[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 20558-20567]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4578, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 603, I call up 
the conference report on the bill (H.R. 4578) making appropriations for 
the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 603, the 
conference report is considered as having been read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
September 29, 2000, at page H8472.)

[[Page 20559]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) and the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula).

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to thank those that supported the 
rule; and to all Members, I believe that this bill today is something 
we can point to with pride in supporting it.
  I know there are differences on how we approached it, but this bill 
provides for the future of this Nation in terms of our assets, our land 
and our unique ecology; and I hope that all of my colleagues will look 
carefully at all the things that are in this bill, to realize what it 
means, not only to your district, but to the Nation.
  As my term as chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations 
nears an end with this conference agreement, I would especially like to 
take the opportunity to thank the Members of the subcommittee. I might 
say that this conference was unique. For the first time in my 6 years 
on this subcommittee, the conference report was signed by every member 
of the conference committee from both parties in both Houses, and it 
will be supported by the administration.
  I thank the Members for their support as we did work together to 
produce this agreement. Especially I extend my appreciation to the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Mr. Obey) for their hard work during our conference and throughout the 
year.
  Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the excellent staff on 
the subcommittee who have dedicated hours, numerous hours on this bill. 
And I wanted to also make a comment here, and that is that this bill is 
in the true tradition of Sid Yates, who was the previous chairman of 
this subcommittee. I think Sid would be very proud of what is in this 
bill. In his many years as chairing the subcommittee, much of what we 
have done are things that he cherished and worked for. And I say to 
you, Sid, if you are watching, that we thank you for all of your good 
service. This bill today perhaps is an accumulation of some of the 
things that you were pushing for for years and years as you chaired the 
committee.
  This is a good bill, I say to my colleagues, one that all of us 
should support. It provides $18.8 billion in the funding for the 
Department of the Interior and related agencies. It includes wildfire 
funding, a recognition that the fires are a problem on our 200 million 
acres of forest land. It has $2.9 billion and of that amount, $1.6 
billion is emergency funding. And for those of my colleagues who 
noticed the size of this bill, keep in mind that we had to address not 
only fire emergencies, but we also had to address other emergencies 
that were overlooked in the supplemental appropriations bill.
  While it is a large number, it does represent a number of dollars 
that were meant to address the interests of many Members in the House. 
The conference report includes a new land conservation, preservation 
and infrastructure improvement title which makes available $12 billion 
over the next 6 years for programs such as Federal and State land 
acquisition, urban parks, State and wildlife conservation, PILT and 
backlog maintenance. State and other conservation programs receive $300 
million, $300 million to the States, including a new $50 million State 
wildlife grant program.
  We do ask for accountability, and I think that is our responsibility 
to the taxpayers to say to the States we want you to be accountable in 
the expenditures of these monies.
  Also in this report, there is $200 million for PILT, that is $65 
million more than what was in the bill that passed the House. And again 
I think it is a recognition that we have to support these local 
governments, the schools and local government agencies with some type 
of substitute for the losses that they have because of the Federal 
lands, and so I am pleased that we have a very substantial amount in 
PILT.
  We have initiated several new funding provisions to prepare for 
wildfires, wildfires that have swept across the West. There is $128 
billion for State and rural fire and economic assistance. We recognize, 
and I know many of my colleagues watched the shows that the people were 
coming even from offshore to help fight the wildfires, and, of course, 
the States and local communities were very instrumental in this effort.
  We have $377 million to increase wildfire readiness, $422 million for 
additional wildfire suppression and $277 million for hazardous fuel 
reduction work. To address the impact of the current fire season, we 
have also provided $227 million to rehabilitate areas damaged by fires 
and $351 million to reimburse firefighting costs already incurred.
  And I say one of the good features is that we try to clean up forests 
through the readiness programs and through the suppression programs, so 
that when we get lightning strikes, they do not burn with such 
intensity, because as you have fuel buildup by failure to thin and so 
on, you obviously add to the intensity of any blazes.
  I am especially pleased that we have addressed the numerous 
operational and maintenance shortfalls. We have $1.4 billion for the 
operation of the national parks, $25 million more than last year. We 
have $1.6 billion for the BLM which includes a $66 million increase 
overall, and $18 million for revision of the Bureau's land management 
plans, and $356 million for national wildlife refuges.
  Funding has been included within these operational accounts to 
address maintenance priorities. This is something I have always been 
interested in, probably harped on it a little bit, that we must take 
care of what we have; We recognize this need with an additional amount 
of funding. We put in $12 billion, a portion of that has to be used for 
maintenance, because we recognize that while it is nice to build new 
buildings and buy more land, it is also just as important to take care 
of what you have.
  Funding for urban parks has increased to $30 million and funding for 
State and private forestry is increased by $48 million to $251 million. 
I think particularly in the case of the urban parks, there is a 
recognition that as our populations become more urbanized, it is 
important for the quality of life in urban areas to have parks, install 
pocket parks, to have trees planted, to enhance the overall quality of 
the programs and the communities in which our urban population lives.
  The conference agreement contains funding for a number of important 
environmental efforts, including South Florida Ecosystem Restoration 
Initiative, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, a public-
private program which is funded at $40 million for wildlife, habitat 
projects, and $187 million for environmental restoration through the 
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, which provides funding for cleanup of 
abandoned mine lands.
  I wish that number could be more, because I think it really is kind 
of a sad commentary on what we have done to some of our lands by virtue 
of mining without any form of reclamation, but we have to do what we 
can to restore these areas.
  Up to $10 million of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund may be used 
for the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, because obviously 
abandoned mines have an impact on streams through acid mine drainage 
and other types of pollutants that get into the streams.
  Further, through funding for the U.S. Geological Survey, scientists 
can assist our land management agencies in making informed, 
environmentally sound decisions in natural resources that may not sound 
like a lot. But that is very important, because it means that these 
agencies work together.
  Sometimes I am struck by the fact that agencies almost sound like 
they serve two different countries, and I am delighted that the USGS 
will be working with parks and forests and other agencies to use their 
scientific knowledge which is for the betterment of America.

