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 5981) is amended in the
first sentence by striking ``service contract'' and inserting
``service contract, cooperative agreement, or other
contractual arrangement''.
TITLE II--RANCHO CORRAL DE TIERRA GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Rancho Corral de Tierra
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment
Act''.
SEC. 202. GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, CALIFORNIA.
Section 2(a) of Public Law 92-589 (16 U.S.C. 460bb-1(a)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``The recreation area shall comprise'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) Initial lands.--The recreation area shall comprise'';
and
(2) by striking ``The following additional lands are also''
and all that follows through the period at the end of the
subsection and inserting the following new paragraphs:
``(2) Additional lands.--In addition to the lands described
in paragraph (1), the recreation area shall include the
following:
``(A) The parcels numbered by the Assessor of Marin County,
California, 119-040-04, 119-040-05, 119-040-18, 166-202-03,
166-010-06, 166-010-07, 166-010-24, 166-010-25, 119-240-19,
166-010-10, 166-010-22, 119-240-03, 119-240-51, 119-240-52,
119-240-54, 166-010-12, 166-010-13, and 119-235-10.
``(B) Lands and waters in San Mateo County generally
depicted on the map entitled `Sweeney Ridge Addition, Golden
Gate National Recreation Area', numbered NRA GG-80,000-A, and
dated May 1980.
``(C) Lands acquired under the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area Addition Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 460bb-1 note;
Public Law 102-299).
``(D) Lands generally depicted on the map entitled
`Additions to Golden Gate National Recreation Area', numbered
NPS-80-076, and dated July 2000/PWR-PLRPC.
``(E) Lands generally depicted on the map entitled `Rancho
Corral de Tierra Additions to the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area', numbered NPS-80,079E, and dated March 2004.
``(3) Acquisition limitation.--The Secretary may acquire
land described in paragraph (2)(E) only from a willing
seller.''.
TITLE III--REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Redwood National Park
Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005''.
SEC. 302. REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
Section 2(a) of the Act of Public Law 90-545 (16 U.S.C.
79b(a)) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ``(a) The area'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
the following: ``(a)(1) The Redwood National Park consists of
the land generally depicted on the map entitled `Redwood
National Park, Revised Boundary', numbered 167/60502, and
dated February, 2003.'';
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by
paragraph (1)) the following:
``(2) The map referred to in paragraph (1) shall be--
``(A) on file and available for public inspection in the
appropriate offices of the National Park Service; and
``(B) provided by the Secretary of the Interior to the
appropriate officers of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties,
California.''; and
(3) in the second sentence--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(3) The Secretary;''and
(B) by striking ``one hundred and six thousand acres'' and
inserting ``133,000 acres''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 136, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein of
California, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the
southern boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and
adjust the boundary of the Redwood National State Park to include new
lands acquired by the State of California. In addition, S. 136 contains
a provision providing supplemental funding and other services necessary
to assist three schools in my congressional district located within
Yosemite National Park.
These three schools serve the children of Yosemite National Park, the
Park Service, and concession employees, and the schools are located a
significant distance from other public schools in Mariposa and Madera
counties. Because the schools are small, and California bases its State
funding on the number of students, the schools do not receive
sufficient State funds to operate.
S. 136 addresses this problem by giving the Yosemite National Park
superintendent the authority to use a portion of its existing budget to
help provide funds for the education of these children whose parents
work in the Park. As the author of the House version of this language,
I know firsthand that it will mean a great deal to the lives of the
families in Yosemite National Park.
Also with respect to S. 136, I would like to extend my appreciation
to Senator Dianne Feinstein for her commitment and assistance in
helping pass this bill in the Senate, and I do urge adoption of the
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, my good friend, the gentleman
from California, has already explained the purpose of Senate bill 136,
which passed the Senate on July 26, 2005, and includes two measures
that were sponsored in the House by my Democratic colleagues from
California, Congressman Tom Lantos and Congressman Mike Thompson.
The boundary adjustment at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
has involved considerable time and effort. I want to commend my
colleague from California (Mr. Lantos) for his leadership and
persistence in making
[[Page H11051]]
this important boundary addition a reality, and also note the help and
support Leader Pelosi and the other members of the Bay Area delegation.
Likewise, I would commend my colleague from California (Mr. Thompson)
for his efforts on behalf of that portion of the legislation involving
Redwood National Park. Mr. Speaker, we support Senate bill 136 and urge
adoption of the legislation by the House today.
Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to yield such time as he may
consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank my distinguished
colleague and good friend from Colorado for yielding and for his
extraordinary work on all environmental and similar issues.
I rise in strong support of S. 136 and its provisions for the Rancho
Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary
Adjustment Act. Our bill adds approximately 4,700 acres to the Golden
Gate National Recreation Area, and it also has provisions for the
Redwood National Park and Yosemite National Park.
Mr. Speaker, I first introduced the GGNRA bill in the 107th Congress
with the support of my friends, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and the
entire Bay Area Congressional delegation.
