[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3240-S3244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse):
  S. 1414. A bill to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, along with my colleague Senator 
Whitehouse, I am introducing the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act 
of 2015.
  This legislation seeks to extend simple fairness to our State's 
fishermen by giving Rhode Island voting representation on the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery-Management Council MAFMC. The council manages stocks, 
like squid, which are critically important to the fishing industry in 
my State. Rhode Island's commercial fishing industry depends more on 
MAFMC-managed stocks than those managed by the New England Fisheries 
Management Council, where Rhode Island is a member. More than that, 
Rhode Island has a larger stake in the Mid-Atlantic fishery than many 
of the states that currently hold seats on the MAFMC.
  This is not a new proposal, nor is it unprecedented. North Carolina 
was added to the MAFMC through an amendment to the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act in 1996. In addition, the last reauthorization of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act required a 
report on this issue. Now it is time to make this change.
  I was pleased in the last Congress that this legislation was included 
in the Commerce Committee's discussion draft for the reauthorization of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as well as in the reauthorization bill 
introduced by then-Oceans Subcommittee Chairman Mark Begich at the end 
of last year. I hope that in this Congress we can take this commonsense 
step to bring fairness to Rhode Island's fishermen.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. GRASSLEY:
  S. 1418. A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide an 
Inspector General for the judicial branch, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Judicial 
Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act, a bill that would establish 
within the judicial branch an Office of Inspector General to assist the 
Judiciary with its ethical obligations as well as to ensure taxpayer 
dollars are not lost to waste, fraud, or abuse. This bill will help 
ensure that our Federal judicial system remains free of corruption, 
bias, and hypocrisy.
  The facts demonstrate that the institution of the Inspector General 
has been crucial in detecting, exposing and deterring problems within 
our government. The job of the Inspector General is to be the first 
line of defense against fraud, waste and abuse. In collaboration with 
whistleblowers, Inspectors General have been extremely effective in 
their efforts to expose and help correct these wrongs.
  That is why, during my many years in Congress, I have worked hard to 
strengthen the oversight role of Inspectors General throughout the 
Federal government. I have come to rely on IGs and whistleblowers, to 
ensure that our tax dollars are spent according to the letter and 
spirit of the law. When that doesn't happen, we in Congress need to 
know about it and take corrective action.
  During the past fiscal year, Congress appropriated nearly $7 billion 
in taxpayer money to the Federal judiciary. To put this in context, the 
Small Business Administration and the Corporation for National and 
Community Service each received a similar or less amount than the 
judiciary. Yet both of these entities have an Office of Inspector 
General. If we in Congress believed that these entities could use an 
Inspector General, I cannot see why the Judiciary wouldn't deserve the 
same assistance.
  But there is an additional reason why the Judiciary needs an 
Inspector General. The fact remains that the current practice of self-
regulation of judges with respect to ethics and the judicial code of 
conduct has time and time again proven inadequate. I would point out to 
my colleagues two recent events here in the Senate that support this 
conclusion.
  In the past 6 years, the Senate received articles of impeachment for 
not one but two Federal judges. In the first case, former Judge Samuel 
B. Kent, although charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, pled 
guilty to obstruction of justice. Who did he obstruct? Who did he lie 
to? He did this to his fellow judges, who were assembled to investigate 
the allegations of his obscene and criminal behavior. But it took a 
criminal investigation by the Department of Justice to uncover his 
false statements to his colleagues as well as substantiate the 
horrendous claims made against him.
  In the second case, the Senate found former Judge G. Thomas Porteous, 
Jr. guilty on multiple articles of impeachment, including accepting 
money from attorneys who had a case pending before him in his court and 
committing perjury by falsifying his name on bankruptcy filings. Once 
again, this Judge's misbehavior came to light through a Federal 
criminal investigation, after which another judicial committee had to 
be organized to investigate their fellow judge.
  What's more, in each case the disgraced judge tried to game the 
system in order to retain his $174,000 salary. Rather than resign their 
commissions, each first tried to claim disability status that would 
allow each to continue to receive payment, even if in prison. Then both 
played chicken with Congress daring us to strip them of their pay by 
impeaching and convicting them. I am pleased that we put our foot down 
and said ``No.''
  This bill would establish an Office of Inspector General for the 
judicial branch. The IG's responsibilities would include conducting 
investigations of