[[Page 20560]]

  We are pleased to report increases for funding American Indian health 
care services and education. Funding for the Indian Health Service is 
$214 million more than fiscal year 2000, for a total of $2.6 billion. I 
know we are all troubled by what happens in Indian health, and we are 
recognizing that by substantially increasing this program.
  Likewise in education, we provided funding for the construction of 
six new Indian schools from the Bureau of Indian Affairs priority list.
  We have increased funding for important energy research and 
conservation programs to address the needs of consumers as we approach 
what is anticipated to be a difficult winter heating season. Funding 
for energy conservation is $815 million; and of that, $153 million is 
provided for weatherization grants that are distributed through local 
communities.
  I might say fuel cells show a lot of promise. We are making progress 
in automobiles and making them more energy efficient. All of those 
things will help us deal with the crisis, which I think is probably 
here to stay, over the long period of time; we, therefore, need to be 
prepared for that.
  The managers included increases for the several cultural agencies in 
the bill, including the National Gallery of Art, the U.S. Memorial 
Holocaust Museum, the Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian. Further we 
have provided $98 million to the National Endowment for the Arts and $7 
million for the Challenge America Arts Fund to provide art education 
funding to rural America and other underserved areas.
  Let me emphasize that the additional money in the arts is $7 million; 
it is in a separate account. It will be administered by the NEA, but it 
is directed to rural America and to underserved areas. We want this to 
be widespread, small grants.
  There are a couple of stories in my local paper this week about a 
small grant of something like $20,000 and what a difference it made in 
a school program.
  Funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities is increased to 
$120.3 million.
  Mr. Speaker, through this bill, we will be able to accomplish a 
number of high priority projects for many people across this great 
Nation, especially in the area of land conservation and habitat 
restoration. The conference agreement strikes a delicate balance 
between those in this House who would urge us to go further and provide 
larger sums and those who believe that in the area of Federal land 
acquisition, the Federal Government already owns enough.
  We have a dichotomy among our Members on this subject, but let me say 
I think we have tried to strike a balance in the way we have handled 
the funding, and we have made it subject to appropriations. I wanted to 
say, on the basis of my experience of 28 years in the House, that I 
have a lot of confidence in the Congress. I mean we have our 
differences and sometimes we may come to a problem in a different way, 
but on balance, I have been impressed by the dedication of Members over 
these years.
  And I am pleased, frankly, that in the disbursement of the $12 
billion for State and Federal land acquisition, the responsibility for 
appropriating this money rests with the Members of this House. We are 
elected by the people to make policy decisions, and I believe that in 
this bill we recognize the importance of that role.
  I have great confidence that in the years ahead those who have that 
responsibility will exercise it wisely.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have two technical changes to the conference 
report that I ask unanimous consent be printed in the Record at this 
time.
  First on page 177, the increase of $4 million for heavy vehicle 
propulsion is an error. The $4 million increase is for advanced power 
electronics.
  Secondly, page 135, the Lincoln Pond/Colonial Theater should be 
Lincoln Road Colony Theater.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Let the Chair just clarify for 
the gentleman from Ohio. Those corrections, the gentleman needs to make 
those in the Record. The gentleman cannot correct the conference report 
or joint statement by asking unanimous consent.
  So the gentleman knows, they will show up in the Record; the Record 
will reflect congressional intent. But the Chair does not want the 
gentleman to be left with the impression that it was done by asking 
unanimous consent, to correct the joint statement that cannot be done.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, one last comment, I urge all the Members to 
look at the press release, and my colleagues will see what all is in 
this bill. I think we will be proud to say I voted for it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1330

  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 8 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2001 appropriations 
conference report. I wish to commend my colleague, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Regula), who I think brings us today a historic bill to the 
floor of the House of Representatives.
  I want to compliment him and his staff, led by the very able Debbie 
Weatherly. I also want to thank my staff, Mike Stephens and Lesley 
Turner, for the outstanding work and the work of all the staff members 
on the Committee on the Interior.
  I have been impressed over the 24 years that I have served on this 
committee, and the last 2 years as the ranking Democratic member, about 
the bipartisan nature of our effort. I am particularly pleased about 
this bill. This is an historic measure.
  I know there was some debate on the rule, but I want to thank all of 
the Members who voted for the rule from both parties. I think this is a 
good rule and it gives us a chance to consider this legislation today.
  I think the reason this is historic is because we will, with the 
enactment of this legislation, in the first year double the amount of 
conservation spending that we have done in this country from $782 
million up to $1.6 billion, and $400 million of that goes to coastal 
programs under State, Justice, and Commerce; $1.2 billion goes to the 
Interior appropriations bill.
  I appreciate the fact that the conference was willing to accept the 
amendment that I offered, with the able help of the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who had many good suggestions, and helped 
advocate for this in the conference. He was a prime sponsor of this 
amendment with me.
  I just hope we can bring the House together now, because this is such 
a good bill. This should be a day of celebration. This should be a day 
of celebration, because the President is going to sign this bill. The 
administration, George Frampton, said many very positive things about 
this legislation.
  Also, the outside environmental groups, and I want to particularly 
thank my friend, Roger Schlickeisen of Defenders of Wildlife, and the 
12 environmental groups who endorsed this legislation, and recommended 
that the House vote for the rule and vote for the bill, and who 
recognize the historic nature of this bill.
  I think we can do many, many positive things from this legislation 
for land acquisition, both for the Federal and State. We can do work on 
endangered species. I see that the gentleman from California is here, 
who has been one of the great advocates for urban parks, which is 
included.
  I just want to say to the gentleman from California, I know that for 
4 years he and his group worked for CARA. What we tried to do is do the 
best we can on the Committee on Appropriations, following as much of it 
as we could. I hope we can work together in the future to expand upon 
this legislation and to make it even better.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman 
yield?
  Mr. DICKS. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
for yielding, and I thank him for his remarks on behalf of CARA, which 
I am very proud of. I think we did put together an incredible 
coalition.
  I also thank him for mentioning the UPARR program on urban parks and

