Speech transcript, February 10, 1987

ADDRESS TO THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE BY UNITED STATES SENATOR CHIC HECHT FEBRUARY 10, 1987 THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S ALWAYS REFRESHING TO COME HOME DURING THE CONGRESSIONAL RECESS TO REMIND MYSELF WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN THE "REAL WORLD." I'VE ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE FOUR YEARS, BUT I FEEL I'VE EARNED A BACHELORS DEGREE IN POLITICS. BY 1988, I SHOULD HAVE A PH.D. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. I BELIEVE THE TRADITION OF HAVING MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION COME HERE WITHOUT SUBPEONA MAY BE UNUSUAL. . .BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS MAINTAIN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND CARSON CITY. LAST TIME I STOOD HERE, I DISCUSSED NUCLEAR WASTE AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS. I WARNED THAT UNRESTRAINED POLITICAL OUTRAGE EXPRESSED BEFORE SCIENTIFIC DATA HAS BEEN COMPILED WOULD BE 2 PREMATURE AND COST US PENDING NUCLEAR-RELATED CONTRACTS LIKE THE $26 BILLION SP-lOO SPACE REACTOR RESEARCH PROJECT, I ALSO DISCUSSED THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN OUR STATE; WILDERNESS THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT; LAND SWAPS AND OTHER VITAL ISSUES OF THE MOMENT. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, I FIND MOST OF THEM ARE STILL ON OUR PLATE. ALTHOUGH THE REPUBLICANS LOST CONTROL OF THE SENATE LAST NOVEMBER, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KEEP A SEAT ON. THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WHICH HANDLES SO MANY VITAL NEVADA ISSUES. AND WHILE WE'RE ALL GOING TO MISS SENATOR LAXALT, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER CLOSELY WITH OUR NEW SLATE: SENATOR HARRY REID, CONGRESSMAN JIM BILBRAY AND OF COURSE, BARBARA VUCANOVICH. AS YOUR SENIOR SENATOR, I PLEDGE TO MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF BI-PARTISAN COOPERATION AS WE TRY TO SOLVE THE ISSUES CRITICAL TO OUR STATE. NEVADA MUST AND WILL ALWAYS COME FIRST! NUCLEAR WASTE WILL BE AN ISSUE FACING NEVADA FOR SOME TIME. IT CANNOT BE "WISHED AWAY." LAST YEAR'S DECISION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO "POSTPONE" INDEFINITELY, PLANS TO SEEK A SUITABLE REPOSITORY IN THE EAST WAS CLEARLY WRONG AND, IN MY VIEW, VIOLATED BOTH THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT AND THE INTENT OF CONGRESS. 3 NUCLEAR WASTE IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM, IT REQUIRES A NATIONAL SOLUTION, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, NEVADA MUST MAINTAIN A POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY. OTHERWISE, WE LOSE ALL CREDIBILITY, ESPECIALLY WITH CONGRESS: THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, THE BOTTOM LINE HAS TO BE SAFETY, WHETHER IT'S OURS OR OUR NEIGHBORS. WE CAN'T PUT POLITICS ABOVE THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY I AM BASING MY POSITION ON FACTS AND SOUND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I WILL BE APPOINTING A BLUE-RIBBON PANEL OF THE BEST SCIENTISTS AVAILABLE, TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT STUDY OF ANY POSSIBLE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE EARTHQUAKE FAULT THAT RUNS THROUGH YUCCA MOUNTAIN AND THE MAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES GENERATED AT THE NEARBY TEST SITE. DURING THE ENERGY COMMITTEE HEARINGS LAST YEAR, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT ACCORDING TO DOE, NO EARTHQUAKE STUDY HAD EVER BEEN CONDUCTED. NUCLEAR WASTE OPPOSITION BASED ON SCIENTIFIC FACT WILL ULTIMATELY BEAR MUCH MORE WEIGHT IN THE FINAL DECISION THAN HYSTERIA AND POLITICAL RHETORIC. THE PANEL WILL REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE SENATE POSSIBLY WITHIN TWO YEARS. