Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. Hou

217. A h. R. 182. A bill to extend the authorization for the Cape Cod National seashore Advisory Commission. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman, and the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman. Mr. Huffman thank you, madam speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Huffman madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Huffman thank you. H. R. 182, introduced by representative bill keating of massachusetts, would reauthorize the Cape Cod National seashore Advisory Commission, which expired under current law in september of 2018. This bill would reauthorize and extend it until 2028. Since the National Seashore was originally created in 1961, it was actually the first National Seashore, its the second most beautiful National Seashore, but it was the first National Seashore created, the Advisory Commission has served as a main forum for consultation and coordination between local communities and the National Park service. Comprised of representatives from the six towns within the park, the commonwealth of massachusetts and the secretary of interior, this Advisory Commission gives surrounding communities a voice in the management of the seashore. So id like to thank representative keating for his leadership in introducing this important legislation, and i urge my colleagues to support h. R. 182. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock madam speaker, i rise in support of h. R. 182, which extends the authorization of the Cape Cod National seashore Advisory Commission until 2028. It was established in 1961. It comprises more than 40,000 acres on came cod, massachusetts. The enabling legislation also provided for an Advisory Commission comprised of six cape cod communities located within the seashore and the county to consult with the secretary of the interior about the development of the seashore. This is as it should be. The federal government must be a Good Neighbor to the communities that its lands impact and consulting them as partners is a fundamental point of this principle. One of the unique aspects of this Advisory Commission is that the secretary of interior cannot issue commercial, industrial, or recreational permits without the advice of the commission as long as action is taken in a timely manner. In addition, the Commission Meets regularly with the park superintendent to discuss specific seashore issues and to advise him about seashore programs, facilities, and activities providing valuable local feedback to the National Seashore. This feedback helps to promote sound Park Management and improve Public Access and it ensures that the National Park service is a Good Neighbor to its surrounding communities. This is a model of how the federal governments land managers should be governed. My only regret is its provisions dont apply to every community affected by federal landholdings. Can i not help but note that the federal government owns just 1. 2 of massachusetts while giving great deference to its local communities. It owns 46 of my state of california and off gives local communities impacted by its lands a dismissive brush off which is typical of the experience of our western states. In fact, i take this opportunity to ask my colleagues from massachusetts to consider what would happen to their communities if the federal government took over half of the land in their state, removed it from the tax rolls, severely restricted any productive use of that land, and then thumbed its nose at the concerns and complaints of local communities . Thankfully this administration is taking a cooperative and supportive position in recent years and improved conditions greatly. But that doesnt guarantee that future administrations wont revert to the washington knows best approach thats produced no end of problems for the people of our western states. Id urge adoption of the measure and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from california is ecognized. Madam speaker, i would like to yield to the representative from massachusetts who is honored to represent the second most beautiful National Seashore in america, mr. Keating for as much times may consume. The speaker pro tempore gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Ing i rise in support of my mr. Keating i rise in support of my bill. Want to thank the chair from Natural Resources for yielding and i want to thank both of my colleagues from california for supporting this bill. Cape Cod National Seashore was created by president kennedy in 1961. His vision was to preserve the unique landscape of the outer cape for recreation and enjoyment for all americans. Forever. Today more than four million people, both americans and those from around the world, travel to cape cod every year to experience the National Beauty and recreation that the Cape Cod National seashore provides. However, when the national when the Cape Cod National seashore was proposed, it presented challenges to residents of cape cod. Unique to locating a National Park on a peninsula with a limited area and with very small communities within that area. Many of the communities in the outer cape the National Seashore was designed to occupy as much as 80 of the available land effectively foreclosing other Economic Development options after the park was established. And while the promise of president kennedys vision, the outer cape was realized with the National Seashore drawing millions of people from around the world to the cape, the importance of the Advisory Commission to the National Seashore and its Host Communities is still important today, as important as it was almost 60 years ago. The Advisory Commission was at the heart of president kennedys vision for the National Seashore. As he recognized that the Host Communities would need a voice, a voice in the National Seashore affairs after the park was formed. To this end it was important that the Host Communities retain a formal structure to advise seashore leadership and the park service about how actions taken within the park would affect them and their communities. And the reason for the powers granted the Advisory Commission in its enabling legislation are just as perfect swaysive perfect saysive today as it was. It affects the lives of thousands of my constituents in the Host Communities, those decisions should be made with the input of those communities. Some have suggested that the Authority Regarding the commercial activity granted to the seashore Advisory Commission and enabling legislation is no longer necessary. This is simply not the case. Suggestions that the value of having a regulatory unity among the National Park lands and various Advisory Commissions are unperfect saysive when one considers the unique nature of cape cod. Such a bureaucratic consideration could possibly outweigh the important benefits that the seashore Advisory