[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1994

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 368, S. 
476, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Improvement Act of 1994; 
that the committee substitute amendment be agreed to, and the bill, as 
amended, be deemed read the third time, passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, that any statements and colloquies 
appear in the Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senate proceeded to consider the following bill (S. 476) to 
reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
Establishment Act, which had been reported from the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works with an amendment to strike out all after 
the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION 
                           ESTABLISHMENT ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation Improvement Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 102. COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS WITH NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
                   ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 2(b)(1) of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(b)(1)) is 
     amended by inserting ``and the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration'' after ``the United States Fish 
     and Wildlife Service''.

     SEC. 103. MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FOUNDATION.

       (a) Consultations Regarding Appointments.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3(b) of the National Fish and 
     Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(b)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
     ``The Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the Under 
     Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere before 
     appointing any Director of the Board.''.
       (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
     apply to appointments of Directors of the Board of Directors 
     of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation made after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (b) Expansion of Board.--Section 3(a) of the National Fish 
     and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(a)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``nine'' and inserting ``15''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``three'' and inserting 
     ``4''.
       (c) Initial Terms.--Of the Directors on the Board of 
     Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation first 
     appointed pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
     (b)(1), notwithstanding the second sentence of section 3(b) 
     of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(b))--
       (1) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 2 years;
       (2) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 4 years; and
       (3) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 6 years;

     as specified by the Secretary of the Interior at the time of 
     appointment.
       (d) Completion of Appointments.--Not later than 60 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall appoint the additional members of the Board of 
     Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
     referred to in subsection (c).
       (e) Authority of Board Not Affected.--The authority of the 
     Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation to take any action otherwise authorized by law 
     shall not be affected by reason of the Secretary of the 
     Interior not having completed the appointment of Directors of 
     the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
     (b)(1).

     SEC. 104. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE 
                   FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT.

       (a) Reauthorization.--Section 10 of the National Fish and 
     Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``not to exceed 
     $15,000,000'' and all that follows through the end of the 
     sentence and inserting ``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Additional Authorization.--The amounts authorized to 
     be appropriated under this section are in addition to any 
     amounts provided or available to the Foundation under any 
     other Federal law.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--Section 10(b)(1) of the National 
     Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3709(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``paragraphs (2) and 
     (3),'' and inserting ``paragraph (2),''.

     SEC. 105. CONVEYANCE OF SENECAVILLE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law and not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to the State of Ohio without reimbursement all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property known as the Senecaville National Fish Hatchery, 
     located in Senecaville, Ohio, including--
       (1) all easements and water rights relating to that 
     property; and
       (2) all land, improvements, and related personal property 
     comprising that hatchery.
       (b) Use of Property.--All property and interests conveyed 
     under this section shall be used by the Ohio Department of 
     Natural Resources for the Ohio fishery resources management 
     program.
       (c) Reversionary Interest.--All right, title, and interest 
     in and to all property and interests conveyed under this 
     section shall revert to the United States on any date on 
     which any of the property or interests are used other than 
     for the Ohio fishery resources management program.
              TITLE II--BROWNSVILLE WETLANDS POLICY CENTER

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Brownsville Wetlands 
     Policy Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT OF WETLANDS POLICY CENTER AT THE PORT 
                   OF BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.

       (a) Establishment of Center.--For purposes of utilizing 
     grants made by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
     there may be established in accordance with this title, on 
     property owned or held in trust by the Brownsville Navigation 
     District at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, a wetlands policy 
     center which shall be known as the ``Brownsville Wetlands 
     Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville, Texas'' (referred 
     to in this title as the ``Center''). The Center shall be 
     operated and maintained by the Port of Brownsville with 
     programs to be administered by the University of Texas at 
     Brownsville.
       (b) Mission of the Center.--The primary mission of the 
     Center shall be to utilize the unique wetlands property at 
     the Port of Brownsville and adjacent waters of South Texas to 
     focus on wetland matters for the purposes of protecting, 
     restoring, and maintaining the Lagoon Ecosystems of the 
     Western Gulf of Mexico Region.
       (c) Board of Directors.--The Center shall be governed by a 
     Board of Directors to oversee the management and financial 
     affairs of the Center. The Board of Directors shall be 
     cochaired by the Port of Brownsville, the University of Texas 
     at Brownsville, and the designee of the Director of the Fish 
     and Wildlife Service, and shall include as members other 
     representatives considered appropriate by those cochairs.
       (d) Oversight of the Center.--
       (1) Annual report.--The Board of Directors of the Center 
     shall prepare an annual report and submit the report through 
     the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     to Congress.
       (2) Contents.--Annual reports under this subsection shall 
     cover the programs, projects, activities, and accomplishments 
     of the Center. The reports shall include a review of the 
     budget of the Center, including all sources of funding 
     received to carry out Center operations.
       (3) Availability of information.--The Board of Directors of 
     the Center shall make available all pertinent information and 
     records to allow preparation of annual reports under this 
     subsection.
       (4) General accounting office.--The Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall periodically submit to Congress 
     reports on the operations of the Center.

