[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 116 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1839-E1840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS COUNCIL EXPANSION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to make 
a modest improvement to a conservation law, which has successfully 
saved wetlands throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 
North American Wetlands Conservation Act was signed into law in 1989 in 
response to the finding that more than half of the original wetlands in 
the United States have been lost during the past two centuries. 
Congress also recognizes that that protection of migratory birds and 
their habitats required long-term planning and coordination to meet our 
treaty obligations to conserve these precious species.
  The purpose of NAWCA is to encourage partnerships among public and 
nonpublic interests to protect, enhance, restore and manage wetlands 
for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America. NAWCA 
has been a tremendous success, funding 629 projects between 1991 and 
1999, helping to restore, enhance or help approximately 34 million 
acres across our continent. Most impressive has been the ratio of 
partner-to-government contributions, which has been about $2.50 for 
every public dollar invested.

[[Page E1840]]

  Last year, while Congress worked to reauthorize NAWCA, a debate 
emerged concerning the role of the North American Wetlands Conservation 
Council and its membership. In discussions and correspondence with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and stakeholder groups, I came away with 
a clear message: everyone involves fully supports a growing NAWCA 
program. What was less clear was finding an appropriate means to foster 
continued non-governmental participation in, and contributions to, the 
quantitative and qualitative successes of the program.
  The Fish and Wildlife Service informed me that it sought to ensure 
more diversity on the Council. For this reason, it indicated that the 
Secretary would not reappoint two organizations that have contributed 
mightily to NAWCA's success. Ultimately, one group chose to leave the 
Council and another chose to continue to seek reappointment, which I 
understand has been recently completed. I am hoping to receive written 
confirmation of this reappointment very shortly.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that the most effective means to diversify and 
expand the effectiveness of the Council is to provide the Secretary 
with new authority to appoint two additional Council members under Sec. 
4(a)(1)(D) of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These 
appointments would give the Service the ability to include additional 
charitable and non-profit organizations from among many which actively 
participate in the development of NAWCA projects. Quite simply, this 
simple bill would allow a highly successful law to expand its reach, 
and I hope for its swift passage this year.

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