One of the Nation's most visited national parks, GGNRA, includes
well-known places like Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, Fort Funston,
Fort Mason, the Muir Woods National Monument, the Fort Point National
Historic Site, and, of course, the Presidio of San Francisco.
Our Rancho Corral de Tierra addition includes one of the largest
undeveloped parcels of the San Mateo County coast south of the City of
San Francisco. It is spectacularly beautiful territory.
Our permanent protection will preserve unique coastal habitats of
threatened, rare, and endangered plant and animal species. It will curb
future disruptive development along the Pacific coast. It will provide
important scenic and recreational opportunities for millions of our
residents and visitors from all across the globe.
The Rancho Corral de Tierra parcel, with its relatively untouched
upper elevations, preserves habitat for several threatened and
endangered plant and animal species. It contains four important coastal
watersheds that provide riparian corridors for steel head trout, coho
salmon, and other aquatic species.
{time} 1500
The owner of Rancho Corral de Tierra is the Peninsula Open Space
Trust, or POST, a remarkable organization which paid $29.75 million to
save the site from development. POST is a land conservancy trust with a
remarkable track record of protecting open space in the Bay Area. POST
will help preserve the area by donating from public and private
contributions a substantial amount of the Federal acquisition costs of
Rancho Corral de Tierra.
Our bill also authorizes the National Park Service to include over
500 acres of land in the Devil's Slide section of our coastal highway,
the scenic highway that winds along the entire California coast.
It will include approximately 300 acres of the Martini Creek-Devil's
Slide Bypass right-of-way originally purchased by Caltrans to build a
highway across Montara Mountain. When San Mateo County voters
overwhelming decided to build the Devil's Slide Tunnel rather than the
bypass in 1996, the right-of-way became obsolete. This property
contains approximately 300 acres that Caltrans will now be able to
donate to the National Park Service.
Preserving our unique natural areas for our children, and in my case
our grandchildren, is one of the highest priorities that I have as a
Member of Congress. I would like to thank all those who have helped
bring this important legislation to the House for consideration today:
my dear friend and distinguished colleague, Senator Feinstein, has been
and continues to be an unfailing advocate and leader for protecting
valuable land in our State. She has been a tremendous partner for me to
work with on this matter. The Bay Area congressional delegation has
been united and unwavering in their support, including the Democratic
leader, Ms. Pelosi, Senator Boxer, and my colleagues Ms. Eshoo, Mr.
Honda, Ms. Zoe Lofgren, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Tauscher, Ms. Lee, Mr. George
Miller, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. Thompson.
I would also like to thank the Committee on Resources for their long
efforts on this legislation, including Chairman Pombo and the ranking
member, Mr. Rahall. On the National Parks Subcommittee, the former
chairman, Mr. Radanovich, and the current chairman, Mr. Pearce, and the
ranking member, Mrs. Christensen, have been enormously helpful.
I would like to extend a special thank you to Audrey Rust, president
of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a prominent leader on preservation
issues in the Bay Area and across the Nation. Without her leadership
and her accomplishments, we certainly would not be in a position to be
here today to protect this property.
I also want to thank the many government officials who have actively
participated in support of this work including the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors, the California Department of Transportation, the
National Park Service and Brian O'Neill General Superintendent at the
Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Many members of the professional staff have also dedicated their
expertise to bringing us here today and I to want acknowledge and thank
Rick Healey and Rob Howarth of the House Resources Committee, David
Brooks of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Nicole
Brownlee and John Watts of Mrs. Feinstein's staff, Chris Walker of my
staff, Daphne Muehle of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, and Chris
Powell of the National Park Service.
And most importantly, in conclusion, I want to thank my friends and
neighbors of the Bay Area, particularly those in the 12th Congressional
District, who envision a future that includes the protection of the
park for generations yet unborn. Without their enlightened support for
preservation, we would be unable to accomplish this incredible success
that we have achieved here today.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 136, the Rancho
Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary
Adjustment Act, which will add approximately 4,700 acres to the Golden
Gate National Recreation Area, also known as the GGNRA.
There has been a long journey in the effort to secure the passage of
this bill. I was proud to cosponsor the legislation when Congressman
Lantos first introduced it in May of 2001 and testified in the Senate
Subcommittee on National Parks in support of the bill 5 long years ago.
The bill sets aside precious environmental spaces for the benefit of
the broader community. It has undergone changes over the years to
safeguard local agriculture in San Mateo County, and as a result, there
is broad local support for this legislation.
These efforts don't just happen, it takes people of vision at the
local level to recognize the need, to develop a response, and rally
support. We have the best, Audrey Rust, the President of the Peninsula
Open Space Trust, POST.
Ms. Rust has demonstrated great determination and flexibility in the
many years of working on this bill, and she and POST deserve our
thanks, recognition, and gratitude.
Acquiring this land is an environmental victory because it is habitat
for several rare, threatened, endangered species. Future generations
will respect and enjoy the fruits of our efforts and that's why I urge
all my colleagues to vote for this critical legislation.
I salute Representative Lantos for his work and thank Senator
Feinstein and Representative Radanovich for their efforts to see this
legislation through.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 136.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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