Congressional Record—House H3663
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
June 17, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3663 area a much safer and pleasant experi- and the Rota bridled white-eye birds, that the Secretary of the Interior to deter- ence on Y Mountain, and so I urge my are also native to the island of Rota. Three mine whether it would be suitable and colleagues to vote for this bill. endangered plant species are also found on feasible to add certain cultural, ar- I yield back the balance of my time. Rota and two are endemic to the island. cheological, historical, and natural re- (7) Because of the significant cultural and The SPEAKER pro tempore. The natural resources listed above, on September sources on the island of Rota in the question is on the motion offered by 2005, the National Park Service, Pacific West Northern Marianas to the National the gentleman from Utah (Mr. BISHOP) Region, completed a preliminary resource Park System. that the House suspend the rules and assessment on the island of Rota, Common- The House has already voted to au- pass the bill, H.R. 253, as amended. wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, thorize the suitability and feasibility The question was taken. which determined that the ‘‘establishment of study for Rota on two separate occa- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the a unit of the national park system sions, but the other body did not follow opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being appear[ed] to be the best way to ensure the long term protection of Rota’s most impor- through, so here we are again. The in the affirmative, the ayes have it. tant cultural resources and its best examples third time may be the charm. Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I of its native limestone forest.’’. Mindful of the previous House votes, demand the yeas and nays. SEC. 2. NPS STUDY OF SITES ON THE ISLAND OF I will not preach to the choir, but I do The yeas and nays were ordered. ROTA, COMMONWEALTH OF THE think that it is worth reminding my The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. colleagues that a Park Service recon- ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior naissance survey reported in 2005 that ceedings on this motion will be post- shall— Rota contains natural, archaeological, poned. (1) carry out a study regarding the suit- ability and feasibility of designating pre- and historical features of national sig- f historic, historic, and limestone forest sites nificance. These include precontact vil- on the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the lage sites of the Chamorro people, who ROTA CULTURAL AND NATURAL Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the discovered and populated the Mariana RESOURCES STUDY ACT National Park System; and Islands 3,500 years ago. Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I (2) consider management alternatives for I also want to remind my colleagues, move to suspend the rules and pass the the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the because we’re all mindful of cost, that Northern Mariana Islands. bill (H.R. 674) to authorize the Sec- the Congressional Budget Office finds (b) STUDY PROCESS AND COMPLETION.—Ex- retary of the Interior to study the suit- cept as provided by subsection (c) of this sec- the bill will not affect direct spending ability and feasibility of designating tion, section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 or revenues. prehistoric, historic, and limestone for- U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) shall apply to the conduct and Finally, I want to thank Chairman est sites on Rota, Commonwealth of completion of the study required by this sec- HASTINGS and Ranking Member MAR- the Northern Mariana Islands, as a tion. KEY of the Natural Resources Com- unit of the National Park System. (c) SUBMISSION OF STUDY RESULTS.—Not mittee for their support of H.R. 674. I later than 3 years after the date that funds The Clerk read the title of the bill. also want to thank Chairman BISHOP The text of the bill is as follows: are made available for this section, the Sec- retary shall submit to the Committee on and Ranking Member GRIJALVA of the H.R. 674 Natural Resources of the House of Rep- Subcommittee on Public Lands and En- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives and the Committee on Energy vironmental Regulation for their help resentatives of the United States of America in and Natural Resources of the Senate a report in bringing this measure to the floor Congress assembled, describing the results of the study. today. I urge my colleagues to support SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- passage of H.R. 674. (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as ant to the rule, the gentleman from At this time, I yield such time as he the ‘‘Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Utah (Mr. BISHOP) and the gentleman may consume to the gentleman from Study Act’’. from the Northern Mariana Islands American Samoa (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA). (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: (1) The island of Rota was the only major (Mr. SABLAN) each will control 20 min- Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, island in the Mariana Islands to be spared utes. this is getting to be an island occasion the destruction and large scale land use The Chair recognizes the gentleman or something. But at any rate, I do changes brought about by World War II. from Utah. thank the gentleman from Utah and (2) The island of Rota has been described GENERAL LEAVE the gentleman from the Northern Mari- by professional archeologists as having the Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I ask unani- anas for allowing me to comment on most numerous, most intact, and generally this proposed legislation. the most unique prehistoric sites of any of mous consent that all Members may the islands of the Mariana Archipelago. have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support (3) The island of Rota contains remaining tend their remarks, and include extra- of H.R. 674, the Rota Cultural and Nat- examples of what is known as the Latte neous materials on the bill under con- ural Resources Act. Phase of the cultural tradition of the indige- sideration. First, I want to thank the gentleman nous Chamorro people of the Mariana Is- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there from the Commonwealth of the North- lands. Latte stone houses are remnants of objection to the request of the gen- ern Mariana Islands, my dear friend the ancient Chamorro culture. tleman from Utah? Mr. SABLAN, for his authorship of this (4) Four prehistoric sites are listed on the important piece of legislation that will National Register of Historic Places: There was no objection. Monchon Archeological District (also known Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I authorize the Secretary of the Interior locally as Monchon Latte Stone Village), yield myself such time as I may con- to study the suitability and feasibility Taga Latte Stone Quarry, the Dugi Archeo- sume. of designating prehistoric, historic, and logical Site that contains latte stone struc- Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes a limestone forest sites on Rota, the tures, and the Chugai Pictograph Cave that study for the suitability and feasibility southernmost island of CNMI, as a unit contains examples of ancient Chamorro rock of designating this particular area as of the National Park System. art. Alaguan Bay Ancient Village is another part of a unit of the National Park This legislation is critical to CNMI latte stone prehistoric site that is sur- rounded by tall-canopy limestone forest. System. I think it is a wise concept in and will enable the preservation of vil- (5) In addition to prehistoric sites, the is- which to go to find out the cultural lage sites of the ancient Chamorro peo- land of Rota boasts historic sites remaining and natural resources that are on this ple and Rota’s native limestone forests from the Japanese period (1914–1945). Several particular area and look forward to its that provide a habitat for locally and of these sites are on the National Register of further designation. federally endangered listed bird spe- Historic Places: Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki With that, I reserve the balance of cies, including the Mariana crow and Kaisha Sugar Mill, Japanese Coastal Defense my time. the Rota bridled white-eye birds. Gun, and the Japanese Hospital. Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. Speaker, this legislation pre- (6) The island of Rota’s natural resources are significant because of the extent and in- myself such time as I may consume. viously passed the House in the last tact condition of its native limestone forest Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. Congress, but, unfortunately, the Sen- that provides habitat for several federally 674, the Rota Cultural and Natural Re- ate did not have time in its agenda to endangered listed species, the Mariana crow, sources Study Act. The bill authorizes address the legislation prior to the end VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:33 Jul 12, 2013 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD13\RECFILES\H17JN3.REC H17JN3 bjneal on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3664 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 17, 2013 of the Congress. Leaders of Rota unani- CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO COR- (f) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The mously support this legislation. Addi- RECT ERRONEOUS SURVEY, conveyance authorized by subsection (a) tionally, the National Park Service, COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST, shall be subject only to those surveys and after completing a preliminary re- ARIZONA clearances as needed to protect the interests of the United States.