[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1230
 
     JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND DESIGN PROGRAM ACT OF 1994

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3679) to authorize appropriations to expand implementation 
of the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Program conducted by the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3679

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Junior Duck Stamp 
     Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act 
     referred to as the ``Secretary'') may carry out in accordance 
     with this Act a program to be known as the ``Junior Duck 
     Stamp Conservation and Design Program'' (in this Act referred 
     to as the ``Program'') to accomplish the goals of--
       (1) providing to school children environmental education 
     opportunities relating to the conservation and management of 
     migratory birds; and
       (2) increasing the capacity for schools, States, and other 
     educational programs to conduct conservation and education 
     programs.
       (b) Program Features.--The Program shall consist of--
       (1) conducting in all interested States the activities 
     which on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act 
     are conducted under the program known as the Junior Duck 
     Stamp Conservation and Design Program;
       (2) other activities authorized under the Program by this 
     or any other Act; and
       (3) any other activity necessary to carry out the 
     conservation and education goals of the Program.
       (c) Effort to Conduct Program in All States.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall take appropriate steps 
     to seek to conduct the Program in all of the 50 States.
       (2) Annual report.--The Secretary shall annually submit a 
     report to the Congress on the status of the Program in each 
     of the 50 States.

     SEC. 3. JUNIOR DUCK STAMP.

       (a) Competition.--As part of the Program, the Secretary may 
     annually conduct a competition to--
       (1) solicit the submission by students at elementary and 
     secondary schools of designs relating to conservation of 
     migratory birds; and
       (2) select winning designs from among those submissions for 
     use of licensing and marketing under subsection (b).
       (b) Licensing and Marketing of Design of Junior Duck 
     Stamps.--As part of the Program, the Secretary may--
       (1) license and market winning designs selected in 
     competitions under subsection (a); and
       (2) license and market stamps bearing those designs, which 
     shall be known as Junior Duck Stamps.
       (c) Use of Proceeds From Licensing and Marketing of Junior 
     Duck Stamps and Junior Duck Stamp Designs.--Amounts received 
     under subsection (b)--
       (1) shall be available at the Secretary until expended, 
     without further appropriations, solely for--
       (A) awards and scholarships to individuals who submit 
     designs in competitions under subsection (a), that are--
       (i) selected in such a competition as winning designs; or
       (ii) otherwise determined in such a competition to be 
     superior;
       (B) awards to schools and other participants to further 
     education activities related to the conservation education 
     goals of the Program; and
       (C) expenses for licensing and marketing under subsection 
     (b); and
       (2) may not be used for administrative expenses of the 
     Program.

     SEC. 4. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS, DEVISES, AND BEQUESTS.

       The Secretary may accept and use any gift, devise, or 
     bequest of personal property, or proceeds thereof, for the 
     purpose of funding the activities described in section 
     3(c)(1) (A) and (B).

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     for administrative expenses of the Program $250,000 for each 
     of the fiscal years 1995 through 2000.

     SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AND REFUGE 
                   HEADQUARTERS AT JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL WILDLIFE 
                   REFUGE AT TINICUM.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding other laws and subject to 
     subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
     the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
     may transfer to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation the 
     Cusano bequest.
       (b) Conditions of Transfer.--As a condition of transferring 
     the Cusano bequest under subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall require the National Fish and Wildlife 
     Foundation to enter into an agreement under which the 
     Foundation is required to--
       (1) solicit additional non-Federal contributions to provide 
     a dollar for dollar match of the Cusano bequest;
       (2) manage the Cusano bequest and those contributions in 
     accordance with all applicable requirements of the National 
     Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3701 et seq.);
       (3) use all amounts and proceeds from the Cusano bequest 
     and any non-Federal contributions received pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) for the purpose of designing and constructing a 
     facility for an environmental education center and refuge 
     headquarters on lands located within the John Heinz National 
     Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum; and
       (4) donate the facility to the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service upon completion of its construction.
       (c) Cusano Bequest Defined.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term ``Cusano bequest'' means the amounts totaling 
     approximately $2,473,971 which were donated to the Department 
     of the Interior in 1994 by Mr. Antonio Cusano of Crum Lynne, 
     Pennsylvania, and includes all proceeds derived from such 
     amounts in the period since the donation was made.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] will be recognized for 20 
minutes, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] will be 
recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds].
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have our new ranking member.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3679, introduced by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Ortiz], establishes the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design 
Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  This conservation education program has existed as a pilot program in 
selected States since 1990. This legislation directs the Secretary of 
the Interior to expand the Junior Duck Stamp Design competition to any 
interested State and provides authority to license the marketing of 
junior duck stamps to generate revenue to support the conservation 
education goals of the program.
  The committee amendment establishes programmatic goals for the 
program and adds a new section to help the Fish and Wildlife Service 
fulfill the last wishes of Mr. Antonio Cusano. In 1994, the Department 
of the Interior received a bequest of more than $2.4 million from Mr. 
Cusano to construct, through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 
an environmental education center at the John Heinz National Wildlife 
Refuge in Tinicum, PA. Bureaucratic problems have stymied efforts to 
fulfill Mr. Cusano's wishes. It is frightening to realize that the maze 
of bureaucratic red tape can, indeed, reach beyond the grave.
  Our amendment, which has the support of the administration, will 
allow the Secretary of the Interior to transfer this bequest to the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as was intended by Mr. Cusano. 
The construction of the center may then go forward with matching funds 
provided by the Foundation's private donors.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill and the committee amendment have unequivocal 
bipartisan and administration support. I urge the adoption of this 
measure.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman, too, for allowing 
me to fill in here. It has to be one of the quickest appointments and 
promotions in the history of Congress for a committee assignment.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3679 and would like to 
compliment the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Ortiz], for its introduction.
  The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Program is a unique education 
effort tailored to students in grades K through 12. It is designed to 
present scientific and wildlife management principles through a 
dynamic, active, and visual arts curriculum. One of the special 
features of this program is that it allows students to develop their 
artistic talents while learning about wetlands and waterfowl 
conservation.
  There are currently 25 States participating and I hope that with the 
adoption of H.R. 3679 other States will choose to allow their young men 
and women to enjoy the benefits of this important program.
  Mr. Speaker, the Committee amendment before us today has two parts. 
The first is a clarification of language in the text concerning the 
Junior Duck Stamp Program. The second part authorizes the use of moneys 
recently bequeathed by the late Mr. Antonio Cusano of Philadelphia. The 
language allows the Secretary of the Interior to use this $2.5 million 
gift for the construction of a national environmental education center 
at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, located near 
Philadelphia, PA. This bequest would be administered by the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is prepared to match it with an 
additional $2.5 million in private donations for the construction of 
the national environmental center.

  I would like to compliment Congressman Weldon of Pennsylvania for his 
fine efforts in drafting this language to accommodate the legal nuances 
that had to be addressed.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the adoption of this bill.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3679, 
which establishes the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design 
Program. This program is a conservation education program which fosters 
in our students and the general public a greater awareness of our 
Nation's living resources. It allows schools and students to take part 
in annual junior duck stamp design contests and thereby gain an 
understanding of the role Federal duck stamps play in the conservation 
of wetlands and migratory bird habitats. Already, this annual contest 
and the numerous exhibitions of winning stamp designs at State fairs, 
wildlife refuges, museums, and other events have been of invaluable 
assistance in helping inform the public about the need for protection 
of waterfoul and wetlands.
  Currently, the program conducts junior duck stamp design contests in 
22 participating States. H.R. 3679 authorizes the Junior Duck Stamp 
Conservation and Design Program and seeks to expand the program to 50 
States. More importantly, it allows the program to permit licensing and 
marketing of the junior duck stamps and junior duck stamp designs and 
to use these proceeds to support and fund the awards, scholarships, and 
educational activities of the program.
  The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is an 
educational program that reaches across economic and cultural 
boundaries to teach wildlife conservation to American students. Through 
this legislation, we have given this program the framework and the 
means to expand to all 50 States, providing schools and students 
throughout the Nation the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile 
program.
  The program is supported by both the majority and minority members of 
the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.
  I want to thank everyone, especially Chairman Studds and Mr. Fields, 
for their time and effort in bringing this bill to the floor, and I 
urge its support.
  Mr. WELDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3679 and would 
like to compliment my friend, Chairman Ortiz for its introduction. As a 
former environmental educator, and a member of the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Commission, I am well aware of the great benefits of the 
Junior Duck Stamp Program, and I strongly support H.R. 3679.
  Mr. Speaker, the committee substitute amendment before us today 
contains clarification language for the Junior Duck Stamp Program. The 
substitute also authorizes the transfer of the Antonio Cusano bequest. 
The language allows the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the $2.5 
million gift to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the 
construction of an environmental education center and refuge 
headquarters at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, PA. 
Since the completed facility is likely to cost over $5 million, the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is prepared to raise the 
additional funding required to build the facility.
  I would like to thank Chairman Studds for agreeing to include this 
language in the committee substitute amendment. The John Heinz National 
Wildlife Refuge is one of only two urban wildlife refuges in the 
Nation. As such, it has the potential to provide a window to the 
wonders of nature to hundreds of thousands of school-aged children in 
the Philadelphia region.
  In fact, environmental education is one of the refuge's primary 
missions. When the refuge was established in 1972, it was dedicated as 
a national environmental education center.
  The refuge is the largest remaining freshwater marsh in Pennsylvania. 
For the residents of Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs, it is 
one of the only accessible examples of a functioning marsh ecosystem, 
making it an ideal living laboratory of schoolchildren.