[[Page S3241]]

possible judicial misconduct, investigating waste fraud and abuse, and 
recommending changes in laws and regulations governing the federal 
judiciary. The bill would require the IG to provide the Chief Justice 
and Congress with an annual report on its activities, as well as refer 
matters that may constitute a criminal violation to the Department of 
Justice. In addition, the bill establishes whistleblower protections 
for judicial branch employees.
  Ensuring a fair and independent judiciary is critical to our 
Constitutional checks and balances. Judges are supposed to maintain 
impartiality. They are supposed to be free from conflicts of interest. 
An independent watchdog for the federal judiciary will help its members 
comply with the ethics rules and promote credibility within the 
judicial branch of government. Whistleblower protections for judiciary 
branch employees will help keep the judiciary accountable. The Judicial 
Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act will not only help ensure 
continued public confidence in our Federal courts and keep them beyond 
reproach, it will strengthen our judicial branch.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1418

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Judicial Transparency and 
     Ethics Enhancement Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.

       (a) Establishment and Duties.--Part III of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

        ``CHAPTER 60--INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

``Sec.
``1021. Establishment.
``1022. Appointment, term, and removal of Inspector General.
``1023. Duties.
``1024. Powers.
``1025. Reports.
``1026. Whistleblower protection.

     ``Sec. 1021. Establishment

       ``There is established for the judicial branch of the 
     Government the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial 
     Branch (in this chapter referred to as the `Office').

     ``Sec. 1022. Appointment, term, and removal of Inspector 
       General

       ``(a) Appointment.--The head of the Office shall be the 
     Inspector General, who shall be appointed by the Chief 
     Justice of the United States after consultation with the 
     majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker 
     and minority leader of the House of Representatives.
       ``(b) Term.--The Inspector General shall serve for a term 
     of 4 years and may be reappointed by the Chief Justice of the 
     United States for any number of additional terms.
       ``(c) Removal.--The Inspector General may be removed from 
     office by the Chief Justice of the United States. The Chief 
     Justice shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to 
     both Houses of Congress.

     ``Sec. 1023. Duties

       ``With respect to the judicial branch, the Office shall--
       ``(1) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the 
     judicial branch (other than the United States Supreme Court) 
     under chapter 16 that may require oversight or other action 
     within the judicial branch or by Congress;
       ``(2) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the 
     United States Supreme Court that may require oversight or 
     other action within the judicial branch or by Congress;
       ``(3) conduct and supervise audits and investigations;
       ``(4) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; and
       ``(5) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing 
     the judicial branch.

     ``Sec. 1024. Powers

       ``(a) Powers.--In carrying out the duties of the Office, 
     the Inspector General shall have the power to--
       ``(1) make investigations and reports;
       ``(2) obtain information or assistance from any Federal, 
     State, or local governmental agency, or other entity, or unit 
     thereof, including all information kept in the course of 
     business by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the 
     judicial councils of circuits, the Administrative Office of 
     the United States Courts, and the United States Sentencing 
     Commission;
       ``(3) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and 
     testimony of such witnesses, and the production of such 
     books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and 
     documents, which subpoena, in the case of contumacy or 
     refusal to obey, shall be enforceable by civil action;
       ``(4) administer to or take from any person an oath, 
     affirmation, or affidavit;
       ``(5) employ such officers and employees, subject to the 
     provisions of title 5, governing appointments in the 
     competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
     classification and General Schedule pay rates;
       ``(6) obtain services as authorized by section 3109 of 
     title 5 at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate for 
     a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
     section 5315 of such title; and
       ``(7) the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in 
     advance by appropriations Acts, to enter into contracts and 
     other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other 
     services with public agencies and with private persons, and 
     to make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the 
     duties of the Office.
       ``(b) Chapter 16 Matters.--The Inspector General shall not 
     commence an investigation under section 1023(1) until the 
     denial of a petition for review by the judicial council of 
     the circuit under section 352(c) of this title or upon 
     referral or certification to the Judicial Conference of the 
     United States of any matter under section 354(b) of this 
     title.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Inspector General shall not have the 
     authority to--
       ``(1) investigate or review any matter that is directly 
     related to the merits of a decision or procedural ruling by 
     any judge, justice, or court; or
       ``(2) punish or discipline any judge, justice, or court.