     SEC. 203. GRANTS.

       The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, make 
     grants to the Center for use for carrying out activities of 
     the Center.

     SEC. 204. LEASE.

       The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service, subject to the availability of appropriations, may 
     enter into a long-term lease with the Port of Brownsville for 
     use by the Center of wetlands property owned by the Port of 
     Brownsville. Terms of the lease shall be negotiated, and the 
     lease shall be signed by both parties, prior to the disposal 
     of any Federal funds pursuant to this title. The lease shall 
     include a provision authorizing the Director to terminate the 
     lease at any time.

     SEC. 205. OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--As conditions of receiving assistance 
     under this title--
       (1) the University of Texas at Brownsville shall make 
     available to the Center for fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 
     and 1997--
       (A) administrative office space;
       (B) classroom space; and
       (C) other in-kind contributions for the Center, including 
     overhead and personnel; and
       (2) the Port of Brownsville shall make available up to 
     7,000 acres of Port Property for the programs, projects, and 
     activities of the Center.
       (b) Annual Report.--The Board of Directors of the Center 
     shall include in the annual report of the Board under section 
     202(d) a statement of whether the conditions referred to in 
     subsection (a) have been met.

     SEC. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
     1994, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $4,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 1996, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
     1997, for making grants to the Center under section 203, 
     including for use for the establishment, operation, 
     maintenance, and management of the Center.

     SEC. 207. RELATIONSHIP OF CENTER WITH THE CENTER FOR 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SERVICES, CORPUS 
                   CHRISTI, TEXAS.

