[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                SAINT HELENA ISLAND NATIONAL SCENIC AREA

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 468) to establish the Saint 
Helena Island National Scenic Area.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Senate amendment:
       Page 4, line 1, strike out all after ``Requirements.--'' 
     down to and including ``Forest.'' in line 5 and insert 
     ``Within 3 years of the acquisition of 50 percent of the land 
     authorized for acquisition under section 7, the Secretary 
     shall develop an amendment to the land and resources 
     management plan for the Hiawatha National Forest which will 
     direct management of the scenic area.''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 468, the Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area, 
was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee). This legislation would establish the area known as Saint 
Helena Island in the State of Michigan as a National Scenic Area to be 
included in the Hiawatha National Forest.
  H.R. 468 passed the House under suspension of the rules on September 
21, 1999, by a recorded vote of 410-2.
  The Senate has returned this bill to the House with a technical 
amendment that clarifies the plan amendment process for management of 
the area.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of Saint Helena National Scenic Area, as 
amended, by the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.
  H.R. 468 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire from 
willing sellers most of Saint Helena Island for management as a 
National Scenic Area. The nearly 270-acre island, which sits a couple 
of miles offshore from the Hiawatha National Forest shoreline in 
northern Lake Michigan, is rich in ecological and cultural resources.
  The small bit of acreage that does not convey to the Forest Service 
is owned by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. This bill 
overwhelmingly was passed by the House in September of last year; and 
in October of this year, the Senate unanimously passed it with a minor 
amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to note the particular good work of the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), my good friend and colleague, certainly for 
his leadership and for his sponsorship of this important piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, on February 25, 1999, I introduced H.R. 468, 
the St. Helena Island National Scenic Area Act, and I am pleased that 
several of my colleagues from Michigan joined me as cosponsors of this 
effort. As many of you know, the House originally passed the 
legislation in September of 1999. Our colleagues on the Senate side 
added an amendment at the request of the National Forest Service. I 
have no problem with this change, and I am pleased that we are 
approving the final version of the bill today, clearing the way for its 
passage into law.
  First of all, I would like to thank Chairwoman Chenoweth-Hage and 
Chairman Young for their help in bringing H.R. 468 to the floor of the 
House. I also appreciate the work of the Ranking Members, Adam Smith 
and George Miller. Furthermore, I wish to thank the majority and 
minority staff for their work on this effort. During committee 
consideration, I was pleased to work with both the majority and 
minority to make technical and clarifying amendments, and I believe 
this resulted in a good piece of legislation, worthy of bipartisan 
support.
  H.R. 468 is simple--it authorizes the purchases of St. Helena Island 
from the willing sellers of the Brown and Hammond families. The island 
would become part of the Hiawatha National Forest, which would manage 
the island as a national scenic area, and the island would be open to 
the public for recreational use.
  I thank all of my colleagues for their support of this effort.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 468.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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