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE MANY OTHER CHALLENGES FACING US, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO REFLECT ON OUR HISTORICAL PAST, IF ONLY FOR PERSPECTIVE. WE SHOULD RECALL SOME OF THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OUR FOUNDING FATHERS HAD IN MIND, WHEN THEY CREATED THE CONSTITUTION, THAT MASTERFUL BLUEPRINT FOR DEMOCRACY, 200 YEARS AGO. 4 UNDER THE ARTICLES, CONGRESS WAS NOT SO MUCH A LEGISLATIVE BODY, AS A DIPLOMATIC ASSEMBLY?SOMETHING AKIN TO THE UNITED NATIONS OF TODAY, STILL, THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION PROVIDED THE FOUNDATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787. PROBABLY NOT ONE OF THE SIGNERS WOULD AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION, YET THAT DOCUMENT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A MIRACLE PILOT FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT. IT IS THAT CONSTITUTION THAT HAS ENABLED BOTH NATIVE BORN AND IMMIGRANT TO BUILD AMERICA INTO THE GREATEST LAND ON EARTH AND TO KEEP US FREE. THE CONSTITUTION IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, WE PAY IT SPECIAL TRIBUTE. UNDERLYING EVERY PHRASE IS A DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE FREEDOM. . .ESPECIALLY FROM GOVERNMENT. THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW NATION WERE SO APPREHENSIVE OF THE KIND OF OPPRESSION THEY'D EXPERIENCED IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE, THAT EVERY COMPROMISE STILL REJECTED ANY DANGER OF OVERPOWERING CENTRAL AUTHORITY. PERHAPS FREEDOM WASN'T EVERYTHING TO THEM, BUT THEY BELIEVED DEEPLY THAT WITHOUT IT, ALL ELSE WAS NOTHING. BECAUSE OF THE IDEALS EXPRESSED IN OUR GREAT CONSTITUTION, THIS NATION QUICKLY BECAME THE HALLMARK OF FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD. TODAY, IT STILL IS. 5 ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THIS DOCUMENT IS STATES RIGHTS. THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO STRONGLY THAT OUR PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FALL VICTIM TO DICTATORIAL EASTERN CONGRESSMEN WHO WANT TO SELFISHLY DESTROY THE CONCEPT OF MULTIPLE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS, A PEOPLE-ORIENTED CONCEPT WHICH HAS SERVED US WELL FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. AS YOU KNOW, NEARLY 87 PERCENT OF NEVADA'S LAND IS CONTROLLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL LAND DEBATES LAST YEAR CENTERED ON WILDERNESS AND LAND WITHDRAWALS. WILDERNESS IS AN EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE LAND DESIGNATION. THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER FOREST SERVICE WILDERNESS IS ONLY THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF TIMES NEVADANS WILL BE ASKED BY A FEDERAL AGENCY TO LOCK UP PIECES OF NEVADA FOR ETERNAL PRESERVATION. MOST OF US AGREE THAT SOME LAND SHOULD BE PRESERVED AS IS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE CONTROVERSY HINGES ON THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT WOULD BE DEEMED OFF LIMITS TO MINING AND, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, OFF LIMITS TO RANCHING, BOTH SO VITAL TO NEVADA; ESPECIALLY RURAL NEVADA. BUT THE ISSUE IS BROADER THAN ECONOMICS, BECAUSE WILDERNESS DESIGNATION WOULD EXCLUDE MANY YOUNGSTERS, OLDER PEOPLE AND THE HANDICAPPED. WILDERNESS CAN EVEN EXCLUDE THE YOUNG AND VIGOROUS FROM RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. FOR MANY YEARS, THE ANNUAL WESTERN STATES ENDURANCE RUN AND THE WESTERN STATES TRAIL RIDE HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE CALIFORNIA SIDE OF LAKE TAHOE. THE ENDURANCE RUN BEGAN IN 1974, 6 WHILE THE TRAIL RIDE DATES BACK TO 1955. A PART OF THE COURSE GOES THROUGH AN AREA THAT WAS DESIGNATED WILDERNESS IN 1984. AT THE TIME OF THE WILDERNESS DESIGNATION, THE FOREST SERVICE PROMISED TO ALLOW THE EVENTS TO CONTINUE. BUT, NOW THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS, AND DECIDED THE EVENTS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH WILDERNESS DESIGNATION. ALL NEVADANS WHO LIKE TO JOG, OR WHO ENJOY RIDING HORSES, OUGHT TO BE WONDERING