       None of the funds appropriated pursuant to this title may 
     be used to relocate any of the administrative operations of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from the Center 
     for Environmental Studies and Services Building on the campus 
     of Corpus Christi State University, to the Brownsville 
     Wetlands Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, 
     established pursuant to this title.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise in support of S. 476, 
legislation reauthorizing and amending the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation Establishment Act.
  This legislation contains provisions of significant importance to my 
home State of Texas and the Nation--establishment of the Brownsville 
Wetlands Center. Under this bill, the Port of Brownsville, TX, would 
make available 7,000 acres of wetlands property for the establishment 
of a center to conduct wetlands research, educate minorities, and 
analyze current industrial policy as it affects protection of wetlands. 
This center will be a unique regional and national asset that will 
allow researchers and policymakers to examine an existing heavy 
industrial enterprise and how it coexists with wetland ecosystems in 
the western Gulf of Mexico area. With direct input from the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service and local universities, the Wetlands Policy Center 
could soon evolve into a true center of excellence in this important 
area of wetlands policy research.
  I am particularly enthusiastic about the prospects for the center to 
become a prototype for the development of graduate degree and career 
opportunities for minorities and women in the area of environmental 
sciences. The University of Texas at Brownsville, with a student 
population that is over 75 percent Hispanic, will serve as the anchor 
of this innovative program, providing unique educational opportunities 
for minorities and women throughout the Rio Grande Valley region in the 
areas of environmental protection, science, and engineering. This 
legislation will make it possible for minorities and women throughout 
the region to interface with Federal policymakers, agency officials, 
researchers, and the private sector to focus on new technologies and 
approaches on the issue of wetlands protection.
  I would like to acknowledge my friend and colleague, Congressman 
Solomon Ortiz, for his efforts in bringing this legislation through the 
House and into the Senate. I would also like to thank the Senate 
Environment and public Works Committee for its favorable consideration.
  Madam President, I urge my colleagues to vote for passage of S. 476.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I am pleased to support S. 476, a bill 
introduced by my good friend Senator Chafee, the distinguished ranking 
member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. This bill will 
reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment 
Act.
  The Foundation is a federally chartered, charitable nonprofit 
corporation. Formed in 1984, the Foundation administers donations from 
the private sector to enhance the conservation work of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service. The Foundation matches these private donations 
with Federal appropriations, multiplying their effectiveness. Since its 
founding, the Foundation has funded over $108 million worth of fish and 
wildlife conservation projects, while using only $32 million in Federal 
appropriations.
  The Foundation has funded over 870 conservation projects across the 
Nation and around the world. In my own State of Montana, the Foundation 
is providing a $12,000 grant for an 8-week environmental field study 
program for native American youth in Fort Belknap. It has awarded 
$25,000 to the Rock Creek Advisory Council, a Missoula group, to assist 
in the purchase of conservation easements which will benefit a blue 
ribbon trout stream and important bighorn sheep winter habitat. The 
Foundation is also making a $10,000 grant to the Montana Fish, Wildlife 
and Parks Department to help acquire 24-acre Eagle Island, located on 
the Missouri River, valued for its fisheries and wetlands resources.
  Projects like these, in Montana and in every other State, are helping 
improve fish and wildlife conservation in the most cost-effective way 
possible. The Foundation's efforts are precisely the kind of public-
private partnership for conservation that we need more of and that I am 
proud to support.
  The bill before us, S. 476, will enable the Foundation to continue 
its important work. In addition, the bill authorizes the transfer of 
the Senecaville National Fish Hatchery to the State of Ohio for use by 
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in its fishery management 
program. The bill also authorizes the establishment of the Brownsville 
Wetlands Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville, TX.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of S. 476.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I rise in support of S. 476, a bill I 
introduced 1 year ago, to reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation Establishment Act. The Foundation has proven extremely 
effective. It advances the conservation of our natural resources 
through the formation of innovative partnerships between the public and 
private sectors. This is an organization that deserves our support.
  The Foundation was established as a federally chartered but private 
and independent, nonprofit organization to serve as a link between 
Government and private efforts to conserve our fish and wildlife 
resources. It is authorized to receive private donations and matching 
Federal appropriations to benefit fish and wildlife conservation.
  Since the Foundation was established in 1984, it has funded over 870 
conservation projects all over the Nation and in 12 foreign countries. 
The Foundation has used the partnership approach to fund fish and 
wildlife projects valued at over $108 million--utilizing only $32 
million in Federal appropriations. Dollar for dollar the Foundation is 
one of the most effective organizations for implementing conservation 
projects, matching every Federal dollar with $2 in nonfederal 
contributions.
  As impressive as these numbers may be, the Foundation's role as a 
catalyst for conservation efforts goes beyond the specific projects 
funded. The Foundation has been at the forefront of the effort to form 
partnerships between Government agencies, conservation organizations, 
individuals, and corporations interested in conservation of our natural 
resources. Not only do these partnerships help to stretch scarce 
Federal dollars, but they encourage greater public participation in 
conservation programs, setting the stage for future initiatives.
  The Foundation has also been instrumental in getting important 
projects off the ground by providing seed money and expertise, 
including the North American waterfowl management plan--an initiative 
to benefit declining populations of waterfowl; Partners in Flight--a 
program to conserve neotropical migratory birds, including songbirds; 
and conservation training and education programs.
  The bill also authorizes the transfer of the Senecaville National 
Fish Hatchery to the State of Ohio, for use by the Ohio Department of 
Natural Resources for its fishery resources management program. In 
addition, the bill authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 
make grants--subject to the availability of appropriations--to 
establish the Brownsville Wetlands Policy Center at the Port of 
Brownsville, TX. The center is to be operated and maintained by the 
Port of Brownsville and the University of Texas at Brownsville.
  With our support, the Foundation will continue to be in the forefront 
of innovative and cost-effective methods to advance the conservation of 
our fish and wildlife. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of 
S. 476.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, as chairman of the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I would like to discuss with the 
chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works S. 476, the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Improvement Act of 1994, and the 
role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA].
  Mr. BAUCUS. I would be pleased to discuss S. 476 with the chairman of 
the Commerce Committee.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Under the Senate rules, the jurisdiction of the 
Commerce Committee includes such matters as coastal zone management, 
marine fisheries, and ocean and atmospheric activities. Stemming from 
that jurisdictional interest, the committee has exercised longstanding 
oversight over the programs and activities of NOAA.
  S. 476 would authorize the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to 
encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of property for the 
benefit of, or in connection with, NOAA activities and services. I 
understand that the Foundation currently is cooperating with NOAA on 
fisheries conservation, marine sanctuaries, and other projects. S. 476 
would provide explicit authority and direction for these activities.
  Given the longstanding jurisdictional interest of the Commerce 
Committee in NOAA, this committee will continue to exercise its 
oversight over NOAA activities, including those implemented pursuant to 
this legislation.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I recognize the jurisdiction of the 
Commerce Committee over NOAA and its marine and estuarine programs. I 
assure the chairman of the Commerce Committee that nothing in this bill 
would affect the jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee over NOAA or 
those activities. Does the ranking Republican on the Environment 
Committee agree?
  Mr. CHAFEE. I agree, Madam President.
  Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I share the concerns of the chairman of 
the Commerce Committee. My home State of Alaska has over one-half the 
coastline of the United States. NOAA's work critical to Alaska, and the 
jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee over the Department of Commerce 
and NOAA is one of the main reasons I joined the committee. I would 
like to ask a question of the distinguished chairman of the Committee 
on Environment and Public Works regarding S. 476.

