Washington Report, December 1985

United States Senator Chic Hecht's Washington Report VOLUME 1 NUMBER 6 WASHINGTON, D.C. DECEMBER, 1985 Dear Friends: The third annual "Chat with Chic" tour of the state this summer was very helpful in allowing my staff and me to focus on the various issues and problems throughout all parts of Nevada. About a dozen members of my Washington and Nevada staffs travel with me in two vans each year during late August and early September when Congress is in recess. -As a result, we have a good idea how Nevadans feel about nuclear waste, wilderness-, the federal deficit and tax reform. The nearly 2,000 mile journey took us from Clark County up through rural communities as far north as Jackpot, concluding ten days later in Reno. The trip is especially valuable to rural Nevadans who can speak to me face-to-face rather than writing or visiting one of my offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City. This report is designed to help keep you informed on the different issues and how they are being handled here in Washington. I hope you will take a few moments to examine this newsletter and to share your thoughts with me. Senate Takes Steps To Balance Budget On October 9, the United States Senate overwhelmingly approved an amendment I co-sponsored, which would mandate a balanced budget in five years. Balancing the federal budget is the most important domestic issue facing the United States today. Our trade imbalance, the over-valued dollar, high interest rates and devastating problems in agriculture, are all directly related to excessive federal spending. Last year, the federal government borrowed $200 billion. Like money that you borrow for a mortgage or car loan, it must be paid back plus interest. Almost one out of every two dollars you pay in personal federal income taxes goes to pay off this debt. Interest payments alone comprise over thirteen per-cent of all federal spending. Maintaining our economic prosperity demands that this situation be ended. No solution to this alarm-ing problem will be easy. But Senate approval of this amendment to balance the budget by 1991 is an impor-tant step. The amendment mandates reductions in deficit spending by annual cuts of $36 billion for the next five years, until the deficit reaches zero. The amendment requires the President and Congress to write budgets that annually reduce the deficit to meet the five-year goal. Congress would be prohibited from en-tertaining amendments that exceed the prescribed limits, unless offsetting savings in other programs or increased revenues are included. If, toward the close of the fiscal year, the official es-timates of spending actually $200 $150 $100 $50 0 Source: Congressional Budget Office exceed the amounts autho-rized by the budget, the President would be required by law to make across-the-board cuts in most programs, with the exception of Social Security. Because Social Security is separately funded through a dedicated Trust Fund, the Senate amendment specifically ex-cludes it from these cuts. This amendment provides us with a new, workable solu-tion to our skyrocketing deficit problem. Each year, it would bring us closer to a balanced budget. Chart/Senate Republican Conference ^ - T H E __ -PROPOSAL G r a m m - R u d m a n Hecht Trip Sparks Quick Results One major advantage to spending much of August traveling throughout the state is the ability to cut through bureaucratic red tape and get right down to solving local problems. A good example occurred when we were in Wells where Vern Dalton, the President of Wells Rural Electric Company, asked for help in obtaining more than $3 million in low interest loans from the Rural Electrification Administration. Following a phone call to the administrator, the loan was approved enabling Wells to finance 89 miles of distribu-tion line and expand service to Pine Valley. Only a few days earlier, I was asked by Mineral County Commissioners to assist in ex-pediting a $700,000 federal grant to help develop a new water system for the city of Hawthorne. Within two weeks, I was informed by the Economic Development Ad-ministration that the county would be sent an "accep-tance package," paving the way for receipt of money needed to bring a new supply of water to Hawthorne from Whiskey Flats, 10 miles to the south. The federal grant will be matched by approximately $550,000 already earmarked by Mineral County for the project, plus an additional $150,000 which has been received from the State. The EDA grant was good news for Hawthorne. In its application, Mineral County officials explained that the economic health of the area was in jeopardy because of Hawthorne's poor water sup-ply, and that the county had been forced to