[[Page 20561]]

recreation. As the gentleman has said, for the last 4 years I have 
tried to resurrect the funding for the urban parks initiative, and in 
this legislation, clearly the committee has done that. The 
appropriation of $30 million will allow us to rehabilitate some of 
those recreational spaces, including sports facilities at public 
schools or regional centers available for all young people in this 
country that have fallen into disrepair for a whole host of reasons. We 
ought not to abandon them. We ought to reclaim them. We ought to give 
those children the recreational opportunities so many of us have had.
  I want to thank the committee for that effort to put that money into 
the urban parks legislation.
  I want to say this, that yes, we have had our differences over CARA. 
We have had our differences from time to time over this bill. But this 
committee did a remarkable job with this bill this year. What they have 
done in the various environmental accounts will give us an opportunity 
in a whole range of areas in this country, whether they are urban, 
suburban, or rural areas, to deal with some of the problems we are 
confronting in trying to hold onto agricultural land, to try to solve 
endangered species areas, to save the wetlands, to create the urban 
park space and recreational opportunities for our children, and for 
something that I know the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) has been a 
very outspoken person on, and that is maintenance of the Federal effort 
in our national parks. We can wear these parks out if we do not take 
care of them with the visitors that we have gotten. I appreciate the 
committee addressing this.
  I have had my tussles with this committee, but I have always tried to 
say every year that this committee has had far more demands on it than 
resources; that they have been able to meet the demands of the Members. 
I think what has been done here with $12 billion over the next 6 years, 
the manner in which it has been capped and fenced and reserved for 
resource programs is a magnificent start on that effort.
  We know the backlog. We know the troubles our communities face. But I 
think we would be remiss if we did not understand that this may be the 
single greatest increase for the protection of the environment in this 
country, certainly of the natural resources in this country, in the 
last 25 years. Members of Congress ought to be very proud of that.
  Does that mean that others and myself will not continue to fight for 
CARA? Of course we will. We will continue that effort, but we should 
not lose sight of what is happening here today with the passage of this 
legislation and what it means.
  Finally, I just want to say to a great guy, the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Regula), as much as we have battled, I must say, I have never had 
more respect for an individual, because day in and day out he has tried 
to do the right thing with the limited resources that he has had 
available to him.
  He has been a tough guy. He has been kind of a tough guy on the 
street. He understands, I think, the Federal role. We have argued about 
that from time to time.
  I just want to say, Mr. Chairman, it has been a pleasure working with 
you. I am sorry that the gentleman's side chose term limits, because I 
think the gentleman's continued role on this committee would have been 
good for the country.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) for all their effort on behalf of 
this particular bill, and the final result brought about on behalf of 
the environment in this country.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  I want to also commend the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Regula) for 
his leadership on this committee.
  I have served with two great chairman, Sid Yates and the gentleman 
from Ohio (Chairman Regula), and the gentleman from Ohio has done a 
fantastic job, and been fair to everybody. He has worked hard to do a 
better job on maintenance on our national parks. He pushed through the 
historic fee demonstration program, which will allow parks to raise 
money all over the country to make the parks better.
  I just want to commend him for his 6 years as chairman of this 
committee. I have really enjoyed personally working with the gentleman. 
We all will see what happens next year, but I hope that the gentleman 
from Ohio and I can still work together on these important issues.
  I want to say how much I appreciate his willingness to adopt the 
amendment that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and I presented. 
I felt it was crucial to getting the bill enacted. I thought it moved 
in the direction of some of the ideas of CARA. I think it is, frankly, 
a better bill than CARA, in my own judgment.
  But the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) was a gentleman and 
advocated for the House, and has been a great person to work with. I 
just want to say to him, I thank him for a job well done. The American 
people will never fully appreciate what the gentleman has done to 
improve our parks, our recreation areas, and to make this a better 
country, but we in the House understand that. We want to compliment the 
gentleman for his great leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, 
and a gentleman who has given this committee great leadership this 
year.
  The House has moved its bills expeditiously, and a lot of this is 
thanks to the chairman of the Committee and the way in which he has 
handled the responsibilities of leadership.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
me the time.
  I take the time to support the bill and to urge a very strong vote 
for the bill. But I wanted primarily to applaud the chairman, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), for having led this subcommittee 
through some very difficult times, and also the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), and my counterpart on the 
minority side, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
  When we listen to the debate and understand that this is a very good 
bipartisan bill, it just proves what can be accomplished when we work 
together and try to resolve the differences.
  I would say that when we listen to the debate, some might think this 
bill breezed through the conference committee with no trouble at all. 
But Mr. Speaker, this bill had all kinds of problems in conference. The 
debates were vigorous, the arguments were pretty powerful at times, but 
cooler heads prevailed. The issues were resolved in a most positive 
way.
  So I really want to applaud especially the chairman, who led this 
effort. I certainly would be one who would be regretting strongly if in 
fact he had to step down as chairman because of the term limits 
requirements, but that will be whatever it will be.
  The managers have done a really good job. They have brought to us 
today a bill that we can all support and that we can all go home and 
brag about, if Members feel like bragging, because this is a good bill. 
It does a good job for the people, and it is one the Congress can be 
very proud of.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Members of this House know, it is my view that 
many of the appropriation bills which passed this House were pretty 
pitiful. This is not one of them. This is one of those times when the 
House has been able to come together and to produce a bill which will 
really mark a significant turning point in Congress' dealing with our 
trust over public lands and our wildlife resources.
  It could not have happened if we had not had some very tough fights. 
We are supposed to come here and fight for what we believe in, and 
fight for what will enhance the country's future. Sometimes that means 
having some very tense moments. But out of that

[[Page 20562]]

has come a product which has been unanimously supported by the 
committee.
  That is what we are supposed to do, we are supposed to fight like the 
devil for what we believe in, and then resolve our differences in a 
constructive way, which moves the country forward. That is exactly what 
has happened on this bill.
  As has been said, the chairman of the subcommittee is the best 
advertisement I know for the idiocy of term limits. He has done a fine 
job, and it makes no sense to have to say that, if his party stays in 
the majority, he would not return as chair. He has done a fine job.
  Certainly the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) has performed 
yeoman's service in moving forward this entire question that we have 
wrestled with for 2 years about how to expand public support and 
congressional support for preserving our outdoor resources without 
creating a new entitlement that raises one group of people above 
everybody else. This will deliver the goods without putting Congress in 
a procedural straightjacket.
  One of the new things we do is to create a new State wildlife 
protection program. I know some of the State DNRs are unhappy that we 
did not just turn that into a simple revenue-sharing program. Frankly, 
I did not come here to be a tax collector for my DNR. I came here to 
try to protect the resources, and preserve our ability to oversee the 
protection of those resources at the same time.
  In addition to what we do on the outdoor resource front, which is a 
magnificent achievement, we expand the weatherization program to deal 
with the needs of low-income people, now that we are having rising 
energy prices. We increase research into energy efficiency. We 
strengthen the clear water action plan. We have the first funding 
increase for the National Endowment for the Arts since 1996.
  There are some things that I am concerned about. I would warn the 
Park Service that I do think that they need to recognize that there 
still needs to be a compromise with respect to the question of 
snowmobile use in our national parks. There needs to be a compromise on 
that. This committee did not have the jurisdiction to deal with that 
issue, but the Park Service needs to be flexible on that.
  I also want to thank the White House, because they were teriffic in 
seeing to it that the egregious anti-environmental riders attached to 
this bill were stripped out or worked into a fashion where we could 
grudgingly accept a couple of them. But they did wonderful work on 
behalf of the public that they represent. This is a great victory for 
them and for all of us who believe in the preservation of our outdoor 
resources.
  I want say that this is one of those times when this institution has 
produced something which will move the country forward, and as I said 
earlier, it may not be seen as all the money that some people wanted, 
but any time that we can say that over a 6-year period we have tripled 
the amount of funding for a worthy national goal from $4 billion to $12 
billion, we have done a good day's work.

