[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 121 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11029-S11032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE CONSERVATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to speak 
on issues that are of importance to us. I will take the next 5 minutes 
to speak about a subject that is important to many Members of this 
body--something that over 20 of us have been working on now very 
diligently on both the House side, as well as the Senate, Republican 
and Democrat, to bring closure to this year in this Congress.
  I come to the floor very appropriately today as this terrible storm, 
Floyd, actually rages outside of this building. The wind and the rain 
have battered this building as we have worked through the day. Of 
course, we feel relatively blessed in that the storm damage has been 
kept to a minimum. It is quite a deadly storm and quite a tremendous 
threat.
  There are schoolchildren and families at home throughout the entire 
eastern portion of our Nation because they have been unable to get to 
work, or to school, or to other places because of the storm.
  I want to speak for a few minutes about the Conservation and 
Reinvestment Act and how it will help us deal not with the emergency of 
the storm, not necessarily with the specific preparation for a 
particular storm, but how this particular bill by rededicating a 
portion of our offshore oil and gas revenues could be used by States 
and counties and coastal areas throughout the United States to help 
repair damages from these particular storms.

  I want to take a minute to thank some Governors and Senators and to 
read a few statements into the Record about some of their thoughts 
regarding this bill.
  As this storm moves through the eastern part of our Nation today, and 
hopefully will dissipate over the next few hours, we have experienced 
tremendous damage. Since 1960, the United States has sustained over $50 
billion in damage. From Florida to Louisiana, to Texas, to South and 
North Carolina and Virginia, many coastal States have been battered 
over and over by hurricanes just since 1960.
  In a major publication last week, one of the headlines was reminding 
us of the deadly storm that literally wiped out Galveston, TX, in the 
year 1900. It is now the 99th anniversary of one of the deadliest 
storms to ever hit the United States.
  While some on this floor might argue, what is the reason for setting 
aside a specific amount of money to help coastal States, I suggest what 
we see on television now says it better than I could say it on the 
floor of the Senate. We see storms of this magnitude pounding the 
coast, we see them

[[Page S11030]]

season after season, gulf coast to east coast, sometimes very big 
storms on the western coast, washing away our beaches, eroding our 
barrier islands, causing tremendous damage.
  It is important for this Senate to act now, while we have the 
opportunity, to set aside a portion of our offshore oil and gas 
revenues, to join in partnership with our local officials, Governors 
and county commissioners, to help, whether the hurricane season is 
tough or not, whether we are in the mood for it or not, for Congress to 
provide a permanent source of revenue, year in and year out, to help 
with these matters. That is what S. 25 will provide. Hopefully, in a 
few weeks we will be marking up this bill.
  I will read into the Record and specifically thank several Governors 
who have experienced over the last days the effects of Hurricane Floyd. 
I begin by thanking Governor Roy Barnes of the State of Georgia, whose 
State was spared the brunt of this particular storm but who did a 
beautiful job preparing the people of Florida, along with the emergency 
personnel.
  I read from his letter:

       This legislation [referring to S. 25] would provide 
     critically needed funding for a variety of wildlife-
     conservation, land conservation, and coastal-area projects in 
     Georgia. I fully support this legislation and ask you to work 
     for its passage.

  Jim Hodges, Governor of South Carolina, who probably hasn't slept in 
the last 48 hours as his State has been battered by this storm, wrote a 
couple of months ago:

       South Carolina has a unique diversity of natural resources 
     which we must strive to conserve for future generations.
       The current proposal which provides for a dedicated and 
     secure funding source has long-term significance for both our 
     natural resources and the people who enjoy all types of 
     outdoor recreation. The plans embodied in CARA are high 
     priorities for South Carolina. These include: coastal zone 
     management and impact assistance, wetlands restoration, state 
     and local outdoor recreation programs, fish and wildlife 
     conservation, and environmental education.

  He goes on to say:
       Congress enacted the Coastal Management Act in 1972 to 
     preserve, restore and enhance the resources of the nation's 
     coastal zone.