WHETHER WILDERNESS IN NEVADA MIGHT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS IN NEVADA'S NATIONAL FORESTS. CLEARLY, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT A LOCK UP OF PUBLIC LANDS IS A LOCK OUT OF THE PUBLIC. I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD GOVERN, AND THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH IS CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE SERVES THEM BEST. SO LAST YEAR I TRIED TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH. I BROUGHT A LITTLE OF THE CONGRESS TO NEVADA. I CONDUCTED FIVE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON THE QUESTION OF "HOW MUCH WILDERNESS?" MOST NEVADANS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR RURAL COUNTIES WHERE MOST OF THE PROPOSED WILDERNESS LIES, TOLD THE COMMITTEE THEY WANT NO WILDERNESS AT ALL, OR SUPPORTED THE SMALLER OF THE TWO CONGRESSIONAL BILLS WHICH I, SENATOR LAXALT AND CONGRESSMAN VUCANOVICH INTRODUCED. IT SET ASIDE 137,000 ACRES OF LAND FOR WILDERNESS AS OPPOSED TO THE NEARLY 1.1 MILLION ACRES IN THE HOUSE BILL. 7 THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE IN 1985, BY A VOTE OF 60 TO 3, SUPPORTED THIS SMALLER WILDERNESS BILL. SIXTEEN OF THE SEVENTEEN BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALSO SUPPORTED THIS BILL. BUT DESPITE THIS STRONG BACKING, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION STILL COULD NOT REACH AGREEMENT. I REMIND YOU THAT THE CURRENT WILDERNESS DEBATE INVOLVES ONLY U.S. FOREST LAND. REMAINING ARE ALMOST 4,500,000 ACRES BEING STUDIED FOR THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WILDERNESS, 1A MILLION FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WILDERNESS AND STILL ANOTHER 450,000 ACRES ARE RECEIVING ATTENTION FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. SO WHAT IS MY POSITION TODAY? I AM GOING TO LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE WISHES OF RURAL NEVADANS WHO WORK AND LIVE ON THESE LANDS. BUT LISTENING ALSO MEANS AN OPEN EAR AND MIND FOR RESIDENTS OF OUR URBAN AREAS. SOME HAVE EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE FOR ADDITIONAL WILDERNESS NEAR OUR TWO MAIN URBAN CENTERS AND THOSE DESIRES DESERVE EVERY CONSIDERATION. AND I AM EXTREMELY COGNIZANT OF A RECENT DISTRICT COURT DECISION WHICH RAISES A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO STATE WATER RIGHTS ONCE WILDERNESS AREAS ARE DESIGNATED. OUR OWN ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ON THIS MATTER WHEN HE TESTIFIED BEFORE ME DURING THE WILDERNESS HEARINGS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US IN CONGRESS WHO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT NO ADDITIONAL WILDERNESS LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PASSED UNTIL THE QUESTION OF STATE VERSUS FEDERAL CONTROL OF WATER IS SETTLED. 8 AND LISTENING TO NEVADANS WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE MY SUBCOMMITTEE MADE ME AWARE THAT EXCESSIVE WILDERNESS CAN INJURE FUTURE FUNDING FOR OUR STATE'S SCHOOL SYSTEM. OUR COUNTIES PRESENTLY RECEIVE REVENUES FROM NET PROCEEDS ON THE PRODUCTION OF MINERALS IN NEVADA, A LARGE PORTION OF THAT MONEY GOES TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLECTS RENTAL FEES AND ROYALTIES FROM PRODUCTION OF OIL, GAS, GEOTHERMAL AND OTHER LEASABLE MINERALS IN NEVADA, LAST YEAR THIS TOTALLED $21 MILLION. ABOUT HALF OF THAT WOUND UP IN THE STATE'S DISTRIBUTIVE SCHOOL FUND. I CAN ONLY SAY TO YOU THAT THE LEGISLATION I INTRODUCED SEEMS TO BEST REPRESENT THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF NEVADA. THE STATE'S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SPOKEN DECISIVELY AT HEARINGS. . .THROUGH ENACTED LEGISLATION. . .AND BY RESOLUTION. CONSEQUENTLY, I PLAN TO REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO WHAT I SPONSORED LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, I WILL GIVE EVERY CONSIDERATION TO ADDING ADDITIONAL ACREAGE FOR WILDERNESS DESIGNATION NEAR OUR TWO MAIN POPULATION CENTERS. THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH MY BELIEF THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND CITIZENS KNOW BEST WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD FOR THEM. I ALSO TELL YOU NOW THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER IN WASHINGTON, AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE WHICH OVERSEES THESE MATTERS, TO PREVENT POLITICIANS FROM OUTSIDE OUR STATE FROM IMPOSING THEIR WILL ON THE PEOPLE OF NEVADA. 