                              {time}  1345

  We have a right to be proud of the work that we have done. I 
congratulate everyone, staff and Members, who had anything to do with 
it. I only wish that some of the other appropriation bills that are 
being produced could represent the same quality that this does. This is 
one of the truly finest chapters of this session of Congress.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw).
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman 
Regula) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, the Subcommittee on Interior has really done fine work 
in supporting two very important innovations in my part of the country, 
south Florida. One is natural, and the other is man-made.
  As the country knows, America's Everglades is an important part of 
our natural environmental heritage. People often speak about it in the 
same breath as the Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, Yosemite, or Redwood 
Forest.
  I have introduced legislation which passed the other Chamber last 
week by a vote of 85 to 1, and that is to enact a comprehensive plan to 
restore the Everglades. But pending that authorization bill, the 
appropriations for Interior dedicates $75.9 million towards ongoing 
Everglades restoration, including $17 million for land acquisition, 
which is a vital step forward for the coming year.
  I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Regula) and the 
Subcommittee on Interior staffers, especially Debbie Weatherly, for 
making sure that the National Park Service has enough money, $9.23 
million, to continue the science research, construction, and land 
accession necessary for the environmental restoration of the Everglades 
National Park. I also want to thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Dicks), ranking member.
  In the NPS construction account, the conference report allocates $242 
million, including $9 million for water delivery modifications in south 
Florida for a total of $75 million, a part of which is allocated to the 
Everglades restoration projects.
  Turning now to one of the man-made cultural legacies in south 
Florida, the 465-seat art deco Colony Theater is a former movie house 
that anchors the western end of Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall in Miami 
Beach and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  Originally built in 1934, the theater's art deco architecture is a 
local landmark and has been a vital part of the economic and social 
fabric of Miami Beach since the years following the stock market crash 
of 1929, when the winter season tourist economy developed and the 
modestly sized art deco hotels and theaters were built. The theater has 
also served as a primary entertainment location for many of the 500,000 
United States troops who trained in Miami Beach between 1942 and 1945.
  I might also add that this was a favorite movie theater for my wife 
and I when we were dating when we were back in high school.
  The Colony Theater Restoration Project, which has already raised $1.8 
million in State, local, and private funds, will certainly benefit from 
the Federal matching of $837,000 contained in this conference report.
  Again, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Regula) and the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and the entire subcommittee and 
the full committee for working so hard on behalf of the people I 
represent in south Florida.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), in order to enter into a 
colloquy.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Washington for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to make note of the fact that the pending 
legislation once again carries a rider relating to the BLM's proposal 
to strengthen the regulations governing hardrock mining on lands under 
its jurisdiction. This is the fifth appropriations bill rider on this 
matter.
  However, unlike some of the past riders, this one does not appear to 
hinder the ability of the BLM to finalize its proposed rule. In fact, I 
have before me letters from both the National Mining Association and 
the Mineral Policy Center, groups which are normally opposed to each 
other, both supporting the pending legislation. In this regard, I would 
ask the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), the distinguished 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Interior, to engage in this 
colloquy.
  It is my understanding that the hardrock mining provision of the 
conference report does not impede the BLM's ability to prevent undue 
degradation of public lands with a new and stronger rule so long as 
that rule is not inconsistent with the recommendations contained within 
a National Research Council's report on the adequacy of existing mining 
regulations. Is this understanding correct?

