[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11293-S11294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today having learned of last 
night's unanimous consent request on S. 1677--The Wetlands and Wildlife 
Conservation Act of 1998.
  As you know, S. 1677 reauthorizes the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act (NAWCA) for the next five years. Mr. President, over 
its eight year history NAWCA has been a lynchpin in our nations efforts 
to preserve habitat and protect wildlife.
  NAWCA has been a very good program for wildlife, for conservation, 
and for American taxpayers. For every one dollar of federal money, the 
program obtains on average a match of another two dollars from private 
partners. According to Ducks Unlimited, over 550 projects nationwide 
have been initiated with NAWCA funding. In 1996, 76.9 million 
individuals took part in wildlife-associated activities, creating over 
$100 billion in expenditures for our economy. Additionally, in 1996, 
over 40 million sportsmen and women spent over $70 billion in 
recreational expenditures and millions more Americans spent billions in 
non-sport activities associated with wildlife.
  My home state of Minnesota, in particular, has benefited from NAWCA. 
Over its eight-year life, NAWCA funding of $18.4 million has stimulated 
private partners to contribute over $25 million more to habitat 
projects. In 1996, 1.6 million Minnesotans participated in wildlife-
associated activities, creating $3.6 billion in expenditures throughout 
the state.
  But beyond the economic benefits NAWCA provides are the important 
environmental aspects to the program. The decline in duck, geese, and 
other waterfowl populations in the early 1980s created the catalyst for 
the program. By protecting nearly 3.7 million acres of habitat since 
its creation, NAWCA has helped restore waterfowl populations to their 
highest level in half a century. In fact, state and federal surveys 
this past year counted 42 million breeding ducks, the highest level 
since surveys began in 1955, according to the U.S. Department of the 
Interior.
  I was proud to join my colleagues this past April in cosponsoring S. 
1677. I am even more proud to come to the

[[Page S11294]]

floor today knowing the bill has passed the United States Senate and 
will continue to protect habitat and wildlife well into the 
future.

                          ____________________