  Mr. BAUCUS. I would be happy to answer a question from my colleague 
from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. I understand that the Secretary of Interior has the 
authority for board appointments. What is the understanding of my 
colleague from Montana about the duty of the Secretary of Interior to 
consult with the Secretary of Commerce in making these appointments?
  Mr. BAUCUS. The Senator from Alaska is correct that the Secretary of 
Interior has the authority to make the board appointments. However, S. 
476 directs the Secretary of Interior to consult with the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere before appointing board 
members. The committee intends that the consultation of the Secretary 
of the Interior with the Department of Commerce be meaningful and that 
the Secretary of Interior give full consideration to the 
recommendations of the Department of Commerce.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, I thank the chairman of the 
Environment and Public Works Committee for addressing these concerns.
  So the bill (S. 476), as amended, was deemed read the third time, and 
passed, as follows:

                                 S. 476

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,
     TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION 
                           ESTABLISHMENT ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation Improvement Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 102. COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS WITH NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
                   ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 2(b)(1) of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(b)(1)) is 
     amended by inserting ``and the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration'' after ``the United States Fish 
     and Wildlife Service''.

     SEC. 103. MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FOUNDATION.

       (a) Consultations Regarding Appointments.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3(b) of the National Fish and 
     Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(b)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
     ``The Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the Under 
     Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere before 
     appointing any Director of the Board.''.
       (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
     apply to appointments of Directors of the Board of Directors 
     of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation made after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (b) Expansion of Board.--Section 3(a) of the National Fish 
     and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(a)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``nine'' and inserting ``15''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``three'' and inserting 
     ``4''.
       (c) Initial Terms.--Of the Directors on the Board of 
     Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation first 
     appointed pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
     (b)(1), notwithstanding the second sentence of section 3(b) 
     of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 3702(b))--
       (1) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 2 years;
       (2) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 4 years; and
       (3) 2 shall be appointed to a term of 6 years;

     as specified by the Secretary of the Interior at the time of 
     appointment.
       (d) Completion of Appointments.--Not later than 60 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall appoint the additional members of the Board of 
     Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
     referred to in subsection (c).
       (e) Authority of Board Not Affected.--The authority of the 
     Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation to take any action otherwise authorized by law 
     shall not be affected by reason of the Secretary of the 
     Interior not having completed the appointment of Directors of 
     the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
     (b)(1).

     SEC. 104. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE 
                   FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT.

       (a) Reauthorization.--Section 10 of the National Fish and 
     Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``not to exceed 
     $15,000,000'' and all that follows through the end of the 
     sentence and inserting ``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Additional Authorization.--The amounts authorized to 
     be appropriated under this section are in addition to any 
     amounts provided or available to the Foundation under any 
     other Federal law.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--Section 10(b)(1) of the National 
     Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3709(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``paragraphs (2) and 
     (3),'' and inserting ``paragraph (2),''.