  Mr. President, S. 25 is structured in such a way that it can build on 
that good work. I thank Governor Jim Hodges of South Carolina for 
having the forethought and not waiting for the hurricanes, for thinking 
ahead as to how we could provide some much needed dollars to minimize 
the cost of the damage that has been caused.
  Governor Jim Hunt of North Carolina writes:

       We are making significant progress in North Carolina to 
     enhance and protect our environment and public spaces. We 
     have made historic commitments this year to the expansion of 
     public lands in our western mountains, and we recognize the 
     value of our public spaces for assuring a prosperous and 
     livable future.

  I thank these Governors for their leadership and acknowledge the fact 
that Governor Whitman, who was also prepared for the effects of this 
storm, was here in the Capitol not that many months ago stating her 
case for why we should come to the aid of States and local governments 
to help protect our coasts, to provide funding that will help to 
restore beaches, and to help with hurricane evacuation and the 
infrastructure necessary to provide for the fact that over two-thirds 
of the people in the United States live within 50 miles of a coast.
  The State of Louisiana is happy to provide a lot of this money, or a 
great portion of it, from our oil and gas resources. I say thanks to 
Senator Campbell from Colorado; to Senator Breaux; to Senator Cochran; 
Senator Kit Bond; Senator Tim Johnson; Senator Mikulski; Senator 
Sessions from Alabama, a sister southern State; Senator Cleland from 
Georgia; Senator Lott; Senator Murkowski, the chairman of our 
committee; Senator Lincoln from Arkansas; Senator Bunning; Senator 
Bayh; Senator Coverdell; Senator Frist; Senator Robb; Senator Tim 
Hutchinson from Arkansas; Senator Bob Kerrey from an interior State; 
and Senator Roberts from Kansas, another interior State. I thank these 
Senators for joining the broad coalition of Senators both from our 
coastal and interior States recognizing hurricanes are dangerous and 
can have devastating impact to life and to property.
  While we have all sorts of programs in effect--flood insurance and 
emergency preparedness--if we could spend a small amount of money 
matching the efforts that States and local governments do year in and 
year out, we could help to preserve the precious resources that are 
literally washed away season after season.
  I believe the American people want Congress to help. I believe they 
think we have the resources to do so. Mostly, I believe they think this 
is the year we should act. Let's not wait until another storm rips up 
another part of our coastline. Let's act in the next few months, as 
this Congress comes to a close, to adopt this important piece of 
legislation.
  I thank these Senators for their hard work and acknowledge the work 
of Chairman Murkowski and acknowledge the work of Members of the House, 
Chairman Young and others in the House who are working on a similar 
proposal. I thank the Presiding Officer for his interest in this 
particular piece of legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record several letters 
I discussed as well as the costs of hurricanes in this century.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                 State of Georgia,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                   Atlanta, GA, February 10, 1999.
     Hon. Jack Kingston,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Kingston: The U.S. Congress is 
     presently considering some important conservation legislation 
     that would benefit Georgia. The Conservation and Reinvestment 
     Act was introduced in the Senate (S. 25) on January 19 and 
     similar legislation is expected to be introduced in the House 
     soon. This legislation would provide critically needed 
     funding for a variety of wildlife-conservation, land 
     conservation and coastal-area projects in Georgia. I fully 
     support this legislation and ask you to work for its passage.
       The Conservation and Reinvestment Act would dedicate 50% or 
     more of annual revenues from offshore gas and oil leases-
     projected at $4.59 billion in the year 2000--into three 
     separate funds. Georgia would receive a wide range of 
     benefits from each of these titles as follows:
       Title I would dedicate 27% of annual offshore oil and gas 
     revenue to coastal states and local communities. For impact 
     assistance, including environmental remediation and 
     infrastructure needs. Georgia would receive approximately 
     $5.8 million annually for air and water quality improvements, 
     coastal zone management, beach replenishment and similar 
     activities.
       Title II would dedicate 16% in S. 25 or 23% in the 1998 
     House version of offshore oil and gas revenue for funding the 
     Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Urban Park and 
     Recreation Recovery Programs. Georgia's share would be 
     roughly $8 million annually. I prefer the House version since 
     more funding would come to the states.
       Title III deals with Wildlife Conservation and Restoration. 
     This section would dedicate 10% in the House version or 7% in 
     S. 25 of offshore oil and gas revenue to fund state-level 
     wildlife conservation, wildlife education and wildlife 
     associated recreation projects, such as hiking trails, 
     education centers and programs, and other wildlife 
     conservation projects. Georgia's share of this money would be 
     approximately $8 million annually in the House version which 
     I favor.
       These bills would provide a much needed, permanent funding 
     source to meet a variety of environmental conservation needs 
     that face our growing state. I encourage you to use your 
     influence to help reconcile these bills in the House and 
     Senate to ensure their passage. It is important that states 
     receive as much of this funding as possible to address 
     critical conservation needs here at home.
       Thank you in advance for your support of the legislation.
       Kindest regards.
           Sincerely,
     Roy E. Barnes.
                                  ____