     ``Sec. 1025. Reports

       ``(a) When To Be Made.--The Inspector General shall--
       ``(1) make an annual report to the Chief Justice and to 
     Congress relating to the activities of the Office; and
       ``(2) make prompt reports to the Chief Justice and to 
     Congress on matters that may require action by the Chief 
     Justice or Congress.
       ``(b) Sensitive Matter.--If a report contains sensitive 
     matter, the Inspector General may so indicate and Congress 
     may receive that report in closed session.
       ``(c) Duty To Inform Attorney General.--In carrying out the 
     duties of the Office, the Inspector General shall report 
     expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever the Inspector 
     General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a 
     violation of Federal criminal law.

     ``Sec. 1026. Whistleblower protection

       ``(a) In General.--No officer, employee, agent, contractor, 
     or subcontractor in the judicial branch may discharge, 
     demote, threaten, suspend, harass, or in any other manner 
     discriminate against an employee in the terms and conditions 
     of employment because of any lawful act done by the employee 
     to provide information, cause information to be provided, or 
     otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any possible 
     violation of Federal law or regulation, or misconduct, by a 
     judge, justice, or any other employee in the judicial branch, 
     which may assist the Inspector General in the performance of 
     duties under this chapter.
       ``(b) Civil Action.--An employee injured by a violation of 
     subsection (a) may, in a civil action, obtain appropriate 
     relief.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     chapters for part III of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``60.  Inspector General for the judicial branch............1021''.....

                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. NELSON (for himself and Mr. Markey):
  S. 1430. A bill to improve the ability of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the Coast Guard, and costal States to 
sustain healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems by maintaining and 
sustaining their capabilities relating to oil spill preparedness, 
prevention, response, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, today the U.S. Coast Guard and the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are responding to yet 
another oilspill in the water. In a moment, I will bring out a 
photograph which shows the fresh crude oil on the beach of Refugio 
State Park in California. This oilspill brings back the images from 5 
years ago of the oil-coated pelicans and tar-stained beaches, which 
were once sugar white, covered with gooey mats of oil from the 
Deepwater Horizon oilspill. Although the spill happened in 2010, a lot 
of that oil is still sloshing around out there in the gulf.
  Last week, the Department of the Interior told us that the oil 
leaking in the gulf since 2004 from Taylor Energy wells could continue 
for a century or more ``if left unchecked.''
  This is the oilspill that just happened in the last few days. It is 
fresh crude, and it is on the beach in California. Of course, when I 
see this kind of picture, it brings me back to that experience all of 
us on the gulf coast had 5 years ago, and we wouldn't wish that upon 
anybody. Remember, to begin with, they said, Oh, it is just a few 
hundred barrels of oil, even though it was ruptured 1 mile beneath the 
surface of the water.

[[Page S3242]]

Then we got the streaming video. We actually put that video on my Web 
site. The chairman of the environment committee, Senator Boxer, put it 
up on her committee Web site. Once scientists could see how much was 
flowing, they could calculate, and then they saw that it wasn't going 
to be a few hundred or even a thousand barrels of oil a day; it was 
approaching something like 50 times that.

