[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1041-E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF TWO ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to introduce two bills, the 
Land and Water Conservation Fund Accessibility Act of 1997 and a 
proposal to establish the St. Helena Island National Scenic Area.
  It was President John F. Kennedy who had the infinite wisdom to 
propose legislation to create a land and water conservation fund. In 
1964, Congress established, with bipartisan support, the land and water 
conservation fund [LWCF] for public acquisition of park and recreation 
lands for recreation planning, acquisition and development.
  To assure that the LWCF received sufficient funds to carry out the 
original intent of the law, in 1968, Congress decided to set aside the 
revenue received from oil and gas leasing on the outer continental 
shelf [OCS] to fund conservation efforts. The idea was simple. One 
resource, oil and gas, would be exploited, but the revenues generated 
would be invested in another resource, the purchase of lands and 
waters. Up to $900 million is collected for the use of the LWCF each 
year but Congress must first appropriate the money before it can be 
spent. Funds appropriated for the LWCF have been declining rapidly in 
recent years, with only $138 million being spent for the program last 
year. The State grant portion of the LWCF was not funded at all in 
fiscal year 1996 or 1997. Furthermore, the House Budget Committee in 
the last Congress proposed a 5-year moratorium on land acquisition and 
a phase out of the entire LWCF program.
  My legislation, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Accessibility 
Act, would remedy the funding problem by taking the entire LWCF off-
budget thus ensuring that its funds will be spent for the purpose it 
was created. By doing this, the Federal land agencies would have more 
funds to better manage fragile habitat and endangered lands. This would

[[Page E1042]]

also provide funds for States to improve parks for inter-cities, and 
other vital recreational areas. Furthermore, I want to point out that 
this bill leaves intact the current authority of Congress to make 
funding decisions about LWCF projects, as part of the annual Interior 
appropriations bill.
  Because the appropriations have been dwindling, it has been debated 
whether the funds from LWCF should be taken from Federal projects and 
moved to State initiatives. If my bill were passed, we would not have 
this decade. The LWCF affects every geographic region in America, from 
a small park or bike trail in Flint, MI, to a wilderness area in 
northern Michigan. Like myself, the National Audubon Society, the 
Nation Recreation and Park Association, the Natural Resources Defense 
Council, the Wilderness Society, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Trust 
for Public Land, the National Parks and Conservation Association, the 
National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers, the 
National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club and many more 
organizations who represent various interests across our country agree 
that the real issue here is that we are not spending enough money on 
the State and Federal level to conserve our Nation's heritage. As the 
population increases, land is quickly being developed. We must have the 
foresight, as our predecessors did in 1964, to realize that we must act 
now so that future generations will also have the opportunity to enjoy 
our precious public resources.
  Mr. Speaker, the second bill I am introducing is the establishment of 
the St. Helena Island Scenic Area. St. Helena Island is a 241-acre 
island located in Lake Michigan about 6 miles west of the Mackinac 
Bridge. The island has been put up for sale by private landowners who 
are willing to sell it to the Federal Government. The island is 
contiguous to the Hiawatha National Forest.
  For the last 10 years, the Michigan Lighthouse Association and the 
Boy Scouts of America have been restoring a lighthouse on the island 
that was originally built in 1873. This beautiful lighthouse and its 
grounds are the only development on the entire island.
  St. Helena Island provides habitat for several endangered plants and 
animals, including the Pileated Woodpecker and the Bald Eagle. At the 
western end of the island, there is a 17-acre Great Blue Heron rookery 
which has been designated by the Michigan Department of Natural 
Resources as a refuge.
  In designating this island as a National Scenic Area, we will ensure 
that it is given permanent protection for the enjoyment of future 
generations. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage 
of these environmental initiatives.

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