[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    WATER BANK EXTENSION ACT OF 1994

  Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5053, the Water Bank 
Extension Act of 1994, just received from the House; that bill be read 
three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; 
and, further, that any statements related to this measure be printed in 
the Record at the appropriate place as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (H.R. 5053) was passed.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I applaud the purpose of H.R. 5053 which is 
to protect the approximately 64,000 acres of wetlands and upland 
habitat enrolled in the Water Bank Program that are scheduled to expire 
on December 31, 1994. Unfortunately, no funds have been appropriated in 
fiscal year 1995 to renew these contracts. Therefore, we have been 
forced to pass this bill as a quick fix to protect these lands until 
the long-term future of the Water Bank Program can be resolved in the 
1995 farm bill.
  It is with reluctance, however, that I agree to utilize the scarce 
dollars that have been appropriated to fund the Wetland Reserve Program 
for a quick fix of the Water Bank Program. The Wetland Reserve Program 
is a unique program that seeks to restore wetlands, help farmers meet 
the wetland conservation provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act, and 
help all of us meet our overall goal of no net loss of wetlands. Most 
of the wetlands currently enrolled in the Water Bank Program would not, 
and should not, be eligible for inclusion in the Wetlands Reserve 
Program. The Wetlands Reserve Program was authorized for a single, 
unique purpose: to help farmers restore, and protect in perpetuity, 
wetlands that had previously been converted to cropland. It is critical 
that the Wetland Reserve Program not be diverted from this unique and 
important purpose.
  Tight budgets have forced us to choose between two unique wetland 
management programs. I concur that this choice is best made in the farm 
bill when the overall needs of wetland conservation and protection can 
be debated more fully. I look forward to working with my colleagues 
from water bank States to resolve this problem next year.

                          ____________________