[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10112-H10113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
  COLLECTION OF FEES FOR TRIPLOID GRASS CARP CERTIFICATION INSPECTIONS

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 268) to authorize the collection of fees for expenses 
for triploid grass carp certification inspections, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 268

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

     SECTION 1. COLLECTION OF FEES FOR TRIPLOID GRASS CARP 
                   CERTIFICATION INSPECTIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Director''), may charge 
     reasonable fees for expenses to the Federal Government for 
     triploid grass carp certification inspections requested by a 
     person who owns or operates an aquaculture facility.
       (b) Availability.--All fees collected under subsection (a) 
     shall be available to the Director until expended, without 
     further appropriations.
       (c) Use.--The Director shall use all fees collected under 
     subsection (a) to carry out the activities referred to in 
     subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Saxton] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 268. This 
legislation establishes a fee-for-service system whereby the Secretary 
of the Interior may collect fees from private fish producers for the 
cost of grass carp certification inspections. It also allows the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service to retain those funds for that program.
  This legislation is important because many States require that grass 
carp, which are imported by these States to eat aquatic vegetation, 
must be certified as sterile or triploid. This is to ensure that these 
carp do not reproduce and have an adverse effect on the environment.
  The Fish and Wildlife Service has been certifying the sterility of 
grass carp since 1979. In fiscal year 1994, over $70,000 was spent by 
the Service on this program. Due to budget constraints, however, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it is no longer able to 
bear the cost of this program. Private producers have notified the 
Service that they are willing to pay certification costs. This 
legislation will allow the fee-for-service to be established so the 
Service can continue the program at no cost to the Federal Government.
  This legislation was the subject of a hearing in my subcommittee on 
June 8 and it was unanimously approved by the House Resources 
Committee.
  It is an excellent example of how a user fee can be established that 
is both beneficial to those who receive the inspection services and to 
our taxpayers.
  I want to compliment our distinguished colleague from Arkansas, 
Blanche Lambert Lincoln, for her leadership on this legislation.
  I urge an ``Aye'' vote on S. 268.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this 
legislation, which is a very good example of a private-public 
partnership that benefits the taxpayers, private industry, and the 
environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Arkansas [Mrs. Lincoln].
  (Mrs. LINCOLN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
California, Mrs. Miller, as well as the gentleman from New Jersey, 
Chairman Saxton, for their assistance in this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge adoption of this legislation before the 
House today that epitomizes the type of relationship that should exist 
between private industry and the Federal Government.
  For the past several years the Fish and Wildlife Service has 
conducted a certification program for the triploid grass carp. This 
beneficial fish is utilized by 29 States to help control aquatic 
vegetation in lakes ponds, and streams. The triploid grass carp 
provides an effective, economical method of caring for these 
environments without the use of chemical agents.
  As the use of the fish has increased over the years, a number of 
States have adopted regulations which require the grass carp to be 
certified as sterile. If a reproducing carp were introduced into these 
environments it could cause serious damage to the existing fish 
species. The certification process has assured States that the fish 
were sterile, thereby allowing their shipment by private 
aquaculturists.
  In the past year the Fish and Wildlife Service conducted 550 triploid 
grass carp inspections at no charge to the producer. The cost of the 
program was $70,000. However, this year because of the dire fiscal 
situation that faces many agencies, the Fish and Wildlife Service has 
indicated that it cannot afford to operate the program.
  The producers who have utilized this program have agreed to pay a fee 
that would cover the entire cost of the program with the understanding 
that the funds would be utilized for this purpose only. The Fish and 
Wildlife Service supports this arrangement but lacks the authority to 
implement it without congressional authorization.
  This bill is identical to one that I introduced earlier this year and 
I appreciate the support of Chairman Saxton, Chairman Young, and 
Congressmen Studds in bringing this measure to the floor today. I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlewoman from Arkansas [Mrs. 
Lincoln] for her work on this legislation. She has garnered partisan 
support for this legislation. We urge support of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to build on the comments of the 
gentleman from California, Mr. Miller. The gentlewoman from Arkansas, 
Mrs. Lincoln, has in fact done a yeoman's job on this bill in an 
atmosphere where partisan politics seems to play an overly aggressive 
role around here, both on the committee level and here on the House 
floor.
  She has been able to, No. 1, fashion a bill that makes sense and, No. 
2, to get support, I believe almost unanimous support, on the committee 
in a very, very businesslike and professional way. We appreciate that 
approach and are glad to have been able to work with the gentlewoman on 
this.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support S. 268 and feel 
it is appropriate to allow private fish producers to fully reimburse 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the costs of their certification 
to triploid grass carp.
  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began its involvement in the DNA 
certification of triploid grass carp nearly two decades ago. Since that 
time, the program has grown to more than 550 inspections per year for 
private producers whose fish are shipped to some 30 States. In fiscal 
year 1994, over $70,000 was spent by the Service on this program.
  This certification process is necessary to ensure that only sterile 
grass carp are released in public and private waters to control aquatic 
vegetation.
  Earlier this year, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced its 
intention to terminate this certification program. Since States will 
not allow the release of grass carp without the Service's stamp of 
approval, this legislation has become necessary.
  S. 268 will establish a fee-for-service system and it will allow the 
Fish and Wildlife Service to retain those collected funds to cover the 
expenses of the triploid grass carp certification inspections.

  I urge an ``aye'' vote on this measure and compliment our colleague, 
Blanche Lambert Lincoln, for her leadership in bringing this matter to 
our attention.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H 10113]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Riggs). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 268.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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