November 13, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9479 (H.R. 5636) to designate additions to acres in the Ouachita National Forest. to work with then-Senator Dale Bump- the Flatside Wilderness on the We are pleased to work with our col- ers’ office from Arkansas and Rep- Ouachita National Forest, and for leagues across the aisle to identify resentative Ed Bethune’s office and other purposes, as amended. areas that deserve wilderness designa- helped to secure the passage of the Ar- The Clerk read the title of the bill. tion and to increase conservation op- kansas Wilderness Act in the Senate. The text of the bill is as follows: portunities for our most wild and se- What a treat, three decades later, for H.R. 5636 rene places. me now to represent the Second Dis- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- This bill adds to a conservation leg- trict of Arkansas and see this good resentatives of the United States of America in acy signed into law by President work continue, while also being able to Congress assembled, Reagan and demonstrates that protec- recognize my predecessor, former Con- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. tion of public lands can be a bipartisan gressman of Arkansas’ Second District, This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Flatside Wilder- priority. We look forward to con- Ed Bethune. ness Enhancement Act’’. tinuing this work as we wrap up the I believe naming this tract for Con- SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO FLATSIDE WILDERNESS. Section 3(d) of Arkansas Wilderness Act of year and move into the next Congress. gressman Bethune is a proper way to 1984 (Public Law 98–508; 98 Stat. 2349) is amend- Mr. Speaker, I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on recognize him for his dedicated service ed by inserting ‘‘and certain land in the the bill, and I yield back the balance of for conservation causes important to Ouachita National Forest, which comprise ap- my time. The Natural State. This enthusiasm is proximately 640 acres, as generally depicted as Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield shared by the entire Arkansas delega- ‘Recommended Wilderness Area’ on the map ti- 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ar- tion. tled ‘Flatside Wilderness, Recommended Wilder- kansas (Mr. HILL), who introduced the Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my ness Area’, dated September 6, 2018’’ after bill. friends, Chairman BISHOP and Rep- ‘‘1984’’. Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS ADDITION. resentative WESTERMAN, for their help The wilderness addition created under section friend from Colorado for the time, and in advocating for this bill that is so im- 2 shall be known as the Bethune Woods-Flatside I appreciate the opportunity today to portant to my district, and I urge my Wilderness. Any reference in a law, map, regu- be on the House floor to talk about colleagues to support it. lation, document, paper, or other record of the H.R. 5636, the Flatside Wilderness En- Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield United States to such portion of the Flatside hancement Act, to preserve the wilder- back the balance of my time. Wilderness shall be deemed to be a reference to ness areas for future generations of Ar- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the Bethune Woods-Flatside Wilderness. kansans. question is on the motion offered by The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- On October 19, 1984, President Ronald the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. ant to the rule, the gentleman from Reagan signed into law the Arkansas LAMBORN) that the House suspend the Colorado (Mr. LAMBORN) and the gen- Wilderness Act, which set aside the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5636, as tlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. HANABUSA) first wilderness areas in the State of amended. each will control 20 minutes. Arkansas. One of those wilderness The question was taken; and (two- The Chair recognizes the gentleman areas created by this act was Flatside, from Colorado. thirds being in the affirmative) the which is located in both Perry County rules were suspended and the bill, as GENERAL LEAVE and Saline County, both of which are amended, was passed. Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask in my district. A motion to reconsider was laid on unanimous consent that all Members In 2005, the U.S. Forest Service rec- the table. may have 5 legislative days to revise ommended that these 640 acres be in- and extend their remarks and include cluded in the national wilderness pro- f extraneous material on the bill under gram, stating that adding these lands CONGRESSMAN LESTER WOLFF consideration. to the wilderness program would estab- NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there lish a more logical and manageable Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move objection to the request of the gen- boundary for these areas and is con- tleman from Colorado? to suspend the rules and pass the bill sistent with the forest management (H.R. 6064) to rename the Oyster Bay There was no objection. plan. Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield National Wildlife Refuge as the Con- This measure is a first step in en- gressman Lester Wolff National Wild- myself such time as I may consume. hancing Flatside. Additional measures Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5636 adds approxi- life Refuge. are being considered to study other mately 640 acres to the 9,500-acre The Clerk read the title of the bill. U.S. forest lands that are suitable for Flatside Wilderness in the Ouachita The text of the bill is as follows: addition to the area adjacent to National Forest. H.R. 6064 Flatside. We are also working to re- b 1615 store certain adjacent areas that were Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- in former private ownership to native resentatives of the United States of America in This land has been studied and rec- Congress assembled, ommended as an addition to the wilder- species. Perry County offers something very SECTION 1. FINDINGS. ness by the U.S. Forest Service. The Congress finds the following: The bill also names the addition after special for Arkansans, visitors young (1) The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Ref- Congressman Ed Bethune, who served and old alike, seeking a unique, au- uge was created in 1968. It is located on the the people of Arkansas from 1979 to thentic outdoor recreation experience. north shore of Long Island in eastern Nassau 1985. This tourism has had a positive effect County, is the largest refuge in the Long Is- This relatively minor change will es- on Arkansas’ economy, especially in land National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and tablish more manageable wilderness these largely rural counties. By in- receives the most public use of all the ref- boundaries, allowing the Forest Serv- creasing the wilderness area and pro- uges in the Complex. moting it, Arkansas, especially in (2) The State of New York designated Oys- ice to take better care of the land. ter Bay a significant coastal fish and wildlife Most importantly, this new wilderness Perry County, can attract more people habitat. It is especially important for win- designation has local support and sup- to enjoy these natural resources and tering waterfowl such as black duck, greater port from the Arkansas delegation. continue the trend of tourism’s posi- scaup, bufflehead, canvasback and long- Mr. Speaker, I commend my col- tive impact on Arkansas’ economy. tailed ducks. Management activities include league, Congressman FRENCH HILL, for It is important to note that this bill wetland restoration and protection of the introducing this legislation to benefit is narrowly tailored to only place lands natural shoreline and vegetation. his district. I urge adoption of the carefully selected by the U.S. Forest (3) The refuge is unique in consisting solely measure, and I reserve the balance of Service into the wilderness area. It will of bay bottom and adjacent shoreline up to the mean high-tide mark. Ninety percent of my time. not affect any private property. New York’s commercial oyster harvest Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, this comes from the refuge. Visitors enjoy fish- myself such time as I may consume. bill is of particular importance to me ing, wildlife observation, photography and This bill amends the Arkansas Wil- because, as a young Senate staffer environmental education. The refuge is truly derness Act of 1984 to designate 640 working on the Hill in 1984, I was able a national treasure. VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:23 Nov 14, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13NO7.013 H13NOPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H9480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 13, 2018 (4) Many visitors are unaware that were it uge as the Lester Wolff National Wild- able to enjoy his 100th birthday cele- not for the tireless work and advocacy of life Refuge in honor of the former Long brating the naming of the Congressman then-freshman Congressman Lester Wolff, Island North Shore Congressman. Lester Wolff National Wildlife Refuge. this area would today be an 8.5-mile cause- Elected to the United States House of Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, we are way and bridge across Long Island Sound be- Representatives in 1965, Congressman prepared to close. tween Oyster Bay and Rye, New York, con- Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield necting Nassau and Westchester Counties. Wolff served eight terms representing (5) The bridge was first proposed by Robert the people of New York. During that myself the balance of my time. Moses, the well-known New York City Plan- time, he successfully pushed to create I would like to commend Representa- ner, to divert traffic from New York City.