George Miller: “I rise in support of his motion to instruct conferees to maintain the House position that he has offered. The House has…”

“I rise in support of his motion to instruct conferees to maintain the House position that he has offered. The House has passed a clean energy and water bill without controversy over antienvironmental legislative riders which have bogged down Interior and other appropriations bills. The Vento motion to instruct would put the House on record in opposition to a $20 million Alaska grant program which has been included as a rider in the Senate bill. It is my understanding that the original intent of authorizing these funds was for the purpose of improving sanitation, drinking water and other basic needs of remote native villages in Alaska. Let me clearly state that I recognize the serious problems in rural Alaska and support responsible congressional efforts to address them. But the Senate rider, as presently drafted, is not limited to using Federal funds to meet priority needs of native Alaskans. Instead, the Senate would empower a five-person commission to develop a statewide, comprehensive plan for economic and infrastructure development. No native Alaskan nor rural Alaskan is directly appointed to the commission.”