[[Page 20563]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from West 
Virginia, that is correct.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, does not one of those recommendations direct 
the BLM to clarify the agency's authority to protect valuable resources 
not protected by other laws?
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, that is correct.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, so under the provision of the conference 
report, it would not be inconsistent with the Research Council report 
for the BLM to issue a rule that would allow the disapproval of a mine 
proposal if it would cause undue environmental degradation of public 
lands, even if the proposal complied with all other regulations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is the same as the 
gentleman's, and I appreciate his bringing this to our attention.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Dicks), and I commend him for his work on the pending legislation, as 
well as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula).
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Montana (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL of Montana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio 
(Chairman Regula) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I want to thank the 
gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Regula), and I also want to thank the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), ranking member, for their 
sensitivity to issues that are very important to my State of Montana in 
this conference report.
  As everybody I think in the Congress knows, in the month of August 
and early September, we had over a million acres in Montana destroyed 
by wildfire. This, as my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, was a man-made 
disaster. The administration's neglect in preparation for this fire 
season and its neglect in managing the risk of wildfire on our public 
lands greatly increased the hazard these fires created.
  In this bill, Congress finally addressed this issue, recognizing the 
growing threat of wildfire and providing very necessary funds for us to 
manage these risks in the future.
  I particularly want to compliment the gentleman for the funds for the 
fire fighting effort that took place as well as additional funds to 
recover those areas that were badly impacted by these fires.
  I also want to compliment the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Regula) 
for funds to implement restoration forestry so that we can manage the 
40 million to 80 million acres that the General Accounting Office has 
identified as at-risk forests in the West so that we can restore the 
health of these forests, we can reduce the wildfire risks, and we can 
eliminate the prospects of ecological and economic disasters.
  I want to compliment them both for the increase in PILT funding. The 
Federal Government is a neighbor to us. It owns about a third of the 
State of Montana, and they provide for or help pay for local services 
through what we call PILT, payment in lieu of taxes. This bill has a 50 
percent increase in PILT funding for rural Montana and rural 
communities.
  I have seven reservations, and Indian health increases which we 
passed on this floor when we debated this bill is very important to the 
increasing population on those reservations.
  I want to thank the gentleman for including the provision to fund the 
Travelers Rest acquisition, a national historic site where Lewis and 
Clark and the Corps of Discovery camped twice, and where, for 10,000 
years, Native Americans camped in western Montana.
  The dollars for park maintenance. Montana shares with Wyoming and 
Idaho Yellow Stone Park, and it is home to Glacier Park. I have 
advocated for a long time to increase funding to deal with the backlogs 
of needs in our national parks, and these parks will benefit from those 
funds.
  It is very important the funds for threatened and endangered species 
management at the State level. In my State, we are struggling with the 
impacts, budgetary and economic, of grizzly bear recovery and gray wolf 
recovery, and more recently east slope cutthroat trout recovery. These 
dollars to help these States manage these endangered and threatened 
species is very important.
  I want to thank particularly the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Dicks) for coming to a compromise with us on the Interior Columbia 
Basin management plan issue, which my colleagues will recall was a very 
controversial issue on the floor when we debated this bill. It is a 
matter of great importance to those of us in the West. The fact that we 
are able to take measures that will ensure that any future decision on 
Interior Columbia Basin will work for the recovery of the forests and 
to benefit our economy, and that is very important.
  There are many other important provisions. I just want to urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), who is also a valued member of 
our subcommittee.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, this has been unquestionably a very 
contentious and hard fought process; but the results of it will be 
welcomed, I think, by every person in the country who cares about 
America's natural resources.
  There are a lot of people that made major contributions, including 
the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentleman 
from Alaska (Mr. Young), that built the foundation upon which this bill 
is constructed.
  The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of our full 
committee, we need to thank him, particularly, for his thoughtful and 
gentlemanly leadership. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), 
who has been an outstanding chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior 
and has done an outstanding job in virtually every aspect of his 
responsibilities. I think of the Everglades and a whole host of other 
areas where he has made a very lasting and substantial contribution 
that will be a very important legacy for him and for all of Americans.
  I want to also thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) on our side who made an 
outstanding contribution to the final provisions of this bill. I think 
both of these leaders on the Democratic side of the aisle made a major 
contribution to the preservation of America's natural resources here, 
and I express my appreciation to them.
  The bill provides a historic level of funding to protect our parks 
and natural resources, $3.9 billion more than the current fiscal year. 
The National Park Service is funded at $1.4 billion. That is $25 
million more than the current year. National wildlife refuges are 
increased by $33 million over last year. Even the National Endowment 
for the Arts gets a small increase, $7 million over the current fiscal 
year. Both the National Endowment for the Humanities and Office of 
Museums and Library Services will receive modest increases. Obviously 
we must do more in these areas, and we will in the future.
  The bill also provides $8 million for the Northeast Home Heating Oil 
Reserve, and people are going to be very grateful for that because the 
cost of heating homes, offices, and businesses this winter will be less 
expensive as a result of that provision in this bill, Mr. Speaker.
  The administration and the House Senate negotiators eliminated the 
most egregious antienvironmental riders, and they scaled back those 
that remain in the bill.
  The Land Conservation Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement 
Program provides a historic $12 billion over 6 years for high-priority 
Federal and State conservation and preservation programs, a wonderful 
contribution.

[[Page 20564]]

  This proposal actually improves on CARA by getting rid of the 
environmentally harmful provisions that would have encouraged new 
offshore drilling, would have allowed coastal funding to be used for 
environmentally damaging activities, and impose burdensome new 
restrictions on Federal land acquisitions. All that has been taken out 
in this terrific piece of legislation.
  Twelve distinguished environmental conservation and historic 
preservation groups recognize the importance of this bill when they 
said as follows: ``This important and historic conservation initiative 
represents a major contribution to the effort to protect what remains 
of our irreplaceable natural heritage before it is lost.''
  Mr. Speaker, I want to say to my colleagues that, in the 6 years that 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) has chaired this subcommittee, he 
has done an outstanding job. I can only thank him for that on behalf of 
my constituents and all the people of this country. I only regret that 
his party put in place these term limitations because the kind of 
leadership that he has provided has been absolutely outstanding, and he 
is going to be a great loss. I know he is going to continue to be on 
the committee, I certainly hope so; and we will have the benefit of his 
wisdom in that sense. I thank the gentleman from Ohio.
  I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), our ranking member 
on the subcommittee, for the outstanding work that he has done, for the 
hard-fought contentious battles that he was engaged in to make certain 
that this bill is the kind of bill that every Member of this House can 
be proud of and every American citizen can be grateful for.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Regula) has 9\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. Dicks) has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), a member of the Committee on 
Appropriations and a person who cares deeply about natural resource 
issues in our country.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Dicks) for yielding me this time. I thank the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Regula) for bringing this bill to the floor.
  Many of us came to Washington, came to this House hoping that we 
could better use the national resources, the national treasure that we 
have to help preserve local initiatives in trying to build more livable 
communities.

                              {time}  1400

  In thinking about it, I am sure my colleagues will agree that the 
most beautiful communities in the United States are usually the most 
economically successful. So economic development goes hand-in-hand with 
environmental protection or land stewardship, and this is the bill for 
the first time in history that allows this relationship to truly work.
  I am here to applaud, to thank and praise my colleagues. For the 
first time since the inception of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
in 1965, these funds are now earmarked for the purpose they were 
originally intended. That means they cannot be used for other purposes. 
Historically, in Congress, every time we had another problem, we would 
dip into that pot and use those funds. This committee changed that, and 
I thank them.
  The people that will really thank this committee and this Congress is 
every county in the United States, every State in the United States, 
every community that now has a lot of passion about trying to work in 
environmental stewardship because they now have a new partner, and that 
partner will be the Federal Government, in a lot of different programs. 
Certainly every employee of the BLM, and people who follow the Bureau 
of Land Management; every employee of the U.S. Forest Service, of the 
United States Park Service, of the U.S. Wildlife Service, and the 
refuges that they help protect will benefit.
  I just want to conclude, Mr. Speaker, by thanking the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Regula). I have served in the Congress with him and know him 
very well, and he is truly one of the leaders that people have talked 
about. Things do not get done in politics unless there is leadership. I 
want to thank all my colleagues, all the names that have been mentioned 
here today, because all America benefits. It takes leadership to lift 
the political tide, and those Members have lifted that political tide 
forever.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Nadler), one of the strongest supporters of the Interior 
appropriation bill, and in particular the National Endowment for the 
Arts.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I want 
to join my colleagues in applauding the role played by the outgoing 
chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) and 
also the role played by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and 
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), as well as the others in 
producing this bill.
  This bill, Mr. Speaker, is far better than the version this House 
passed last June and is free of the most objectionable provisions of 
that bill. I am disappointed it does not contain the Conservation and 
Reinvestment Act as it was passed by the House, but I understand the 
reasons for it. This bill does greatly increase protections for open 
spaces, but I hope we will revisit the CARA, which would provide even 
greater protections.
  At the same time, I strongly support the modest increase provided to 
the arts and humanities in this bill. Most notably, at long last, the 
National Endowment for the Arts will receive a well-deserved and much-
needed increase.
  The modest increase included in this bill would not ordinarily be 
cause for celebration, but when its comes to the NEA, it is historic. 
Given the unfortunate record this Congress has produced over the last 6 
years and the parliamentary chicanery we witnessed earlier this year, 
it is a major victory for supporters of the arts and humanities. With 
this increase, we have turned a corner in our debate on the arts.
  Just a few years ago, we were debating whether the NEA should be 
allowed to continue to exist; whether it was the proper role of 
government to subsidize the arts. But this increase is an 
acknowledgment that those of us who support government subsidy to the 
arts have won that fight.
  The American people believe the Federal Government has a role in 
cultivating the arts and humanities and that we must increase our 
commitment in this area. With this increase, the NEA will be able to 
continue its mission to reach those parts of the country that have not 
historically received grants.
  The appropriators should be hailed for increasing our commitment to 
arts education and community activity programs. They have also 
increased our support for the humanities and many cultural 
institutions. This is truly a victory for the cultural community.
  But we cannot be satisfied with this victory. While this increase is 
a significant step forward, we must do more. The arts can flourish 
throughout this country, but only if we make a significant investment. 
With enormous budget surpluses projected for years to come, we clearly 
have the money to make this a reality. The question is will we have the 
will to follow up on this fine step forward.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank the people involved in this bill.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I can say it in shorter words; I am in awe of 
what the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), have done in this

