[House Report 108-343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-343

======================================================================



 
HONORING THE LATE RICK LUPE, LEAD FORESTRY TECHNICIAN FOR THE BUREAU OF 
                   INDIAN AFFAIRS FORT APACHE AGENCY

                                _______
                                

  November 4, 2003.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 237]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 237) honoring the late Rick 
Lupe, lead forestry technician for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
Fort Apache Agency, for his dedication and service to the 
United States and for his essential service in fighting 
wildfires and protecting the environment and communities of 
Arizona, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommend that the concurrent resolution 
be agreed to.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H. Con. Res. 237 is to honor the late Rick 
Lupe, lead forestry technician for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
Fort Apache Agency, for his dedication and service to the 
United States and for his essential service in fighting 
wildfires and protecting the environment and communities of 
Arizona.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Mr. Rick Lupe was a forestry technician for the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs who participated in fighting multiple fires over 
the years in Arizona. In particular, he helped to save 
communities like Show Low, Arizona, from the Rodeo-Chediski 
fire and created a back burn that stopped the fire line at Hop 
Canyon so that the fire did not cross a major interstate.
    The Rodeo-Chediski fire was actually two fires that grew 
together on June 23, 2002, and eventually encompassed over 
450,000 acres. Over a period of two weeks this fire became the 
largest and most severe fire in Arizona history. Nearly two-
thirds of this fire occurred on private and Indian reservation 
lands. It was during this fire that Mr. Lupe gained national 
recognition for his efforts. The Fort Apache Agency recognized 
him as the 2002 Employee of the Year.
    The communities tragically lost Mr. Lupe on June 19, 2003, 
from burns sustained in a prescribed fire in May of 2003. This 
fire was conducted on Sawtooth Mountain on the Fort Apache 
Reservation, near Whiteriver, Arizona. The Committee notes how 
he was well-liked and respected by his fellow workers at the 
Fort Apache Agency, his colleagues in the national fire 
organization and his tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe. 
Mr. Lupe is survived by his wife of 21 years and three sons.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H. Con. Res. 237 was introduced on June 26, 2003, by 
Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Resources. On October 29, 2003, the Full Resources 
Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments were offered 
and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by unanimous consent.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations 
are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. H. Con. Res. 237 is merely 
a bill honoring the late Rick Lupe, lead forestry technician 
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency, for his 
dedication and service to the United States.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. The Committee 
has determined that H. Con. Res. 237 entails no cost to the 
federal government, and therefore, no cost estimate was 
requested from the Congressional Budget Office.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                
