[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1660-S1661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG:

[[Page S1660]]

  S. 360. A bill to require adoption of a management plan for the Hells 
Canyon National Recreation Area that allows appropriate use of 
motorized and nonmotorized river craft in the recreation area, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


           HELL'S CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AMENDMENTS

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, Public Law 94-199, designating the Hells 
Canyon National Recreation Area, was signed into law December 31, 1975.
  Section 10 of the act recognizes that the use of both motorized and 
nonmotorized river craft are valid activities on the Snake River within 
the recreation area.
  The language seems clear. However, assurances by the Congress and the 
Forest Service 22 years ago that the long-established and traditional 
use of motorized river craft would be continued are now being callously 
disregarded by the agency.
  The most recent indication of this attitude has arisen during a 
review and revision of the river management plan for the NRA. Despite 
the lack of any demonstrable resource problems, and in the face of 
overwhelming public support for motorized river craft, the agency has 
again decided to close part of the river to powerboats. The new river 
management plan would close the heart of the canyon to motorized river 
craft for 21 days during the peak of the recreation season. Such a 
closure would also prohibit traditional motor use of the wild river 
segment to reach privately-owned lands within the scenic river segment 
of the NRA.
  The revised management plan is still in dispute as the result of 
appeals filed by commercial motorized river users. The vast majority of 
people, over 80 percent, who recreate in the Hells Canyon segment of 
the Snake River do so by motorized river craft. Some are private 
boaters, but most travel with commercial guides on scenic tours. This 
popular form of recreation is accomplished with a minimum of impact to 
the river, the land or other resources.
  Most river users, motorized and non-motorized, are willing to share 
the river. However, a small group of non-motorized users objects to 
seeing powered craft even though they have a rich choice of 
nonmotorized alternatives in this geographic area, such as the Selway 
and Middle Fork of the Salmon Rivers. Motorized users, however, don't 
have that luxury. The only other white water rivers open to them in the 
entire Wild and Scenic River System are portions of the Rogue and 
Salmon Rivers. Without a single doubt, the Hells Canyon portion of the 
Snake River is our Nation's premier whitewater power boating river.
  Mr. President, the Snake River is different from most rivers in the 
Wild and Scenic System. It is a high-volume river with a long and 
colorful history of use by motorized river craft. The first paying 
passengers to traverse its rapids on a motor boat made their journey on 
the 110-foot Colonel Wright in 1865. Later, the 136-foot Shoshone made 
its plunge through the canyon from Boise to Lewiston in 1870 and was 
followed by the 165-foot Norma in 1895. Gasoline-powered craft began 
hauling people, produce, and supplies in and out of the canyon in 1910, 
and the first contract for regular mail delivery was signed in 1919, 
continuing today. The Corps of Engineers began blasting rocks and 
improving channels in 1903. They worked continuously until 1975 to make 
the river safer for navigation.
  Mr. President, as you can see, the use of motorized river craft is 
deeply interwoven in the history, traditions, and culture of Hells 
Canyon. That is why Congress deliberately created a non-wilderness 
corridor for the entire length of the river in the authorizing 
legislation. During debate, Congress tried to make it clear that use of 
both motorized and nonmotorized river craft would be valid uses of the 
river within the recreation area--the entire river for the entire year. 
It was not their intent in 1975 to allow the managing agency to decide 
that one valid use would prevail to the exclusive use over the other.
  Quite clearly, the issue of power boating's validity will not be 
settled unless decided by the courts or unless Public Law 94-199 is 
clarified by Congress. The courts are already burdened by too many 
cases of this type, resulting in a waste of time, energy, and financial 
resources for both the United States and its citizens. The only 
practical and permanent resolution of this issue is to clarify 
congressional intent in a manner that will not allow any future 
misunderstanding. This is what I propose to do with this legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. JEFFORDS:
  S. 631. A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to 
prohibit the sale, import, and export of products labeled as containing 
endangered species, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


                the rhino and tiger product labeling act

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, the bill I am introducing today works to 
end the illegal killing of rare and endangered species that are close 
to extinction. These species include rhinos, tigers, bears, and many 
other animals that are slaughtered for senseless reasons. The bill, 
titled the Rhino and Tiger Product Labeling Act, seeks to amend the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the sale of products labeled 
as containing endangered species.
  Since 1970, the world's population of rhinos has declined by 90 
percent. Among the 5 species of rhinos, fewer than 11,000 individual 
rhinos exist in the wild. Tigers are facing a similar fate. At the turn 
of the century, as many as 100,000 tigers lived in the wild. Today, 
less than 5,000 tigers remain. Three subspecies are already extinct, 
and the remaining five subspecies are found only in sparse pockets of 
Asia.
  The greatest threat to the existence of rhinos and tigers in the wild 
continues to be the high demand for products containing rhino horn and 
tiger parts. The prohibition of the illegal trade in endangered species 
parts has not been well enforced in most Asian countries, where rhino 
and tiger products are valued for their medicinal value. Although the 
primary market for these illegal products continues to be in Asia, a 
large market has developed here in America.
  Investigators have found that in the United States, the trade in 
endangered species continues to be widely practiced. Many pharmacies in 
Los Angeles and New York offer rhino and tiger products for sale--a 
strong indication that it is time for the United States to concentrate 
on its role as a consumer nation of endangered species parts and 
products. In a recent survey, investigators found that 80 percent of 
pharmacies and supermarkets in New York's Chinatown district had tiger 
products openly for sale. Many of these products were imported from 
China. Demand for such products here in the United States is leading 
directly to the elimination of these species in their native habitat 
overseas. This trade must end.
  To curb this trade we need effective labeling laws and we must ban 
all products containing or claiming to contain ingredients derived from 
endangered species. Many products which advertise ingredients such as 
rhino horn or tiger parts do not even contain trace amount of these 
endangered species. However, the mere fact that they are on store 
shelves leads to increased demand for the real stuff. In addition, 
these products have been tested in the United States by the Food and 
Drug Administration and have been found to contain toxic metals that 
are harmful to human health if taken in the doses found in many 
traditional medicines. A ban on products containing ingredients from 
endangered species as well as those claiming to contain endangered 
species parts is vital to protect human health and to maintain the few 
remaining rhinos, tigers and bears in their wild habitat.
  My legislation will make it illegal to even intend to sell a product 
containing an endangered species. Today, Fish and Wildlife 
investigators are overwhelmed trying to control the illegal sale of 
endangered species parts and products. This bill will allow 
investigators to completely halt the sale of products labeled as 
containing endangered species.
  I am strong proponent of the protection and conservation of 
endangered species. If we do not act now, future generations will not 
be able to enjoy many of the species of wildlife now in existence. 
Currently there are insufficient legal mechanisms enabling the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service to forcefully interdict and confiscate 
products

[[Page S1661]]

that are labeled as containing endangered species and to prosecute the 
merchandisers once the products are on store shelves. This bill seeks 
to close a significant loophole in the illegal trade in products 
containing or claiming to contain ingredients from endangered species. 
My hope is that this legislation, when passed in the 105th Congress, 
will help curb the escalating trade in wildlife and endangered species 
parts and stem the decrease in the populations of some of the Earth's 
most magnificent animals.
                                 ______