[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 112 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT, FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

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                               speech of

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2606) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2000, and for other purposes:

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The amendment would cut off funding for the World Heritage Convention 
and the Man in the Biosphere program. I think this would be a mistake. 
It could set back important programs for protection of internationally-
important cultural, historical, and environmental resources.
  It's claimed that these programs are a threat to Congress' authority 
over federal lands, but in fact they don't lessen that authority. They 
also don't affect any other part of the Constitution, or any private 
property rights. Let me repeat--these programs don't have an effect on 
those rights.
  But the amendment would have an effect. It would undermine America's 
international leadership in environmental conservation and in the 
protection of historical and cultural resources. So, I think this 
amendment is bad for our country--and I know it's bad for Colorado.
  In Colorado, we have several Biosphere Reserves--areas that are part 
of the Man in the Biosphere program. One is the Niwot Ridge Research 
area. Another is Rocky Mountain National Park. This amendment could 
terminate their participation in the program.
  Earlier this year, I asked Professor William Bowman, the Director of 
the University of Colorado's Mountain Research Station, about the 
significance of Niwot Ridge's participation in the program.
  He explained that having Niwot Ridge in the Biosphere Reserve System 
had provided a framework for international cooperation in important 
research efforts, including work with a Biosphere Reserve in the Czech 
Republic to address air pollution problems--a matter of great 
importance to Colorado as well as to the Czechs.
  He also told me that the Biosphere Reserve program had been helpful 
to the people at Niwot Ridge as they worked with the Forest Service to 
develop a land-management plan that would promote multiple use by 
minimizing conflicts between recreational, scientific, and other uses--
again, a matter of great importance to Colorado and other public land 
states.
  I also contacted the National Park Service, to find out what it meant 
to have Rocky Mountain National Park included as a Biosphere Reserve. 
They told me that it not only meant more research activities occurred 
in the park, but also that it meant a significant increase in park 
visitation--tourism that not only provides important educational 
benefits for the visitors but also provides important economic benefits 
to Colorado.
  So, ending this program would be bad for Colorado, and something that 
I can't support. I urge the defeat of the amendment.

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