[[Page 20565]]

legislation. This is landmark legislation that Members seek for years 
and years to accomplish. Its impact is monumental.
  To think that in the next 6 years there will be $12 billion for land 
acquisition, $2.4 of that for coastal management, is extraordinary. 
There will be unbelievable benefit for years because of this 
legislation.
  I want to specifically thank both the chairman, and the ranking 
member, for honoring and recognizing my predecessor Stewart McKinney 
for what he attempted to do before he passed away--establish the 
McKinney Wildlife Refuge, off the coast of Connecticut.
  Ninety-seven percent of the Connecticut shoreline has been developed, 
and 10 percent of the population of the United States lives in the 
immediate vicinity of Long Island Sound. We need to protect our islands 
and coastal wetlands.
  I thank my colleagues for setting aside $1.5 million in 
appropriations for the acquisition of Calves Island for the McKinney 
Refuge. This is a continual process $2.5 million has already been 
appropriated, of the $6 million final purchase price, leaving only a $2 
million balance for the 26 acre island off the coast of Greenwich.
  I know my colleague, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) 
also appreciates what the committee has done for Calves Island and in 
the past for the Stratford Salt Marsh. We have worked on a bipartisan 
basis for that.
  So I am here to acknowledge the good work the committee has done and 
to say that I am in awe of what the committee has accomplished. I thank 
them.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I would just conclude by saying that I think this is a great bill. 
I want to thank everyone who voted for the rule. I think we should pass 
this bill with an overwhelming vote. I would love to see it unanimous, 
though I doubt it will be.
  Again, I want to commend our chairman and the staff. This is truly 
bipartisan legislation. I want to thank the White House, the President 
for his commitment to conservation. I want to thank George Frampton, 
head of the Council on Environmental Qualities, Jack Lu, Wesley Warren, 
Sylvia Matthews, Martha Foley, all the people from the White House who 
helped us through the negotiation process.
  And I also want to thank the outside environmental groups who, when 
they evaluated our bill, came down almost unanimously on the side that 
it truly was what we told the American people it was: Historic 
legislation that will do much to improve our outdoor environment and 
protect it and protect endangered species. And out there in the great 
Northwest the money under this bill will be used to help restore our 
salmon runs and to restore our forests and do watershed restoration, 
all of these important things.
  It also supports the arts. Also, out in the West, very importantly, 
$2.9 billion to deal with these wildfires. This is a huge problem 
throughout the West. I think there is much work that we need to do as a 
Congress, working with the Forest Service and the BLM and the other 
land agencies, in order to make sure that we have taken care of those 
forests so that they are not susceptible to catastrophic fire. All of 
that is done in this bill.
  So again, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman 
from Ohio. I have enjoyed working with him on this bill. I urge all 
Members of the House to support this conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.
  I think, as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) said earlier, 
this conference was a great example of a lot of give and take, some of 
it a little testy at times, but in the final analysis I think we have a 
product that is good for the future of these United States.
  I would like to close and just quote one section from the conference 
report. Section 141: The building housing the visitors center within 
the boundaries of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on 
Assateague Island, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the 
Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center, and shall 
hereafter be referred to in any law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
or other record of the United States, as the Herbert H. Bateman 
Educational and Administrative Center.
  I think our beloved colleague would be proud to have a building that 
is an educational and administrative center bear his name, and I am 
pleased that we could do that in our bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all our colleagues to vote for this landmark gift 
to the American people.
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
for the $7 million increase in funding for the National Endowment for 
the Arts (NEA) over the FY2000 budget. This much needed funding is 
included in the FY2001 Interior Appropriations bill before us today 
which I support.
  These additional funds will enable art education programs to flourish 
and continue to reduce youth violence and enhance youth development. If 
we are serious about curtailing youth violence, we must continue 
funding projects that achieve positive results. One such project, 
YouthArts, is a collaboration between the NEA, the Department of 
Justice and national and local arts agencies. This project is located 
in Portland, OR, Atlanta, GA and San Antonio, TX and has been 
successful in positive behavior change for the at risk youth 
participants. These adolescents have demonstrated improved 
communication, self-discipline, and intrapersonal skills, as well as a 
decreased frequency of delinquent behavior. For example, in Portland, 
communications skills in the YouthArts participants shot up from 43% at 
the beginning of the program to a full 100% by the end of the twelve 
weeks. Equally impressive, in San Antonio, 16.4% of participants had a 
decrease in delinquent behavior compared with 3.4% of their peers in a 
control group. It's obvious that the NEA and this program have the 
potential to inspire millions of America's youth across America to 
explore positive alternatives in their lives.
  In my district, NEA has successfully co-funded the Ailey Camp in 
Kansas City. Alvin Ailey is a national dance troupe which conducts a 
six week dance camp now in its eleventh year which has provided 
opportunities for more than 1,000 urban, disadvantaged middle schoolers 
in Kansas City. This camp provides a vehicle, through art, for children 
to acquire self esteem and enjoy the experience of success. In addition 
to dance, the camp also has creative writing, personal development, 
antiviolence and drug abuse programs. Statistics confirm the success of 
this program through improved behavior and learning by these at risk 
children.
  Art and music education programs extend back to the ancient Greeks 
who applied music when teaching math, for example. Current studies 
reaffirm that when music such as jazz is introduced by teachers into 
the classrooms, learning comes alive and improves math and verbal 
scores. A 1999 national report by the College Entrance Examination 
Board found that high school students with coursework in music 
performance and appreciation scored higher on SAT; 55 points higher on 
the verbal section and 40 points higher on the math section.
  The NEA also funds several programs at the American Jazz Museum in 
Kansas City, the only museum of its kind in the country. Throughout the 
1930's, Kansas City was known for its celebrated jazz music, and hosted 
music luminaries such as Count Basie and Charlie ``Bird'' Parker. NEA 
funding enables the museum to preserve and present jazz so that people 
from all over the city, the country, and the world may appreciate one 
of the first original American art forms.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in full support for 
increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. This support 
sends a message that art and music in the classroom and in the public 
sphere are valued and vital to a more creative and enriched future for 
all Americans.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4578, a bill 
making appropriations to the Department of Interior and Related 
Agencies for FY 2001. I would also like to take this opportunity to 
thank Chairman Bill Young and Ranking Member Mr. David Obey of the 
Committee on Appropriations, and Chairman Ralph Regula and Ranking 
Member Mr. Norman Dicks of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations 
for their work on this important bill and for their support on issues 
affecting the territories.
  I thank the members of the appropriations committee and the 
subcommittee for their work to ensure that Guam received $10 million 
for Compact Impact Aid in this year's interior