put a morato-rium on business and building permits until the water prob-lem was solved. In Battle Mountain, I heard complaints that fire-fighters trying to contain Nevada's huge range fires had eaten meals which were flown in from Las Vegas at a cost of $45,000. After investigating the report, I was informed by the Bureau of Land Management that caterers are called in for larger fires, where at least 50 to 100 firefighters are on duty, under a contract which stipulates the crews receive three meals a day. When a caterer must travel a long way to an emergency site, meals are sometimes flown in at first until a kitchen can be set up on site. According to the BLM, Battle Mountain received ap-proximately $40,000 locally on food alone, while in Win-nemucca, agencies spent more than $400,000 in restaurant, motel and other costs, while firefighters were in the area this summer. It's good to know that much of the money spent to feed firefighters went right back into the local economies. Unfortunately, not every problem is solved so quickly. On our second annual tour, I learned that because Wend-over had no Nevada zip code of its own, mail service was delayed by several days. It took nearly a year, but I'm pleased to announce the new Wendover, Nevada zip code is 89883. Inspecting Vern Dalton's ranch near Wells during 1985. 'Chat with Chic" Tour, Senate Moves On Low-Level Waste The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved legislation November 13 designed to avert a crisis next year in the disposal of low-level nuclear waste. Federal law currently requires all states to enter into a compact for low-level waste disposal or have a disposal plan by next year, but the deadline was extended until 1992 after states failed to act. Low-level nuclear waste is now disposed of in dump sites only in Nevada, Washington and South Carolina. Governors of the three states had indicated they might try to restrict access to their sites if Congress did not take steps to encourage other states to dispose of such waste themselves or through these regional compacts. Hospitals and other sources which generate low-level waste would have to reduce the volume of their waste, pay rising surcharges at the three current dump sites until 1993, and could be barred from using the sites if their states fall behind schedule for opening their own new regional repositories. This legislation, which I'm co-sponsoring, averts a nation-wide crisis. It's a good compromise and something everyone can live with. Similar bills are currently pending in the House and I'm optimistic the legislation will be approved this year. Office Addresses and Phone Numbers WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE 302 Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone (202) 224-6244 LAS VEGAS OFFICE 300 Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 426 Las Vegas, NV 89101 Phone (702) 388-6605 RENO OFFICE 300 Booth Street, Suite 2014 Reno, NV 89509 Phone (702) 784-5007 CARSON CITY OFFICE 308 N. Curry Street, Room 201 Carson City, NV 89701 Phone (702) 885-9111 Roadless Wilderness Areas Not For Everyone Without a doubt, no is-sue has been more misunder-stood by Nevada city dwellers than the issue of how much Wilderness we should lock up in vast, roadless areas of our State. We all want to pre-serve our beautiful scenic areas for future generations. The major question is how much of society should be al-lowed to enjoy the natural beauty of our land. With nearly 90 percent of Nevada already owned by some agency of the federal government, it is imperative for those of us in Congress to exercise good judgement be-fore we rush to permanently lock up millions of additional acres of U.S. Forest Service land and close it off to all but a handful of hardy backpack-ers. Most Nevadans tend to agree, especially once they understand the difference be-tween a scenic National Park and a roadless Wilderness area. Senator Laxalt, Con-gressman Vucanovich and I introduced legislation last spring that would designate four new Wilderness areas totaling 137,000 acres. In September, Congressman Reid introduced his own bill: 10 sites and 722,900 acres. Ohio's representative, John Seiberling proposes locking up 19 Nevada sites totaling 1.4 million acres. Obviously, we are sharply divided on this question. The only public hearings thus far came in October before a House subcommittee which produced a bill proposing nearly one million acres and includes the creation of a Great Basin National Park in the Mt. Wheeler area of White Pine County. Because few Nevadans were heard on this issue, I've scheduled five public hearings in February on the Wilderness proposals. They will be held in Ely, Elko, Winnemucca, Reno and Las