  We know what, in fact, happened. Almost 5 million barrels of oil was 
spilled. The court in Louisiana--the Federal court that is hearing this 
case against BP--indeed has concluded that those who are going to be 
held responsible under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 will be 
responsible for somewhere around 4 million barrels. That is court-
decided.
  A lot of that oil is still out there. Yet, appallingly, today the 
economy and the environment of the State of Florida are again under 
attack. I have just been informed that Senators from Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Texas are seeking to invite oil rigs within 50 miles 
of Florida's coastline.
  Now, of course, that goes against all logic. It is certainly not what 
the people of Florida want and it is not what the Department of the 
Interior has said is appropriate or necessary under the next 5-year 
leasing plan.
  Florida is a unique State. This is a photo of a dead dolphin covered 
with oil that is just another casualty of what we are seeing that is 
happening this week.
  The reason I am here today with these Senators who are threatening 
Florida is because in 2006, in a bipartisan way, the other Senator from 
Florida, Mr. Martinez, a Republican, and I, a Democrat, joined together 
to put in law that the Outer Continental Shelf off Florida is off-
limits to oil drilling. We were successful in doing that, even though 
no other Outer Continental Shelf off the United States is off-limits. 
In the administration's 5-year plans, they have complied with that 
because the off-limits to oil drilling is until the year 2022. 
Therefore, in the next 5-year plan, from 2017 to 2022, the 
administration honored that. It is, after all, the law.
  But why is Florida different than others? Well, in the first place, 
there is no oil off of Florida. People think of where the oil is. It is 
off of Louisiana. The sediment came down the Mississippi River for 
millions of years and was compacted by the Earth's crust, and that 
formed these oil deposits. There is a lot of oil in the central Gulf of 
Mexico and, indeed, that is what is happening. A lot of oil is being 
produced there. That is the first reason. There is not oil off of 
Florida.
  But there are other reasons, not the least of which is of all the 
Gulf Coast States, Florida has the most beaches and, therefore, the 
economy is directly charged with the fact of having those pristine, 
sugary white beaches as such an attraction for our guests to come to 
Florida and enjoy nature's seaside.
  Well, we found out, as a result of the gulf oilspill, that even 
though just a little oil reached Florida--Pensacola Beach was 
blackened, tar mats came into Pensacola Bay, Destin got oil on the 
beach, and some tar balls got as far east as Panama City Beach. So 
people saw those pictures of oil covering the beach and they thought 
that was the entire State of Florida and they didn't come. For a whole 
season, the guests, the visitors, the tourists did not come. So the 
motels were not filled and the restaurants were not filled and the 
drycleaners, and all the ancillary businesses associated with a tourism 
economy on the coast, they did not come.
  Now, there is also, obviously, the environmental interests because we 
do have a lot of the bays and estuaries and marsh grasses where 
critters spawn so much of the marine life in the Gulf of Mexico, and it 
starts in these bays and estuaries. That is obviously a reason as well. 
But there is a special reason why we have kept oil off our shores. 
Bottlenose dolphins in the gulf have been dying at unprecedented rates 
over the last 5 years. This is one of those sick dolphins. So from the 
BP spill, science is showing, in fact, what we intuitively knew. And 
just yesterday, a team of scientists confirmed the Deepwater Horizon 
oilspill contributed to the highest number of dead bottlenose dolphin 
strandings on record in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
  So it certainly makes little sense that we would seek more drilling 
in even riskier areas when we are still picking up the pieces from the 
last major oilspill.
  Today, I am introducing legislation that implements many of the hard 
lessons learned in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon BP oilspill. This 
legislation is going to make sure that NOAA and the Coast Guard have 
the tools to prevent, to prepare for, and to respond to marine 
oilspills.
  The bill is going to give gulf coast communities a seat at the table 
in the decisions about oil drilling that affects their way of life. It 
will strengthen State-level planning for oilspills or seismic 
exploration. But, most importantly, the bill will protect Florida from 
Big Oil's reach by keeping the eastern Gulf of Mexico off-limits beyond 
2022 and in statute until 2027.
  Back in 2006, we passed the bipartisan Gulf of Mexico Energy Security 
Act. In that act, that is what we did in establishing this off-limits 
in law. But now, some of our neighboring States, at the behest of Big 
Oil, are trying to drill again and to drill off of Florida.
  We are going to do everything we can to make sure we don't lose 
another tourism season. We are going to do everything we can to make 
sure we don't lose an entire year for our recreational fishermen, 
charter boat fishermen, as well as the commercial fishermen. Drilling 
off the coast is not what the people of Florida want. We want fishing 
vessels hauling in prize catches, not Coast Guard vessels skimming oil. 
We want dolphins rolling in the waves, not washing ashore, and we want 
sunbathers on the beaches, not HAZMAT workers.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Heller):
  S. 1436. A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to take land 
into trust for certain Indian tribes, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1436

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nevada Native Nations Land 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

       In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
     the Interior.

     SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST FOR CERTAIN 
                   INDIAN TRIBES.

       (a) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Fort 
     McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.--
       (1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``map'' means the map entitled ``Fort McDermitt Indian 
     Reservation Expansion Act'', dated February 21, 2013, and on 
     file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
     offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Fort McDermitt 
     Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 19,094 acres of land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the 
     map as ``Reservation Expansion Lands''.
       (b) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Shoshone 
     Paiute Tribes.--
       (1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``map'' means the map entitled ``Mountain City Administrative 
     Site Proposed Acquisition'', dated July 29, 2013, and on file 
     and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
     offices of the Forest Service.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian 
     Reservation; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Shoshone Paiute 
     Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 82 acres of land administered by the 
     Forest Service as generally depicted on the map as ``Proposed 
     Acquisition Site''.
       (c) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Summit 
     Lake Paiute Tribe.--
       (1) Definition of map.--In this section, the term ``map'' 
     means the map entitled ``Summit Lake Indian Reservation 
     Conveyance'',

[[Page S3243]]

     dated February 28, 2013, and on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land 
     Management.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Summit Lake 
     Paiute Tribe.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 941 acres of land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the 
     map as ``Reservation Conveyance Lands''.
       (d) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Reno-
     Sparks Indian Colony.--
       (1) Definition of map.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``map'' means the map entitled ``Reno-Sparks Indian Colony 
     Expansion'', dated June 11, 2014, and on file and available 
     for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
     Bureau of Land Management.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Reno-Sparks 
     Indian Colony.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 13,434 acres of land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the 
     map as ``RSIC Amended Boundary''.
       (e) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the Pyramid 
     Lake Paiute Tribe.--
       (1) Map.--In this subsection, the term ``map'' means the 
     map entitled ``Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation Expansion'', 
     dated April 13, 2015, and on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land 
     Management.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Pyramid Lake 
     Paiute Tribe.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 6,357 acres of land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the 
     map as ``Reservation Expansion Lands''.
       (f) Conveyance of Land to Be Held in Trust for the 
     Duckwater Shoshone Tribe.--
       (1) Map.--In this subsection, the term ``map'' means the 
     map entitled ``Duckwater Reservation Expansion'', dated 
     January 12, 2015, and on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land 
     Management.
       (2) Conveyance of land.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) is held in trust by the United States for the benefit 
     of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe; and
       (B) shall be part of the reservation of the Duckwater 
     Shoshone Tribe.
       (3) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
     (2) is the approximately 31,269 acres of land administered by 
     the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the 
     map as ``Reservation Expansion Lands''.

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a survey 
     of the boundary lines to establish the boundaries of the land 
     taken into trust for each Indian tribe under section 3.
       (b) Use of Trust Land.--
       (1) Gaming.--Land taken into trust under section 3 shall 
     not be eligible, or considered to have been taken into trust, 
     for class II gaming or class III gaming (as those terms are 
     defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 
     U.S.C. 2703)).
       (2) Thinning; landscape restoration.--With respect to the 
     land taken into trust under section 3, the Secretary, in 
     consultation and coordination with the applicable Indian 
     tribe, may carry out any fuel reduction and other landscape 
     restoration activities, including restoration of sage grouse 
     habitat, on the land that is beneficial to the Indian tribe 
     and the Bureau of Land Management.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. WYDEN:
  S. 1440. A bill to amend the Federal Credit Union Act to exclude a 
loan secured by a non-owner occupied 1- to 4-family dwelling from the 
definition of a member business loan, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, most of us have heard the metaphor that 
small businesses are the engines that power our economy. What we don't 
hear people talk about as much is the fuel that feeds the engines: 
capital. Without capital, entrepreneurs cannot see their ideas to 
fruition, successful business owners cannot expand to meet the needs of 
the market, and eager job seekers must take their skills elsewhere. 
Without capital, Main Street falters.
  Today, more than 7 years after the start of the Great Recession and 
many policy reforms later, access to capital remains a challenge that 
stands in the way of small business growth, economic development and 
job creation in Oregon and across the country. Despite this, government 
regulation continues to tie the hands of many potential lenders; 
namely, credit unions. According to some estimates, credit unions could 
lend an additional $16 billion to small businesses, helping them create 
nearly 150,000 new jobs in just 1 year if Congress loosened restraints 
on credit union business lending.
  With this in mind, I am pleased to introduce today the Credit Union 
Residential Loan Parity Act, which would increase access to capital by 
exempting certain loans from the member business lending cap imposed on 
credit unions. Currently, loans made for one- to four-person, non-owner 
occupied housing are treated as business loans when they are made by 
credit unions. As such, these types of loans count against a credit 
union's business lending cap, and thereby limit a credit union's 
ability to provide loans to small businesses. My legislation would 
address this issue by allowing credit unions to treat these types of 
loans as residential loans--as they are when they are made by other 
financial institutions--therefore exempting these loans from the 
business lending cap. In doing so, this legislation would increase the 
availability of business capital, providing greater opportunities for 
small businesses to receive credit union loans to help them continue to 
grow and expand, create jobs and support our local economies.
  I am hopeful that this legislation will be received by colleagues for 
what it is: a simple step to help ensure America's small businesses 
have access to the fuel they need to power our economy. It is my hope 
that the Senate will pass this legislation swiftly.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1440

