[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S678-S679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BUMPERS:
  S. 185. A bill to transfer the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory 
in Stuttgart, Arkansas, to the Department of Agriculture, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


     the stuttgart national aquaculture research center act of 1995

    
    
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
transfer the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory in Stuttgart, AR, 
from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. 
This legislation also requires that the name of the lab be changed to 
the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center. [[Page S679]] 
    
    
  This Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory was established under the 
Fish and Rice Rotation Act of 1958, with a mandate to conduct research 
related to the commercial production and harvesting of warm water fish. 
When the lab was established, there was little or no information 
available to commercial fish farmers about warm water aquaculture. 
Thanks in large part to the lab, which has pioneered research in such 
areas as fish nutrition, water quality management and fish disease 
prevention, commercial fish farming is now one of the fastest growing 
industries in the country.
  Originally, the legislation creating the lab, provided that it be 
administered by the Department of Agriculture. However, because the 
Department of the Interior already had an established fisheries 
program, Congress placed the program under the Department of the 
Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. In retrospect, this decision was 
a mistake. The Department of Agriculture, not the Department of the 
Interior has become the lead Federal agency in the research, 
development, and promotion of commercial aquaculture. While the 
Department of the Interior is involved in the aquaculture arena, its 
emphasis is more conservation related.
  My belief that the Department of the Interior is no longer the 
appropriate agency to administer the lab was confirmed when during an 
internal reorganization the Stuttgart lab was transferred from the Fish 
and Wildlife Service to the National Biological Survey [NBS]. As my 
colleagues know, the NBS is charged with developing an inventory of 
plant and animal species and their habitats. A worthy endeavor, but one 
that is in no way related to the lab's statutory mission of developing 
methods for the commercial production of aquatic species. I believe it 
is only a matter of time before the staff and the resources of the lab 
are redirected toward research efforts that are more in keeping with 
the mission of the NBS.
  I have expressed my concerns to Secretary of the Interior Bruce 
Babbitt, who agrees with me that the Department of Agriculture is a 
much more appropriate place for the Stuttgart lab. The Department of 
Agriculture recognizes that private commercial aquaculture is an 
important and growing component of the U.S. economy and is committed to 
providing a broad range of services to it. I have no doubt that the 
Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory can complement and enhance the 
Department's existing and growing aquaculture program.
  Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will support this legislation and 
I look forward to its speedy passage.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 185

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Stuttgart National 
     Aquaculture Research Center Act of 1995''.

     SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF 
                   AGRICULTURE.

       (A) Title of Public Law 85-342.--The title of Public Law 
     85-342 (16 U.S.C. 778 et seq.) is amended by striking 
     ``Secretary of the Interior'' and inserting ``Secretary of 
     Agriculture''.
       (b) Authorization.--The first section of Public Law 85-342 
     (16 U.S.C. 778) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Secretary of the Interior'' and all that 
     follows through ``directed'' and inserting ``Secretary of 
     Agriculture is authorized and directed'';
       (2) by striking ``station and stations'' and inserting ``1 
     or more centers''; and
       (3) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Department of 
     Agriculture'' and inserting ``Secretary of the Interior''.
       (c) Authority.--Section 2 of Public Law 85-342 (16 U.S.C. 
     778a) is amended by striking ``, the Secretary'' and all that 
     follows through ``authorized'' and inserting ``, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture is authorized.''
       (d) Assistance.--Section 3 of Public Law 85-342 (16 U.S.C. 
     778b) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Secretary of the Interior'' and inserting 
     ``Secretary of Agriculture''; and
       (2) by striking ``Department of Agriculture'' and inserting 
     ``Secretary of the Interior''.

     SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF FISH FARMING EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY TO 
                   DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

       (A) Designation of Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research 
     Center.--
       (1) In general.--The Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory 
     in Stuttgart, Arkansas, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center''.
       (2) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     laboratory referred to in paragraph 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research 
     Center''.
       (b) Transfer of Laboratory to the Department of 
     Agriculture.--Subject to section 1531 of title 31, United 
     States Code, not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, there are transferred to the 
     Department of Agriculture--
       (1) the personnel employed in connection with the 
     laboratory referred to in subsection (a);
       (2) the assets, liability, contracts, and real and personal 
     property of the laboratory;
       (3) the records of the laboratory; and
       (4) the unexpended balance of appropriations, 
     authorizations, allocations and other funds employed, held, 
     arising from, available to, or to be made available in 
     connection with the laboratory.

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