9 WILDERNESS IS NOT THE ONLY STATES RIGHTS ISSUE THIS YEAR. AS YOU MAY KNOW, MY PET PROJECT HAS BEEN LEGISLATION TO GIVE YOU AND OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS THE AUTHORITY TO RAISE THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON RURAL HIGHWAYS WHERE M DEEM IT SAFE. LAST YEAR, SENATOR SYMMS AND I PRESENTED OUR CASE TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND MR. REAGAN AGREED: THIS IS JUST ANOTHER AREA IN WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED. SOME OF WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN WASHINGTON WILL, UNDOUBTEDLY, MAKE THINGS TOUGH FOR YOU. BUT IT IS A PART OF THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY IF UNCLE SAM IS TO EVER GET A HANDLE ON OUR NUMBER ONE NATIONAL PROBLEM: THE BUDGET DEFICIT. AS I WARNED YOU LAST TIME, PROGRAMS LIKE REVENUE SHARING ARE BEING PHASED OUT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO REVENUE TO SHARE. WE'VE GOT TO GET THE COST OF GOVERNMENT DOWN. WE'VE GOT TO DETERMINE JUST WHICH PROGRAMS ARE REALLY NECESSARY IN 1987, AND ELIMINATE THOSE THAT ARE OBSOLETE. CONGRESS CONTINUES TO SPEND MONEY LIKE THEY HAD IT. WE NEED TO FURTHER CUT THESE UNNECESSARY SPENDING PROGRAMS AND NOT TRY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR TAXPAYERS. WE MADE A GOOD FIRST STEP LAST YEAR WITH THE TAX REFORM BILL. THEY ARE STILL HAVING FAREWELL PARTIES ON CAPITOL HILL FOR TIP O'NEILL AND ALREADY THE NEW SPEAKER IS TALKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES. I HOPE WE'RE NOT ABOUT TO RETURN TO THE OLD DAYS WHEN THE BIG SPENDERS TRY TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. 10 ANOTHER MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUE ALSO AFFECTING MOST NEVADANS IS THE LIABILITY INSURANCE CRISIS. LAST AUGUST DURING MY "CHAT WITH CHIC" TOUR, I CONDUCTED SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HEARD SOME SHOCKING TESTIMONY. MANY NEVADA CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE TOTALLY WITHOUT LIABILITY INSURANCE. HEALTH CARE COSTS, AN ISSUE YOU ARE NOW CONFRONTING, ARE RISING IN PART, BECAUSE PHYSICIANS ORDER MANY UNNECESSARY MEDICAL TESTS FOR PATIENTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM POTENTIAL LIABILITY. HERE ARE SOME OTHER HORROR STORIES: "SCHOOL DISTRICTS USING FUNDS INTENDED FOR INSTRUCTION TO MEET INSURANCE COSTS. "CHURCH GROUPS AND BOY SCOUTS HAVING TO PAY $900 FOR A TWO HOUR INSURANCE POLICY BEFORE THEY MAY USE A PUBLIC PARK. "DOCTORS IN RURAL NEVADA REFUSING TO DELIVER BABIES BECAUSE THEY FEAR LAWSUITS. ONE SUGGESTION I REPEATEDLY HEARD WAS THAT WE NEED SOME TYPE OF FEDERAL REGULATION OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IF STATES ARE INCAPABLE. THE McCARRAN/FERGUSON ACT ESTABLISHED THE SYSTEM WHEREBY INSURANCE REGULATION RESTS WITHIN THE PROVINCE OR STATE AUTHORITIES. WHILE 11 I MOST CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE HARDSHIPS CREATED BY THE CRISIS, I EMPHASIZE THAT NONE OF THE INSURANCE-RELATED LEGISLATION I CO-SPONSORED LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE ENCOURAGED FEDERAL INTERVENTION. I AM CONVINCED THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE VARIOUS TORT AND INSURANCE REFORM INITIATIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY YOU AND OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES, RATHER THAN ON CAPITOL HILL. DURING THE LAST CONGRESS, I DID SUPPORT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HELP BUSINESSES, ASSOCIATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES FORM INTERSTATE SELF-INSURANCE AND COLLECTIVE INSURANCE-PURCHASING GROUPS. IN ADDITION, FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS MUST BE FINE-TUNED BECAUSE THEY IMPACT PREMIUMS PAID BY MUNICIPALITIES. AS A RESULT OF MY HEARINGS, I CO-SPONSORED TWO INITIATIVES SEEKING TO LOWER THE EXPOSURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY PLACING RESTRICTIONS ON LITIGATION SOUGHT IN FEDERAL COURT. THESE BILLS DID NOT PASS LAST YEAR BUT I AM PUSHING FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AGAIN THIS YEAR. WHILE THE STATES RIGHTS PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT, I'M EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER WHICH GUARANTEES OUR FREEDOM. WITHOUT FREEDOM, THE DEBATE OVER STATES RIGHTS IS MEANINGLESS. THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN OUR STATE IS CRITICAL TO AMERICA AND TO FREEDOM. 12 THE DETAILS ARE MOSTLY CLASSIFIED, BUT LET ME PUT IT IN ANOTHER LIGHT, LAST YEAR, THE OPERATIONS BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IN NEVADA WAS A TOTAL OF $981.2 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES $333,6 MILLION FOR WEAPONS TESTING. THE DOE BUDGET REFLECTS A POSITIVE TREND, INCREASING STEADILY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. PAYROLL FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR IS $334 MILLION, WITH 7,800 EMPLOYED. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE ON SOUTHERN NEVADA IS ESTIMATED AT $1.2 BILLION, UP FROM ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN 1985. IN THE NORTH, THE FALLON NAVAL AIR STATION HOSTS 950 MILITARY AND m CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT IS NEARLY $46 MILLION. FALLON IS THE ONLY FACILITY WHERE A COMPLETE AIRWING CAN COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP TO PRACTICE PRECISION FLYING. THE HAWTHORNE ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 597 PEOPLE WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF $22 MILLION. THESE FACTS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN WE HEAR POLITICIANS TALKING ABOUT INSTIGATING A NUCLEAR TEST FREEZE, GIVEN THE SOVIET APPETITE FOR AGGRESSION, A FREEZE WOULD ONLY "FREEZE" US AT A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE, BOTH MILITARILY AND ECONOMICALLY. IN MOSCOW, THE FACES MAY CHANGE, BUT THE SCRIPT REMAINS THE SAME. 13 UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION, SENATORS ARE ELECTED FOR SIX YEARS AND CONGRESSMEN FOR TWO YEARS. THE DIFFERENCE EXPLAINED BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WAS THAT SENATORS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREIGN TREATIES, FOREIGN TRADE AND ALLIANCES. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO VENTURE FAR PAST OUR BORDER TO DISCOVER NICARAGUA IS 1000 MILES CLOSER TO NEVADA THAN WASHINGTON, D.C. IS TO NEVADA. IF WE DO NOT HELP THE PEOPLE OF NICARAGUA TO FIGHT AND SECURE DEMOCRACY IN THEIR COUNTRY, AS WE DID SO EFFECTIVELY IN EL SALVADOR, WE WILL END UP WITH A MARXIST GOVERNMENT IN NICARAGUA TAKING ORDERS FROM MOSCOW. FOR A COUNTRY WITH A POPULATION OF BETWEEN 2.1 TO 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE TO HAVE A FAR BETTER EQUIPPED ARMY THAN MEXICO WITH A POPULATION OF 80 MILLION IS NOT LOGICAL. ORTEGA AND CASTRO HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND COMMUNISM TO EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, COSTA RICA, AND THE BIG PRIZE, MEXICO. THIS WILL CREATE A FLOW OF REFUGEES IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS. WE IN NEVADA HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION PEOPLE. JUST THINK THAT OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD THE FLOW OF REFUGEES COULD DOUBLE OUR POPULATION. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE TROUBLE MEETING OUR STATES NEEDS AND THE BUDGET NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH ONE MILLION UNEMPLOYED, WITHOUT A HOME, AND WITHOUT FOOD. IT WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL TO DEFEND OUR MILITARY IN NEVADA WITHOUT GIVING EQUAL TIME TO OUR VETERANS. EXISTING LAW SAYS THAT STATE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE PART OF THE FUNDING FOR SETTING UP A 14 CEMETERY IN NEVADA. YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS LAST SESSION, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING TO HELP THE STATE ACQUIRE SOME BLM PROPERTY NEAR LAS VEGAS WHICH COULD BE USED FOR SUCH A PURPOSE. JUST BEFORE CONGRESS CALLED IT QUITS LAST YEAR, A LAW WAS PASSED WHICH MIGHT BE HELPFUL. H.R. 5299, AUTHORIZES THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL CEMETERY IN STATES THAT DON'T HAVE ONE, AND ALSO AUTHORIZES THE ACQUISITION OF LAND, POSSIBLY AT V.A. EXPENSE. MEANTIME, I'M PROCEEDING WITH PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL THAT PROVIDES BLM LAND FOR THE CEMETERY AT NO COST. TOO MANY IMPORTANT BILLS FAILED TO SURVIVE AS CONGRESS RUSHED TO ADJOURN LAST NOVEMBER. ONE WOULD HAVE TRANSFERRED SOME 500,000 ACRES OF NEVADA LAND NOW ADMINISTERED BY THE BLM TO THE FOREST SERVICE. IT FAILED BECAUSE OF LAST MINUTE INSISTENCE BY THE HOUSE THAT WATER RIGHTS BE UNDER FEDERAL INSTEAD OF STATE JURISDICTION AS THEY SHOULD. ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT WAS DEFEAT OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE EXCHANGED FEDERAL LAND IN NEVADA FOR PROPERTY THE AEROJET GENERAL CORPORATION OWNS IN FLORIDA. AEROJET HAS BEEN WORKING ON TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SUPER-SECRET PLANE KNOWN AS THE "ORIENT EXPRESS." IT COULD FLY FROM NEW YORK TO TOKYO IN TWO HOURS. IT COULD EVEN GO INTO ORBIT LIKE THE SPACE SHUTTLE, BUT MUCH MORE SAFELY. 15 THE SPACE PROGRAM PRESIDENT KENNEDY WISELY LAUNCHED NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO, MUST CONTINUE TOWARD NEW FRONTIERS. IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF IF, BUT HOW FAST. AND NEVADA NEEDS TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT THESE NEW HIGH TECH COMPANIES IF WE ARE TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE FUTURE. THE TIME HAS COME TO REASSESS OUR STRATEGY AND PLEDGE AN OPEN MIND TO THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW. WE NEED TO TELL THE WORLD NEVADA IS MUCH MORE THAN GAMING AND TOURISM. WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY, TO ATTRACT MORE AEROJETS AND TO INCREASE TRADE WITH OTHER NATIONS. I'M EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC THAT MY RECENT VISIT WITH LEADERS OF CHINA WILL RESULT IN INCREASED ACTIVITY FOR SOME OF NEVADA'S INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING OUR ALL-IMPORTANT MINING AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY INDUSTRIES. WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A CLIMATE THAT WILL ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRY AND JOBS. WE ARE AN ATTRACTIVE STATE. WE POSSESS VAST NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES. WE ARE A NATION OF VISION AND SPIRIT. WE ARE A PEOPLE OF REMARKABLE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION. AS WE REMEMBER OUR GREAT CONSTITUTION, LET US NOT FORGET THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF OUR STATE. OUR COUNTRY WAS IN A BITTER CIVIL WAR, PITTING BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. ON FEBRUARY 24, 1866, THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE APPROVED A LAW TO LEGALLY CREATE THE STATE SEAL AND MOTTO, "ALL FOR OUR COUNTRY." LET ME QUOTE FROM THE LAS VEGAS SUN OF JANUARY 2, 1987, AND I MIGHT ADD I DON'T QUOTE FROM THE LAS VEGAS SUN TOO OFTEN. MARC FENSTER WROTE THAT THE MAJORITY OF 566 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE SUN YOUTH FORUM RECOGNIZED THAT WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST, AND THE NATION'S BEST INTEREST SHOULD REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS. WITH YOUTH LIKE THIS, WE WILL REALIZE ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S DREAM, "THIS GREAT NATION UNDER GOD WILL LIVE FOREVER."