[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        INTRODUCTION OF THE RHINOCEROS CONSERVATION ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 1994

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, joined by my distinguished 
colleagues Congressman Gerry Studds and Congressman Tony Beilenson, I 
am introducing legislation to establish what I hope will be an 
effective program to help save the rhinoceros from extinction.
  Despite the best efforts of the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species [CITES] and the international conservation 
community, rhino populations continue to plummet to an alarming level. 
In fact, of the five species of rhinos, fewer than 10,000 are left in 
the wild. In 1970, there were over 65,000 African black rhinos; today, 
there are less than 2,000 alive. Unless immediate steps are taken, this 
magnificent animal will cease to exist as a viable species throughout 
most, if not all, of its habitat.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 7, 1993, the CITES standing committee noted 
that ``the measures taken by the People's Republic of China [PRC] and 
the competent authorities in Taiwan are not adequate to sufficiently 
control illegal trade in rhinoceros horn.'' The standing committee 
stated that ``parties should consider implementing stricter domestic 
measures up to and including prohibition in trade in wildlife 
species.''
  On that same day, in response to a lawsuit filed by the World 
Wildlife Fund, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt certified the 
People's Republic of China and Taiwan under the Pelly amendment because 
of their flagrant violation of CITES's rhino moratorium. The Secretary 
has strongly recommended that the President prohibit the importation of 
Chinese and Taiwanese products in the United States. Congressman 
Studds, Congressman Beilenson, and I sent a letter to the President 
requesting that he immediately implement trade sanctions.
  On November 8, 1993, the President responded to Congress that, 
``although recent actions by the PRC and Taiwan show that some progress 
has been made in addressing their rhinoceros and tiger trade, the 
record demonstrates that they still fall short of the international 
conservation standards of CITES.'' He has called for China and Taiwan 
to, demonstrate measurable, verifiable and substantial progress by the 
next meeting of the CITES standing committee in March, 1994. If 
adequate progress is not achieved by that meeting, import prohibitions 
will be necessary.
  Mr. Speaker, last year the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee 
conducted a hearing and heard testimony that rhinoceros poaching 
continues unabated and that the PRC and Taiwan had questionable 
conservation efforts. We also discussed what effect trade sanctions 
would have on controlling the illegal rhino trade, and what can be done 
to assist countries, like Zimbabwe, in protecting their dwindling 
populations of rhinos.
  Based on recent press reports, it is clear that the range states, 
like Zimbabwe, do not have sufficient money or manpower to stop these 
unscrupulous poachers. The legislation I am introducing provides badly 
needed financial assistance to these countries through the 
establishment of a Rhino Conservation Fund. The bill is modeled after 
the highly successful grant program Congress enacted in the historic 
African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988, and it will help save the 
rhinoceros by assisting the conservation programs of those nations who 
are struggling to protect this vital species.
  Furthermore, the bill stipulates that following enactment, a 
moratorium on the importation of all fish and wildlife products will be 
established for those countries who continue to engage in the trade of 
rhinoceros products or in other activities that adversely affect its 
survival. If this moratorium fails to encourage a country to stop 
trading and improve its rhino conservation efforts, then further trade 
sanctions could be mandated by the President.
  Mr. Speaker, I have recently visited with wildlife representatives of 
the PRC and have learned first-hand a great deal more about their rhino 
conservation efforts. While I believe that progress is being made in 
that country, others continue to drag their feet in meeting the 
conservation standards established by CITES. This bill will encourage 
those countries to immediately correct their actions so that the 
rhinoceros, which has faced adversity for thousands of years, can exist 
in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to review this legislation and to join in this 
effort to help save the rhinoceros from extinction.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

                          ____________________