  Unfortunately, due to the lack of facilities, the refuge has been 
unable to live up to its great potential. For years, I have been 
working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to devise a plan to 
construct an environmental education center on the refuge. 
Unfortunately, although broad agreement exists within the Fish and 
Wildlife Service that the refuge is in desperate need for an education 
facility, the Service has never been able to find the estimated $5.7 
million it would cost to build such a facility.
  The generosity of Mr. Cusano changed all that. And now, with the 
language in the committee's amendment and the help of the National Fish 
and Wildlife Foundation, a national environmental education center will 
be built at John Heinz.
  Antonio Cusano, known to his friends a Tony, lived in Crum Lynne, 
located only a mile from the refuge, for all but 10 of the 85 years of 
his life. The star quarterback of the 1927 Ridley Park High School 
football team, he earned a scholarship to the University of 
Pennsylvania. An employee of General Electric Co., he retired in 1967.
  Throughout his life, Tony let his achievements speak for themselves. 
He never sought publicity, but always did his best to make the lives of 
those around him better. As with the rest of his life, Tony's decision 
to bequeath $2.5 million for an education center at the John Heinz 
Wildlife Refuge will enrich many lives.
  Mr. Speaker, for the children of the Philadelphia region who will 
benefit most from the construction of this center, the Members of this 
House owe Mr. Cusano a debt of gratitude. I urge all my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H.R. 3679.
  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to join the members of the 
Merchant Marine Committee in expressing strong support for the bill 
establishing the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program.
  The Junior Duck Stamp Program is modeled after the Federal Duck Stamp 
Program, which has raised money through the sale of the stamp needed 
for duck hunting to purchase wetlands and other parcels and land 
critical to the continued breeding of migratory ducks.
  My own interest in this program was sparked by my dear friend, 
Jeanette Rudy of Nashville. Ms. Rudy is not only a duck hunter, 
conservationist, and philanthropist, but she is the owner of one of the 
best and most extensive duck stamp collections in the world. In fact, 
she has donated this collection to the new National Postage Museum, 
together with funds to build a gallery to display the collection.
  Ms. Rudy has been a judge in the Federal duck stamp competition and 
now enthusiastic backer of the effort to expand the program to exclude 
young people. She has personally lobbied Members of Congress and the 
administration for the passage of H.R. 3679, which achieves this goal.
  The Junior Duck Stamp Program will allow the Fish and Wildlife 
Service to conduct annual design competitions in elementary and 
secondary schools and make awards for the best designs. The service is 
authorized to license and market the designs. This competition will be 
in conjunction with educational activities concerning wetlands and 
waterfowl conservation and thus will highlight to students the 
importance or preserving both wetlands and migratory ducks for the 
enjoyment of future generations.
  I ask my colleagues to join in supporting H.R. 3679.
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I support the adoption of H.R. 
3679, the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 
1994.
  H.R. 3679 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out 
a Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design program in each of the 50 
States. The program would include an annual competition among 
elementary and secondary school students to design duck stamps. Winning 
designs and stamps would be licensed and marketed by the Secretary. The 
bill would authorize the Secretary to use the resulting proceeds to pay 
licensing and marketing expenses and to make awards and/or scholarships 
to students and schools. The Secretary also would be authorized to 
accept and use donations for these purposes. Finally, the bill would 
authorize the appropriation of $250,000 for each of fiscal years 1995-
2000 to administer the program.
  At present, the Junior Duck Stamp Program is being conducted in about 
25 States by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation using a 
combination of Federal and private funds. I would like to compliment my 
good friend and distinguished colleague from Texas for introducing this 
bill for it is a program that will allow students to develop their 
artistic talents while learning more about wetlands and waterfowl 
conservation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to compliment my good friend, 
Congressman Weldon, who has worked diligently with members of the 
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee in crafting language found in 
the committee amendment to H.R. 3679. Briefly, this amendment allows 
the Secretary of the Interior to receive a bequest from an individual 
for use in the design and construction of an environmental education 
center at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge located near 
Philadelphia, PA. The construction of this facility, which would 
include the headquarters for the wildlife refuge, provides an added 
benefit for the citizens of this area.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the adoption of the bill.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I once again welcome our honorary ranking 
member. It is appropriate that there was a Pennsylvania angle to this 
bill.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3679, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a program to be 
known as the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, and for 
other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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