Statement by the Press Secretary

On Thursday, December 19, 2002, the President signed into law:

H.R. 3048, "Russian River Land Act," which ratifies an agreement between the Federal Government and an Alaska Native Regional Corporation concerning claims on land adjacent to the Russian River in Alaska;

H.R. 3747, "Bainbridge Island Japanese-American Memorial Study Act of 2002," which directs the Secretary of the Interior to study a site in the State of Washington for potential inclusion in the National Park System;

H.R. 3909, "Gunn McKay Nature Preserve Act," which designates certain lands in the State of Utah as the Gunn McKay Nature Preserve;

H.R. 3954, "Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002," which designates certain waterways in the Caribbean National Forest in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;

H.R. 4129, which amends the Central Utah Project Completion Act to modify the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior, redirect unexpended budget authority, and allow for prepayment of certain payment obligations;

H.R. 4638, which reauthorizes the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply Project in South Dakota through 2008;

H.R. 4682, "Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act," which revises the boundaries of the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site in southwestern Pennsylvania;

H.R. 4750, "Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002," which designates specified lands in California as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System;

H.R. 4874, which requires the Secretary of the Interior to disclaim Federal interest in lands adjacent to Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes in the State of Idaho;

H.R. 4944, "Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Act," which establishes the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park in Virginia as a unit of the National Park System;

H.R. 4953, which requires the Department of the Interior to grant Deschutes and Crook Counties rights-of-way to West Butte Road in the State of Oregon;

H.R. 5099, which extends Federal funding authority until 2008 for fish recovery activities in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins;

H.R. 5436, which extends the deadline under the Federal Power Act for the construction of the Albany Hydroelectric Project in the State of Oregon; and

H.R. 5472, "Protection of Family Farmers Act of 2002," which extends the provisions of the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act from January 1, 2003, until July 1, 2003.