     SEC. 105. CONVEYANCE OF SENECAVILLE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law and not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to the State of Ohio without reimbursement all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property known as the Senecaville National Fish Hatchery, 
     located in Senecaville, Ohio, including--
       (1) all easements and water rights relating to that 
     property; and
       (2) all land, improvements, and related personal property 
     comprising that hatchery.
       (b) Use of Property.--All property and interests conveyed 
     under this section shall be used by the Ohio Department of 
     Natural Resources for the Ohio fishery resources management 
     program.
       (c) Reversionary Interest.--All right, title, and interest 
     in and to all property and interests conveyed under this 
     section shall revert to the United States on any date on 
     which any of the property or interests are used other than 
     for the Ohio fishery resources management program.
              TITLE II--BROWNSVILLE WETLANDS POLICY CENTER

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Brownsville Wetlands 
     Policy Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT OF WETLANDS POLICY CENTER AT THE PORT 
                   OF BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.

       (a) Establishment of Center.--For purposes of utilizing 
     grants made by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
     there may be established in accordance with this title, on 
     property owned or held in trust by the Brownsville Navigation 
     District at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, a wetlands policy 
     center which shall be known as the ``Brownsville Wetlands 
     Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville, Texas'' (referred 
     to in this title as the ``Center''). The Center shall be 
     operated and maintained by the Port of Brownsville with 
     programs to be administered by the University of Texas at 
     Brownsville.
       (b) Mission of the Center.--The primary mission of the 
     Center shall be to utilize the unique wetlands property at 
     the Port of Brownsville and adjacent waters of South Texas to 
     focus on wetland matters for the purposes of protecting, 
     restoring, and maintaining the Lagoon Ecosystems of the 
     Western Gulf of Mexico Region.
       (c) Board of Directors.--The Center shall be governed by a 
     Board of Directors to oversee the management and financial 
     affairs of the Center. The Board of Directors shall be 
     cochaired by the Port of Brownsville, the University of Texas 
     at Brownsville, and the designee of the Director of the Fish 
     and Wildlife Service, and shall include as members other 
     representatives considered appropriate by those cochairs.
       (d) Oversight of the Center.--
       (1) Annual report.--The Board of Directors of the Center 
     shall prepare an annual report and submit the report through 
     the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     to Congress.
       (2) Contents.--Annual reports under this subsection shall 
     cover the programs, projects, activities, and accomplishments 
     of the Center. The reports shall include a review of the 
     budget of the Center, including all sources of funding 
     received to carry out Center operations.
       (3) Availability of information.--The Board of Directors of 
     the Center shall make available all pertinent information and 
     records to allow preparation of annual reports under this 
     subsection.
       (4) General accounting office.--The Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall periodically submit to Congress 
     reports on the operations of the Center.

     SEC. 203. GRANTS.

       The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, make 
     grants to the Center for use for carrying out activities of 
     the Center.

     SEC. 204. LEASE.

       The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service, subject to the availability of appropriations, may 
     enter into a long-term lease with the Port of Brownsville for 
     use by the Center of wetlands property owned by the Port of 
     Brownsville. Terms of the lease shall be negotiated, and the 
     lease shall be signed by both parties, prior to the disposal 
     of any Federal funds pursuant to this title. The lease shall 
     include a provision authorizing the Director to terminate the 
     lease at any time.

     SEC. 205. OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--As conditions of receiving assistance 
     under this title--
       (1) the University of Texas at Brownsville shall make 
     available to the Center for fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 
     and 1997--
       (A) administrative office space;
       (B) classroom space; and
       (C) other in-kind contributions for the Center, including 
     overhead and personnel; and
       (2) the Port of Brownsville shall make available up to 
     7,000 acres of Port Property for the programs, projects, and 
     activities of the Center.
       (b) Annual Report.--The Board of Directors of the Center 
     shall include in the annual report of the Board under section 
     202(d) a statement of whether the conditions referred to in 
     subsection (a) have been met.

     SEC. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
     1994, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $4,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 1996, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
     1997, for making grants to the Center under section 203, 
     including for use for the establishment, operation, 
     maintenance, and management of the Center.

     SEC. 207. RELATIONSHIP OF CENTER WITH THE CENTER FOR 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SERVICES, CORPUS 
                   CHRISTI, TEXAS.

       None of the funds appropriated pursuant to this title may 
     be used to relocate any of the administrative operations of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from the Center 
     for Environmental Studies and Services Building on the campus 
     of Corpus Christi State University, to the Brownsville 
     Wetlands Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, 
     established pursuant to this title.

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