[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2074-E2075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           FISH AND WILDLIFE REVENUE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DAVID E. SKAGGS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. It's 
essentially identical to one (H.R. 2291) I introduced last year to 
improve the ability of the Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out its 
responsibilities in Colorado and around the country. I'm glad my 
colleague Senator Allard chose to carry the bill in the Senate.
  The Service is responsible for storage and disposal of a great 
variety of fish and wildlife and wildlife-related items that come into 
federal ownership under a variety of laws.
  Hundreds of thousands of these items are collected at two facilities 
in Commerce City, Colorado. Most are in the National Wildlife Property 
Repository, while dead eagles and eagle parts (including feathers) go 
to the National Eagle Repository.
  From the general repository, the Service makes many items available 
to other agencies and to museums, zoos, schools and colleges for 
scientific, education, and official purposes. From the Eagle 
Repository, eagles and eagles parts are made available to Native 
Americans for religious purposes.
  These distributions meet a real need. In 1996, the eagle repository 
filled more than 1,300 requests, while between July, 1995 and February, 
1997 more than 5,700 items were shipped from the general repository to 
organizations around the nation.

[[Page E2075]]

  But many more items come into the general repository than are needed 
for such distribution. Under applicable law, the Service has to retain 
some of these items that aren't distributed. But others can be sold--
and that's where this bill comes in.
  Under current law, proceeds from sales of these unneeded items can be 
used for rewards and for some storage costs, but can't be used to 
defray the costs of the sales themselves. This bill would change this 
so that the Service could use the money from the sales to pay for the 
appraisals, auction expenses, and other costs of those sales, as well 
as for processing and shipping of items and for any steps needed to 
clear title to them.
  It's estimated that in the first year after enactment, the bill will 
generate about a million dollars in additional funding for the Service. 
That will help make these programs more self-supporting, cutting red 
tape and making it easier for the Service to carry out these important 
activities.
  The bill would not authorize sales of any items that can't be sold 
now, and it would not change any of the other rules regarding 
protection or management of fish or wildlife.
  I think it's good sense as well as good government. I'm glad that the 
Senate has now passed this companion measure, and I urge the House to 
concur and clear the bill for signing into law.
  Finally, let me remind my friend from California that this bill 
really originated on this side of the aisle. Equitable treatment of 
minority legislation on the suspension calendar is an objective I 
share. However, this bill is bipartism--and it should pass.

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