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Credit Union Residential 
     Loan Parity Act''.

     SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF A NON-OWNER OCCUPIED 1- TO 4-FAMILY 
                   DWELLING.

       (a) Removal From Member Business Loan Limitation.--Section 
     107A(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 
     1757a(c)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by striking ``that is the 
     primary residence of a member''.
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or the 
     amendment made by this Act shall preclude the National Credit 
     Union Administration from treating an extension of credit 
     that is fully secured by a lien on a 1- to 4-family dwelling 
     that is not the primary residence of a member as a member 
     business loan for purposes other than the member business 
     loan limitation requirements under section 107A of the 
     Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1757a).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
  S. 1448. A bill to designate the Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary 
in the State of Oregon; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to honor my 
friend Frank Moore, an Oregonian, World War II veteran, husband to 
Jeanne, father, avid fly fisherman, and tireless conservationist.
  Frank Moore can be found standing in the North Umpqua River in 
Oregon, wearing waders and casting his fly fishing reel, for hours. He 
is a legendary presence on the River, even at 91 years young. A pastime 
he picked up from his father, fly fishing has been a business and a 
hobby for Frank for nearly his entire life. Not only has he enjoyed the 
fishing and scenery on Oregon's rivers for decades, Frank's love of 
Oregon and his tireless work to conserve our state's fish habitats and 
rivers adds up to a rich legacy that sets the standard for generations 
to come. Frank served on the State of Oregon Fish and Wildlife 
Commission and has received the National Wildlife Federation 
Conservationist of the Year award and the Wild

[[Page S3244]]

Steelhead Coalition Conservation Award.
  Frank's commitment to the health and vitality of Oregon's rivers and 
fish habitat over the years is inspiring and he deserves countless 
thanks for his work and dedication. The Frank Moore Wild Steelhead 
Sanctuary will serve as a tribute to the many outstanding 
accomplishments of Frank, both on and off the river.
  It is my honor to introduce this bill today with my colleague from 
Oregon Senator Merkley on behalf of this extraordinary Oregonian.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1448

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Frank Moore Wild Steelhead 
     Sanctuary Designation Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) Frank Moore has committed his life to family, friends, 
     his country, and fly fishing;
       (2) Frank Moore is a World War II veteran who stormed the 
     beaches of Normandy along with 150,000 troops during the D-
     Day Allied invasion and was awarded the Chevalier of the 
     French Legion of Honor for his bravery;
       (3) Frank Moore returned home after the war, started a 
     family, and pursued his passion of fishing on the winding 
     rivers in Oregon;
       (4) as the proprietor of the Steamboat Inn along the North 
     Umpqua River in Oregon for nearly 20 years, Frank Moore, 
     along with his wife Jeanne, shared his love of fishing, the 
     flowing river, and the great outdoors, with visitors from all 
     over the United States and the world;
       (5) Frank Moore has spent most of his life fishing the vast 
     rivers of Oregon, during which time he has contributed 
     significantly to efforts to conserve fish habitats and 
     protect river health, including serving on the State of 
     Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission;
       (6) Frank Moore has been recognized for his conservation 
     work with the National Wildlife Federation Conservationist of 
     the Year award, the Wild Steelhead Coalition Conservation 
     Award, and his 2010 induction into the Fresh Water Fishing 
     Hall of Fame; and
       (7) in honor of the many accomplishments of Frank Moore, 
     both on and off the river, approximately 104,000 acres of 
     Forest Service land in Oregon should be designated as the 
     ``Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary''.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``O&C 
     Land Grant Act of 2014: Frank Moore Wild Steelhead 
     Sanctuary'' and dated November 3, 2014.
       (2) Sanctuary.--The term ``Sanctuary'' means the Frank 
     Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary designated by section 4(a).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
     Service.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Oregon.