Commission provides to my constituents is just laughable. Today just as in the 1960s, the unique nature of the outer cape represents the same challenges to those that live there with respect to the National Seashore. The most effective way to address the concerns of the outer Cape Community is to ensure that a functioning Advisory Commission is sitting and can continue to play its Important Role in the community. Long ago president kennedy envisioned what responsible selfgovernance looks like on the outer cape. A balance between the seashore, the towns, and a place where all parties could come together again in the spirit of sustaining the community as a whole. Thats the vision of the Advisory Commission. Over the past few years, the outer cape region has faced some of the toughest challenges with climate change, coastal erosion, ocean acidfication, and new concerns about sharks in the waters off cape cod. Cape codders are grapeling with. So most difficult issues to face the communities have seen in years. Under these circumstances, the commissions absence is felt every day. Thats why i ask my colleagues to support this straightforward piece of legislation. A bill thats been passed by this house in the last congress that will reactivate and effective tool thats provided an Important Role for the cape cod community, my community. For nearly 60 years. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts yields back. The gentleman from california reserves. Le the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock is my friend ready to close . Madam speaker, i ask for adoption of this measure and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The gentleman from california is recognized. Respectfully request an aye vote and i yield the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 182. Those in favor say aye. Hose opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid pon the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I move that the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 255 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 255, a bill to provide for an exchange of lands with the San Bernardino county, california, to enhance management of lands within the San Bernardino National Forest, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman, and the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman. Mr. Huffman thank you, madam speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and include remarks extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Huffman madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Huffman h. R. 255 introduced by representative cook would authorize an equal Value Exchange between the u. S. Forest service in San Bernardino county. This exchange would enable the county to build a resource consequence tation and recovery facility. This will increase efficiency and safety of timber processing and recycling in that area. In return, the Forest Service would receive an undeveloped end holding in the San Bernardino National Forest. The bill is a perfect example of house, through a collaborative process, we can meet the needs of local stakeholders while continuing to protect our environment and public lands. So i would like to congratulate and thank my colleague, representative cook, for introducing this legislation. And urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock. Mr. Mcclintock thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock mr. Speaker, h. R. 255, introduced by congressman cook of california, authorizes a locally supported equal value Land Exchange between the Forest Service and San Bernardino county. The countys proposed to convey an inland parcel within the San Bernardino National Forest to the Forest Service in exchange for land further north to be conveyed by the county. The land conveyed by the county will allow needed Forest Management infrastructure to be located closer to the forest and promote road safety by reducing the need to drive Forest Products down narrow, winding roads. H. R. 255 also authorizes cooperation between the county and the Forest Service to relocate a portion of the Pacific Crest National Scenic trail if needed and requires that the trail relocation be completed before the exchange is consummated. This legislation is the result of a congressman who has listened to the voices of his community and administration sympathetic to the plight of our polite of plight of our forest communities and representatives forward a reasonable and workable plan. I urge adoption of the measure and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california reserves. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman. Mr. Huffman thank you, mr. Speaker. At this time i recognize for as much time as he may consume the gentleman from southern california, mr. Aguilar. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Aguilar thank you, mr. Speaker. I appreciate the gentleman from california offering me some time. And i want to thank representative cook as well for his efforts. I rise in support of the big bear Land Exchange act. My community in San Bernardino county experiences some of the highest levels of air pollution anywhere in the country. And in order to combat this pollution, we must find ways to reduce emissions in our region. And this bill will help us do just that. This Land Exchange between the county and the federal government will allow the establishment of a recycling and Recovery Center in my neighboring district, and this facility would decrease the long distances that trucks have to travel to dispose of waste and will allow us to divert this waste by repurposing recyclable materials. This legislation is good for our communities and is a smart way to help mitigate pollution and combat climate change. Id like to thank my colleague, representative cook, for his work in championing this bill, and for his bipartisan collaboration. Ive worked with mr. Cook on a number of issues representing San Bernardino county. Nobody is more thoughtful when it comes to what our future direction holds, and i know his heart is in San Bernardino county as well. And no one will ever doubt that about his intent. Just because he doesnt want to hang out here with us in this facility oftentimes doesnt mean that he isnt publicly driven and publicly minded in order to deliver for his constituents. This bill is one of those examples and i look forward to working with my colleague the remainder of the next 12 months and in the years ahead and i thank him for his efforts in this regard. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Huffman i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Mcclintock i share my colleagues high words of praise and warmth for our colleague, mr. Cook, the author of this measure. And i am also somewhat annoyed with him for his decision to leave the congress at the end of this session, for the county