[[Page 20566]]

appropriations bill given Guam's continuing economic recovery from the 
Asian financial crisis and our unprecedented 15.3 percent unemployment 
rate. Increasing Compact Aid for Guam has been a priority as the 
responsibility of supporting an unfunded federal mandate has placed a 
heavy financial burden on the people of Guam.
  Also included in this legislation is the Lands Legacy Trust Fund 
which will provide $12 billion over the next six years to pay for land 
conservation, preservation and maintenance. This is an important 
program that will assist the territories conserve and preserve scarce 
lands and natural resources for future generations. While I am 
appreciative of the work the members have put into this legislation, I 
encourage them to continue to be mindful of the needs of the 
territories when funding for this important program is allocated.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
this legislation, and particularly in support of the additional funding 
to combat invasive species and to provide arts education in rural and 
underserved communities.
  Although I am disappointed that this legislation does not include all 
of the provisions included in the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, a 
bill that certainly has strong bipartisan support in both chambers, I 
am pleased that this bill funds a number of important national 
environmental priorities. I am also excited that we have finally given 
additional funding to the Challenge America Arts programs, the National 
Endowment for the Humanities and the Office of Museum Services.
  The NEA has been working hard to support quality arts projects across 
the country. I strongly believe that these programs help all of 
America's communities develop critically important cultural resources.
  Through NEA grants to local communities, support is provided for more 
than 7,400 K-12 arts educational programs in more than 2,600 
communities all across this great Nation.
  The additional investment in the Challenge America Arts Fund will 
target additional resources to rural and underserved communities around 
the country. I am pleased that we have taken this positive step to 
ensure that every community in America has the opportunity to enjoy 
local arts programming and activities.
  Research has consistently shown that children who are exposed to the 
arts do better in school and have higher self-esteem. This extra 
funding will help bring these benefits with children in rural and urban 
communities that need it most.
  I would also like to commend the additional funding included in this 
legislation to help eradicate invasive species. In New York, we have 
been forced to deal with the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which has already 
destroyed more than 2,600 trees. Earlier this year, these beetles were 
found again in New York City. This legislation will provide additional 
resources to fight the beetle and specifically includes $12 million in 
additional funds for forest health treatments to help control and 
eradicate invasive species.
  I commend the conferees for including these additional resources, and 
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues on the 
Interior Appropriations Committee for including $8 million in this 
Conference Report on HR 4578, the Department of the Interior 
Appropriations Act for FY2001, specifically for the maintenance of a 
Home Heating Oil Reserve in the Northeast.
  I have fought to see this reserve created for most of the last year. 
I was an original cosponsor of HR 3608, the Home Heating Oil Price 
Stability Act, which directs the Secretary of Energy to create a fuel 
oil reserve containing a total of 6.7 million barrels of heating oil. 
Under this legislation two million barrels of heating oil would be 
stored in leased storage facilities in the New York Harbor Area, and 
4.7 million would be stored in one of the four existing Strategic 
Petroleum Reserve caverns in the Gulf Coast. The bill would give the 
President the authority to immediately release home heating oil to the 
Northeast when fuel oil prices in the United States rise sharply, 
during a fuel oil shortage, or during periods of extreme winter 
weather. I was pleased that the provisions of HR 3608 were ultimately 
included in HR 2884, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reauthorization 
bill, which passed the House on April 12, 2000. However, this bill has 
seen no further action in Congress' other legislative body.
  During the initial debate on this bill, we put forth an amendment on 
June 15, 2000, that would have provided $10 million to actually create 
the Home Heating Oil Reserve. That amendments was defeated by a vote of 
193-195. However, we were later successful in passing an amendment on 
June 27, 2000, authorizing a new regional home heating oil reserve in 
the Northeast during consideration of HR 4733, the Department of Energy 
Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2001. Unfortunately, the Conferees on 
the FY01 Department of Energy Appropriation bill saw fit to eliminate 
that authorization from the final Conference Report, the main reason I 
opposed final of that bill.
  However, despite this Congress' inability to reauthorize the 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve and authorize the creation of a Home 
Heating Oil Reserve, the President has decided to move forward and 
create the Home Heating Oil Reserve in the Northeast under his 
executive authority. It is my understanding that the Department of 
Energy has already contracted to store one million barrels of home 
heating oil as part of this reserve in my home state of Connecticut. I 
am pleased that the members of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee 
have included funding to ensure that the Reserve will be ready before 
the long New England winter has settled in.
  This is a simple bread and butter, kitchen table issue that the 
people of this country should expect their government to address. There 
is no reason that people should have to choose between putting food on 
their table and heating their homes. I want to thank the members of the 
Committee for working to ensure that we have one more tool to combat 
the rising price of oil and protect our constituents from winter supply 
shortages.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today to express his 
strong support for H.R. 4578, the conference report on the Interior 
appropriations bills. This Member would like to especially thank the 
distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), the Chairman of the 
Interior appropriations Subcommittee and the distinguished gentleman 
from Washington (Mr. Dicks), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for 
their hard work on this important bill.
  This Member greatly appreciates the inclusion of funding for the 
Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska, to 
begin implementing the recommendations of the recently completed 
General Management Plan. This bill provides $400,000 for land 
acquisition for a new visitors center.
  Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the lives and 
accomplishments of all pioneers and the changes to the land and the 
people as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862, which is recognized as 
one of the most important laws in U.S. history. This Monument was 
authorized by legislation enacted in 1936. At the initiative of this 
Member, the FY96 Interior Appropriations legislation directed the 
National Park Service to complete a General Management Plan to begin 
planning for the General Management Plan, which was completed earlier 
this year, made recommendations for improvements that are needed to 
help ensure that Homestead is able to reach its full potential as a 
place where Americans can more effectively appreciate the Homestead Act 
and its effects upon the nation.
  The General Management Plan calls for the creation of a new 
``Homestead Heritage Center,'' a 28,000-square-foot energy-efficient 
facility which will house the Monument's collections, interpretive 
exhibits, public research facilities, and administrative offices. The 
focal point of the Center will be the Palmer-Epard Cabin, which will 
provide visitors with a realistic setting in which to learn about the 
life of homesteaders.
  It is important to note that the current visitor center complex is 
located within a 100-year floodplain, which exposes the Monument's 
facilities as well as valuable artifacts and supporting materials to 
the threat of flood damage. The new ``Homestead Heritage Center'' would 
be located outside of the 100-year floodplain and offer protection for 
the Monument's historic and prehistoric collections, archives and 
museum galleries.
  Homestead National Monument of America is truly a unique historical 
and interpretative treasure among the National Park Service jewels. The 
authorizing legislation makes it clear that Homestead was intended to 
have a special place among Park Service units. According to the 
original legislation:
  ``It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to lay out 
said land in a suitable and enduring manner so that the same may be 
maintained as an appropriate monument to retain for posterity a proper 
memorial emblematic of the hardships and the pioneer life through which 
the early settlers passed in settlement, cultivation, and civilization 
of the great West. It shall be his duty to erect suitable buildings to 
be used as a museum in which shall be preserved literature applying to 
such settlement and agricultural implements used in bringing the 
western plains to its present state of high civilization, and to use 
the said tract of land for such other objects and purposes as in his 
judgment may perpetuate the history of