     SEC. 4. FRANK MOORE WILD STEELHEAD SANCTUARY, OREGON.

       (a) Designation.--The approximately 104,000 acres of Forest 
     Service land in the State, as generally depicted on the Map, 
     is designated as the ``Frank Moore Wild Steelhead 
     Sanctuary''.
       (b) Map; Legal Description.--
       (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and 
     legal description of the Sanctuary.
       (2) Force of law.--The map and legal description prepared 
     under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as 
     if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may 
     correct clerical and typographical errors in the map and 
     legal description.
       (3) Availability.--The map and legal description prepared 
     under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
       (c) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     Sanctuary shall be administered by the Secretary--
       (1) in accordance with all laws (including regulations) 
     applicable to the National Forest System; and
       (2) in a manner that--
       (A) protects, preserves, and enhances the natural 
     character, scientific use, and the botanical, recreational, 
     ecological, fish and wildlife, scenic, drinking water, and 
     cultural values of the Sanctuary;
       (B) protects and seeks to enhance the wild salmonid 
     resources of the Sanctuary;
       (C) maintains or enhances the watershed as a thermal refuge 
     for wild salmonids; and
       (D) preserves opportunities for primitive recreation.
       (d) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this section affects the 
     jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State with respect to 
     fish and wildlife in the State.
       (e) Adjacent Management.--Nothing in this section creates 
     any protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Sanctuary.
       (f) Protection of Tribal Rights.--Nothing in this section 
     diminishes any treaty rights of an Indian tribe.
       (g) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     Federal land within the boundaries of the Sanctuary river 
     segments designated by subsection (a) is withdrawn from all 
     forms of--
       (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land 
     laws;
       (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
       (3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and 
     geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
       (h) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow uses of the 
     Sanctuary that are consistent with the purposes and values 
     for which the Sanctuary is established.
       (i) Use of Motorized Vehicles.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     use of motorized vehicles within the Sanctuary shall be 
     limited to roads allowed by the Secretary for the use of 
     motorized vehicles.
       (2) Off-road vehicle use.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary may allow off-road vehicle use in designated 
     portions of the Sanctuary if the use is consistent with the 
     purposes and values for which the Sanctuary was designated.
       (j) Roads.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, shall decrease the total mileage of system roads 
     that are operational in the Sanctuary to a quantity less than 
     the quantity of mileage in existence on the date of enactment 
     of this Act.
       (2) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize decreasing 
     the mileage of the road network in the Sanctuary to reduce 
     impacts to water quality from sediment delivered to streams 
     by forest roads.
       (3) Temporary roads.--If the Secretary constructs a 
     temporary road as part of a vegetation management project, 
     the Secretary shall close and decommission the temporary road 
     not later than the earlier of--
       (A) the date that is 2 years after the date on which the 
     activity for which the temporary road was constructed is 
     completed; and
       (B) the date that is 1 year after the date on which the 
     vegetation management project is completed.
       (4) No new roads.--The Secretary shall prohibit--
       (A) any new system or nonsystem road within the Sanctuary 
     and key watersheds under the plan entitled ``Northwest Forest 
     Plan 1994 Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service 
     and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within the 
     Range of the Northern Spotted Owl'' after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, except as the Secretary determines to 
     be necessary, if the Secretary determines that no practicable 
     alternative exists, and subject to the availability of 
     appropriations; and
       (B) the construction of any new road in any roadless area 
     in the Sanctuary.

                          ____________________