Vegas. Hopefully, we'll be able to get a strong consensus of what Nevadans want. The Nevada hearings are important. Even Rep. Morris Udall, D-Ariz., a staunch environmentalist, said he had "some misgivings" about creating a National Park with out benefit of public hearings. All along our tour, Nevadans expressed the view that the multiple land-use concept has kept our State beautiful and open to all, not just to those physically able to climb mountains and backpack. In early September, one constituent stated it well. He wrote: "A wilderness area is the singularly most dis-criminating concept to ever evolve in our federal statutory scheme. A wilderness area is so completely restrictive by way of access and use of land that enormous numbers of American citizens will be forever prohibited from ever viewing the magnificent lands so classified." He added, "I agree that beautiful land should be preserved and not destroyed. However, the lands belong to all of the citizens and not just a few. the impact of such restric-tions on our ranching, min-ing, and tourism industries. The Laxalt-Hecht- Vucanovich bill recognizes the fact that this Forest Service Wilderness bill is only the first in a series of Wilderness proposals to be decided for Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management is already con-ducting Wilderness studies on more than four million acres in our State. The Fish and Wildlife Service has also recommended more than a million acres, and the Nation-al Park Service is proposing several hundred thousand ad-ditional acres of Wilderness. In each case, any Wilder-ness legislation should strive to achieve a proper balance between those Nevadans who wish to use our land for a variety of activities, and the special interest groups who want it all for themselves. Please remove and check the appropriate box if you would like to be kept informed on a specific issue. ?? fifc? E \ *. Hiking with staff and park rangers at Mt. Wheeler during "Chat with Chic' Tour, 1985. The wilderness area prohibits the use or viewing by millions of Americans who suffer vari-ous handicaps. The restric-tions discriminate and preclude the use of or view-ing of the lands to a majority of Americans due to age (too young or too old), as well as the millions who are other-wise physically handicapped." I totally agree! Multiple-use of our land is preferable to providing millions of acres of Nevada for only a relatively small group of hikers who would have the wilderness all to themselves. Keep in mind, under a wilderness designa-tion there would be no roads, no recreational vehicles, no ski lifts, and no eating estab-lishments. We must examine Defense Foreign Policy ? Energy ? Wilderness ? Budget Deficit ? Senior Issues ? Environment ? Other _ _ Name Address City State Zip Mail to: U.S. Senator Chic Hecht U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 ISSUE: ISSUE UPDATE STATUS COMMENTS WILDERNESS 3 bills introduced Hecht-Laxalt-Vucanovich Bill: 4 sites 137,000 acres Reid Bill: 10 sites 722,900 acres Seiberling Bill: 19 sites, 1.4 million acres Hearings underway Congressional delegation sharply divided Details elsewhere in this report LAND SWAP BLM-FS agencies still pushing, Strong opposition from Nevadans. legislative environmental impact Agencies have not proved savings, statement pending. Hecht-Laxalt compromise proposed NUCLEAR WASTE Dept. of Energy will select three Final selection follows scientific testing (HIGH LEVEL) preliminary sites by January, 1986. in 5 or 6 years. Hecht-Laxalt have requested additional sites studied. DEFICIT REDUCTION $55 billion cut this summer More cuts ahead. Details elsewhere in this report. TAX REFORM House has passed a bill out of the Ways and Means Committee Attacks from special interest groups. Chances for final action slim this year. 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT HECHT BILL Has 16 co-sponsors to give states right to modify speeds on certain rural highways. Hope to attach to the Highway Authorization Bill. GARCIA SUPREME COURT DECISION Hecht co-sponsored S. 1570 to overturn ruling requiring most government employees receive overtime pay instead of "comp time" House and Senate approved compromise. Signed into law 11/13/85. SUPER CONDUCTING, SUPER COLLIDER Nevada under consideration for research projects Senators Laxalt and Hecht lobbying for State. SOUTH AFRICA President has imposed limited Sanctions would hurt Blacks most, sanctions. Vote withheld in Senate. while driving U.S. ally toward Soviet Bloc. Meeting with constituents in the Park at Eureka during "Chat with Chic" Tour, 1985. UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 PUBLIC DOCUMENT OFFICIAL BUSINESS Postal Patron NEVADA U.S.S. BLK. RT. CAR-RT-SORT 8 8