[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12019-S12020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REINVESTMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION ACT OF 1998

 Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I would like to commend my 
colleague from Louisiana, Senator Landrieu, for her herculean efforts 
in developing this legislation. She has worked tirelessly with other 
Senators, the House, and numerous stakeholders, including industry 
groups and environmental groups alike. The bill she introduces

[[Page S12020]]

today reflects her tremendous dedication to this issue.
  I also applaud Senator Landrieu's efforts to shape this legislation 
into a significant conservation initiative. Her legislation includes 
two titles devoted to environmental protection--title II for funding 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and title III for funding 
non-game species protection by the States, known as Teaming with 
Wildlife. These worthwhile programs have not received the attention or 
funding they deserve on their own, and the inclusion in this 
legislation gives them an opportunity to fulfill their potential. In 
particular, the LWCF was created in 1964 with the principle that 
revenues from a resource extraction activity--offshore oil drilling--
should be reinvested in the acquisition and protection of other natural 
resources with lasting value. Senator Landrieu's bill remains true to 
this principle.
  S. 2566 is a major piece of legislation, with much promise. It 
deserves careful consideration. I intend to give the bill this 
consideration during recess. I intend to consult with different groups 
here, and with constituents in my home state of Rhode Island. Some 
groups have raised concerns that this bill will encourage offshore 
drilling, despite the Senator's strong statement that this bill is 
``drilling-neutral.'' I would like to reach my own conclusion on this 
score. Different interest groups have made suggestions to improve the 
provisions in all three titles, and I would like to explore those as 
well during recess.
  Senator Landrieu has expressed a genuine openness to consider new 
ideas, and a genuine willingness to incorporate good ideas into her 
legislation. I look forward to working with my colleague from Louisiana 
during the coming months on this initiative, and again, I 
wholeheartedly congratulate her on how far she has come 
already.

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