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. sources assessment of Rota in 2005, Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I (g) DURATION OF AUTHORITY.—The author- concluded that designating Rota as move to suspend the rules and pass the ity provided under this section shall termi- part of the National Park System ap- bill (H.R. 862) to authorize the convey- nate three years after the date of the enact- peared to be the best way to ensure the ance of two small parcels of land with- ment of this Act. long-term protection of Rota’s pre- in the boundaries of the Coconino Na- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- historic and historic natural and man- tional Forest containing private im- ant to the rule, the gentleman from made habitat structures. provements that were developed based Utah (Mr. BISHOP) and the gentleman Mr. Speaker, again, I commend Mr. upon the reliance of the landowners in from the Northern Mariana Islands SABLAN for his leadership. I urge my an erroneous survey conducted in May (Mr. SABLAN) each will control 20 min- colleagues to support this bill. 1960. utes. I want to also share with my col- The Clerk read the title of the bill. The Chair recognizes the gentleman leagues a little bit of history. The text of the bill is as follows: from Utah. b 1730 H.R. 862 GENERAL LEAVE Twenty miles away from the island Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I ask unani- of Rota is the island called Tinian in resentatives of the United States of America in mous consent that all Members may the Northern Mariana Islands. This is Congress assembled, have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- where the Enola Gay was launched and SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO CORRECT tend their remarks and include extra- ERRONEOUS SURVEY, COCONINO neous materials on the bill under con- delivered the two atomic bombs that NATIONAL FOREST, ARIZONA. were dropped in the war in Japan, (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Sec- sideration. which brought about the closing of retary of Agriculture may convey by quit- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there World War II, especially against Japan. claim deed all right, title, and interest of the objection to the request of the gen- So in terms of historical perspec- United States in and to the two parcels of tleman from Utah? tives, Rota, Tinian, the Northern Mar- land described in subsection (b) to a person There was no objection. iana Islands, I think you’ve made a tre- or legal entity that represents (by power of Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I reserve the attorney) the majority of landowners with mendous contribution for the better- balance of my time. private property adjacent to the two parcels. Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield ment of our country. These parcels are within the boundaries of And, again, I urge my colleagues to myself as much time as I may con- the Coconino National Forest and contain sume. support this legislation. private improvements that were developed Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I reserve the based upon the reliance of the landowners in Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects a sur- balance of my time. an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960. vey error made in the 1960s. The land- Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, before I (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The two parcels owners will be required to pay $20,000 yield back my time, I’d also like to of land authorized for conveyance under sub- for these two parcels. thank the gentleman from American section (a) consist of approximately 2.67 I want to commend my colleague, Samoa for his support of the bill. And acres described in the Bureau of Land Man- Congresswoman KIRKPATRICK, for her agement’s Survey Plat titled Subdivision leadership on this issue. And at this because he mentioned Tinian, the and Metes and Bounds Surveys in secs. 28 Enola Gay and the Boxcar did fly from time, I yield as much time as she may and 29, T. 20 N., R. 7 E., Gila and Salt River consume to the gentlewoman from Ari- Tinian to bomb Hiroshima and Naga- Meridian, approved February 2, 2010, as fol- saki and ended the war against Japan. lows: zona (Mrs. KIRKPATRICK). Those airplanes, I’d like to also note (1) Lot 2, sec. 28, T. 20 N., R. 7 E., Gila and Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the record, originated and took off Salt River Meridian, Coconino County, Ari- imagine waking up one day to learn from Utah before they came to the zona. that your property really isn’t yours. Mariana Islands. So there’s that con- (2) Lot 1, sec. 29, T. 20 N., R. 7 E., Gila and In fact, that’s exactly the situation Salt River Meridian, Coconino County, Ari- that a group of residents in my district nection here. zona. So Mr. BISHOP is actually the one find themselves in. (c) CONSIDERATION.— They didn’t cause the problem. Over who reminded me that while they took (1) AMOUNT OF CONSIDERATION.—As consid- off from Tinian, it was in Utah that eration for the conveyance of the two parcels 40 years ago it was created because of they started the flight to Tinian and under subsection (a), the person or legal en- a land survey that simply got it wrong. eventually flew to Japan. tity that represents (by power of attorney) For years, even decades, they’ve lived Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance the majority of landowners with private on their property, they’ve maintained of my time. property adjacent to the parcels shall pay to it, they’ve invested in it, only to find Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, he the Secretary consideration in the amount of that their property is within the did steal my thunder. They did train $20,000. boundaries of the United States Forest (2) DEPOSIT.—The Secretary shall deposit Service. and start in Wendover, Utah, which the consideration received under this sub- was part of my district until the legis- section in a special account in the fund es- Now, this has been a real economic lature became involved in district lines tablished under Public Law 90–171 (com- hardship for these folks. Today we have in this last session. monly known as the Sisk Act; 16 U.S.C. an opportunity to solve this for them. I urge my colleagues to support this 484a). I thank Congressman GOSAR and his particular piece of legislation and re- (3) USE.—The deposited funds shall be staff for the opportunity to work to- mind them that any costs that would available to the Secretary, without further gether on behalf of the people of Ari- be associated with this study has to be appropriation and until expended, for acqui- zona. Our bill, H.R. 862, has a simple, sition of land in the National Forest System. commonsense conveyance which re- appropriated. We have another chance (d) REVOCATION OF ORDERS.—Any public or- to look at that. I firmly support it. ders withdrawing any of the Federal land turns this land to its rightful owners I yield back the balance of my time. from appropriation or disposal under the and removes this economic hardship The SPEAKER pro tempore. The public land laws are revoked to the extent that has been hanging over them for so question is on the motion offered by necessary to permit conveyance of the Fed- long. the gentleman from Utah (Mr. BISHOP) eral land under subsection (a). We are pleased that the bill has bi- that the House suspend the rules and (e) WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL LAND.—Sub- partisan support, that it passed out of pass the bill, H.R. 674. ject to valid existing rights, the Federal land Natural Resources with a unanimous The question was taken; and (two- authorized for conveyance under subsection vote. And I urge my colleagues to join (a) is withdrawn from all forms of entry and thirds being in the affirmative) the appropriation under the public land laws, lo- us today to support H.R. 862, because rules were suspended and the bill was cation, entry, and patent under the mining these people have been living in limbo passed. laws, and operation of the mineral leasing for way too long. A motion to reconsider was laid on and geothermal leasing laws until the date Mr. BISHOP of Utah. At this time, I the table. which the conveyance is completed. yield as much time as he may consume

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