[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 640, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1996

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                               speech of

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 3, 1996

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to address section 532 of the bill 
relating to coastal wetlands restoration projects in Louisiana.
  The purpose of section 532 is to amend the Coastal Wetlands Planning, 
Protection, and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3952(f); 104 Stat. 4782-
4783) (the ``Act'') to provide that the Federal share of the cost of 
certain wetlands restoration projects (``projects'') shall be 90 
percent as compared to other projects or portions of projects which may 
have a Federal share of 75 percent or 85 percent as the case may be, as 
provided in section 303 of the act.
  The intended projects are identified in paragraph (5) of section 
303(f)-- as amended by section 532--as ``coastal wetlands projects 
under this section in the calendar years 1996 and 1997.'' This phrase 
is intended to mean those projects added to the priority project list 
by annual update in the calendar year 1996 pursuant to section 303(a) 
of the act--fifth priority list--and those projects hereafter added to 
the priority list in calendar year 1997 pursuant to the same 
authority--sixth priority list.
  The amendment also requires a determination by the Secretary that a 
reduction in the non-Federal share is warranted. In making this 
determination, the Secretary should consider whether additional 
benefits are likely to accrue to the restoration, protection, or 
conservation of coastal wetlands in the State of Louisiana as a result 
of a reduction in such non-Federal share and the application of 
resulting available state funds to implement the conservation plan and 
other State funded coastal conservation measures.

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