[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       FOREST ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH LABORATORY AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  1994

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Agricultural Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 
2155, the Forest Ecosystem Research Laboratory Authorization Act of 
1994; that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration; that 
the bill be deemed read three times, passed, and the motion to 
reconsider laid upon the table; and that any statements appear in the 
Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (S. 2155) was deemed read three times, and passed, as 
follows:

                                S. 2155

       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 ``Forest Ecosystem Research 
     Laboratory Authorization Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. FOREST ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH LABORATORY.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of funds 
     appropriated under subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, acting through the Cooperative State Research 
     Service, shall provide the Federal share of the cost of 
     planning and constructing a Forest Ecosystem Research 
     Laboratory at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.
       (b) Federal Share.--The Federal share provided under 
     subsection (a) shall be 50 percent.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.
  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, as we all know, the forests of the 
Pacific Northwest have been at the center of an intense national debate 
for several years now. As an active participant in these discussions, I 
am constantly reminded that many of the solutions to the management of 
these forests are heavily dependent on sound and accurate scientific 
information. That is why I introduced the Forest Ecosystem Laboratory 
Authorization Act in May of this year. I would like to thank the 
Chairman and Ranking member of the Agricultural Committee, Senators 
Leahy and Lugar for their quick and expedient consideration of this 
important bill.
  The purpose of this legislation is to help us improve our 
understanding of the complexities of our forests. Specifically, the 
bill will authorize the construction of the Forest Ecosystem Research 
Laboratory at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, which serves as 
the focal point for forestry research in our country.
  This new building will provide a modern facility to support 
innovative research in critical areas of forest ecology and 
utilization. The laboratory will improve the capacity of ongoing 
research activities of the Oregon Forest Research Laboratory which was 
founded at the University in 1941. It will also unite the personnel of 
the existing departments of Forest Science and Forest Products with the 
Forest Research Laboratory. Research conducted in the Forest Ecosystem 
Research Laboratory will focus on such important questions as the 
impact of climate change on forest, forest health, biotechnology, the 
structure and function of forests, sustainable forestry, and designing 
new products from a changing resource base.
  I strongly believe the Oregon Forest Ecosystem Research Laboratory 
will provide us with an uniquely valuable tool for the development of 
sound, scientifically-based ecosystem management for the 21st Century 
and would like to thank Senators Leahy and Lugar for their assistance 
in bringing this important bill to the floor for consideration by the 
full Senate.

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