I rise today to honor my constituents, Joan and Ray Conn, who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their leadership as one of the founding families of the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio.

Joan and Ray Conn are to be commended for their tireless devotion to the community as a whole and for the important role they played in making the dream of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy a reality.

Joan and Ray Conn worked together on many important initiatives for CHCA, including helping to form the vision for the school and spearheading fund raising efforts.

Martha and Carl's involvement with CHCA began twelve years ago when they worked to develop a vision for the school, and their deep commitment to CHCA has never wavered.

Our country's reluctance to aid the Spanish Republican government did not deter these brave people who understood what the consequences were if a legitimately elected government were to fall.

The strength of character of Clarence Kailin and others from Wisconsin who volunteered in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade are the qualities which we all can take pride in and celebrate in this Congress.

I want to express my gratitude to these men and women who helped to defend the democratic Spanish Republic from fascist aggression, at a time when the fate of democracy in Europe was being threatened by all sides of the political spectrum.

I rise to honor Mr. Clarence Kailin of Madison, and the brave men and women who volunteered to serve in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War, especially those courageous volunteers from my home state of Wisconsin.

Their foresight in recognizing the rising tyranny of fascism was a call to arms that went unheeded by the free world, and resulted in the long and bloody conflict that became World War II.

The bill I am introducing today will facilitate the leasing of Navajo allotted land for oil and gas development by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to approve oil and gas leases on Navajo allotted lands when less then 100 percent of the owners agree to such lease.

This legislation would correct a serious problem facing the Navajo people in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico--the issue of 'fractionated lands.'

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation, which is being co-sponsored by my colleagues J.D. Hayworth of Arizona and Chris Cannon of Utah, that provides for the leasing of oil and gas rights on certain lands held in trust for the Navajo Nation or allotted to a member of the Navajo Nation.

In the mean time, I believe it is appropriate to consider a stop-gap measure aimed at stimulating near-term economic development on fractionated Navajo lands.

Over time the number of owners with an interest in an allotment is compounded or fractionated. This unique system has not served the Navajo people well.

The Foundation has an ongoing commitment to protect the history and heritage of rural Missouri.

The park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a gift from the Foundation to the community.

Using local donations they bought the mill and 32 surrounding acres to form the Jolly Mill Park and formed the Jolly Mill Park Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to call attention to a group of dedicated people in the Seventh Congressional District of Missouri who demonstrate the impact of that spirit.