[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1440-E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill, H.R. 2107, making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and 
     for other purposes:

  ***SHD***STERLING FORESTMrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Chairman, this is a proud 
day for the people of New Jersey and New York, and I want to thank 
Chairman Regula for his diligence in seeing that the purchase of 
Sterling Forest becomes a reality. The $8.5 million included in this 
legislation will ensure that northern New Jersey's drinking water will 
remain clean and safe.
  For years, I have worked with Chairman Regula to secure the 
appropriate funding levels for Sterling Forest. Last year the chairman 
was instrumental in seeing that language was included in the Interior 
appropriations bill which ranked Sterling Forest as one of the nation's 
top two priorities for land acquisition and he recommended that 
Sterling Forest receive $9 million as downpayment on the Federal 
Government's $17.5 million share of the purchase price.
  Without this final $8.5 million Federal installment of funds, the 
entire $55 million project would be at risk. With the passage of this 
bill today, we are one step closer to celebrating the completion of 
this landmark project.


                WALLKILL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

  I am also most grateful that the chairman included $1.3 million for 
the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Wallkill is one of the 
most fertile valleys and natural wildlife areas in New Jersey. The 
environmental education opportunities provided at the Wallkill Refuge 
as well as the important resources protected there are certainly a 
worthwhile investment that will have lasting impacts for generations to 
come.

  However, while I am grateful for the $1.3 included in this bill, I 
had requested $3 million for the project this year. That $3 million is 
needed this year to complete the acquisition of critical wildlife 
habitat lands along the river. I want to stress that these lands are 
currently available and ready for purchase from willing sellers. For 
this reason, I will continue to push for additional money to complete 
the acquisition.
  Earlier this year, I joined several other members in sending a letter 
to Appropriations Committee Chairman Livingston urging him to increase 
the Interior Subcommittee's spending allocation for fiscal year 1998. 
After several years of continuous reductions for the subcommittee 
charged with ensuring adequate protection of our natural resources, I 
was pleased that our effort was successful and that the subcommittee 
was given an additional $500 million. In addition, I was pleased that

[[Page E1441]]

the budget agreement included an additional $700 million for the Land 
and Water Conservation Fund.
  I had hope that the committee would move to incorporate the 
additional $700 million in Land and Water Conservation funds provided 
for in the Balanced Budget Agreement so that it could be used for 
projects like Wallkill, Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, and other 
worthy projects in New Jersey.
  Unfortunately, the committee chose not to allocate that $700 million 
in their report. However, I will continue to push for allocation of 
that $700 million as this appropriation's bill continues through the 
process.
  I am painfully aware of how difficult a job Chairman Regula and 
others on the Appropriations Committee have in this time of tight 
budgets. Please know that I am most grateful for the moneys included in 
this bill for Sterling Forest and Wallkill, and appreciate your 
continued support of these important New Jersey projects.

                          ____________________