[[Page 20567]]

this country mainly developed by the homestead law.''
  Clearly, this authorizing legislation sets some lofty goals. I 
believe that the establishment of the ``Homestead Heritage Center'' 
would begin the process of realizing these goals.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, this Member urges his colleagues to support 
passage of the conference report on H.R. 4578.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to protest the 
funding levels for the National Endowment for the Arts.
  Last week my colleague from Indiana stood in this well to discuss the 
play called ``Corpus Christi'' a play that depicts all the Apostles as 
the homosexual lovers of Christ.
  While the Government did not directly fund the play, the American 
taxpayer funded the theater through the National Endowment for the 
Arts. Last year, this theater received two grants, $50,000 apiece.
  Many of us in this Chamber believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and 
Savior. It is immoral and reprehensible to us that we must fund a 
theater that would stage this depraved production that some government 
bureaucrat considered art.
  In the name of art, many on the other side of the aisle will suggest 
this issue be about freedom of speech. But, once again the National 
Endowment for the Arts has shown it has little responsibility or 
accountability to the taxpayers.
  Does freedom of speech not come with a modicum of responsibility? Not 
if you're the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA has developed a 
pattern, continuing to this day, of throwing dollars to organizations 
so that they may promote religious bigotry and pornography.
  Now, I'm not against the arts. I believe there is an important role 
for arts in society. But let's have a standard for what should be 
publicly funded.
  This chamber agreed to a freeze, to cap the funds for the National 
endowment for the Arts. But again, I see we're increasing funding for 
this program with little or no accountability to the taxpayer to the 
tune of $105 million next year. I'm a music lover but this tune sounds 
flat to me.
  I am offended that this program allows obscene, pornographic, immoral 
and blasphemous theaters to be funded with our tax dollars. Let the 
theater or the production company find the funding for that. From 
someplace other than the American taxpayer.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Without objection, the previous 
question is ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the time for any electronic vote 
on the motion to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays were 
postponed earlier today.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 348, 
nays 69, not voting 16, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 507]

                               YEAS--348

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (PA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Collins
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Fowler
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Granger
     Green (TX)
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Hall (OH)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Herger
     Hill (IN)
     Hill (MT)
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Holden
     Holt
     Hooley
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jenkins
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson, E.B.
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     Kuykendall
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Larson
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (FL)
     Miller, George
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Ose
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (PA)
     Phelps
     Pickett
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Regula
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Scott
     Serrano
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sisisky
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tierney
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Weygand
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (FL)

                                NAYS--69

     Archer
     Barr
     Barton
     Berry
     Blunt
     Brady (TX)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Burton
     Cannon
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth-Hage
     Coburn
     Combest
     Cox
     Crane
     DeMint
     Duncan
     Emerson
     Gibbons
     Goode
     Graham
     Green (WI)
     Gutknecht
     Hall (TX)
     Hansen
     Hayworth
     Hoekstra
     Hostettler
     Hulshof
     Hutchinson
     Istook
     Jefferson
     John
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Largent
     Metcalf
     Miller, Gary
     Myrick
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Pombo
     Ramstad
     Rohrabacher
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Salmon
     Sanford
     Scarborough
     Schaffer
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Smith (MI)
     Stearns
     Stupak
     Talent
     Tancredo
     Tauzin
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Toomey
     Vitter
     Young (AK)

                             NOT VOTING--16

     Baca
     Dunn
     Eshoo
     Franks (NJ)
     Hastings (FL)
     Hefley
     King (NY)
     Lazio
     Martinez
     McCollum
     McIntosh
     Paul
     Riley
     Souder
     Vento
     Wexler

                              {time}  1431

  Messrs. METCALF, HUTCHINSON, SCARBOROUGH, PETRI, BURTON of Indiana, 
TANCREDO and PICKERING changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY and Mr. FOSSELLA changed their vote from ``nay'' to 
``yea.''
  So the conference report was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________