                                          State of South Carolina,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                      Columbia, SC, March 1, 1999.
     Mr. R. Max Peterson,
     Executive Vice-President, International Association of Fish 
         and Wildlife Agencies, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Peterson: It is with great pleasure that I write 
     to you to endorse the principles embodied in ``Conservation 
     and Reinvestment Act of 1999 (CARA),'' which was recently 
     introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of 
     Representatives introduction in the near future. South 
     Carolina has a unique diversity of national resources which 
     we must strive to conserve for future generations.
       The current proposal which provides for a dedicated and 
     secure funding source has

[[Page S11031]]

     long-term significance for both our natural resources and the 
     people who enjoy all types of outdoor recreation. The plans 
     embodied in CARA are high priorities for South Carolina. 
     These include: coastal zone management and impact assistance, 
     wetlands restoration, state and local outdoor recreation 
     programs, fish and wildlife conservation, and environmental 
     education.
       Congress enacted the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972 to 
     preserve, restore and enhance the resources of the nation's 
     coastal zone. Title I of CARA will allow South Carolina to 
     partner with the federal government in managing our coastal 
     zone for the improvement of air and water quality, fish and 
     wildlife habitat, and wetlands protection.
       Title II will restore funding for the Land and Water 
     Conservation fund, allowing a continuation of the process of 
     building a national network of parks, recreation and 
     conservation areas to touch all communities. This reinvests 
     assets of lasting value for all Americans.
       I am particularly pleased that Title III of the legislation 
     includes the principles from the original ``Teaming with 
     Wildlife'' initiative, and I trust that the language will 
     ultimately provide the states with the means to protect and 
     manage the vast majority of wildlife species which presently 
     have no reliable source of funding. I am hopeful that the 
     final bill will dedicate 10% of the annual revenue to Title 
     III, as was proposed in the House version last year.
       I am impressed by the strong bipartisan support in Congress 
     for the CARA concept and I will be working with South 
     Carolina's delegation to secure their support. As a newly 
     elected governor, I have a clear vision of the legacy that I 
     want to leave the citizens of South Carolina in general and 
     our children in particular. A critical component of my 
     campaign platform included increasing the quantity and 
     quality of education opportunities in this state. This 
     legislation will not only help conserve natural areas and 
     enhance outdoor recreational opportunities, but also promote 
     conservation education programs for coming generations.
       Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our valuable 
     natural resources.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Jim Hodges,
     Governor.
                                  ____

                                          State of North Carolina,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                    Raleigh, SC, December 8, 1998.
     The President,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: I am writing to congratulate you on 
     your success with environmental initiatives in the past year, 
     and to urge inclusion of a significant environmental and 
     conservation funding package supported by offshore energy 
     royalties in your FY 2000 Budget.
       We are making significant progress in North Carolina to 
     enhance and protect our environment and our public spaces. We 
     have made historic commitments this year to the expansion of 
     public lands in our western mountains, and we recognize the 
     value of our public spaces for assuring a prosperous and 
     livable future. We are aware of interest in Congress, among 
     the conservation and environmental communities, and elsewhere 
     in proposals for a truly significant recommitment of 
     available offshore royalty revenues to preserve and enhance 
     public lands, parks and recreation, wildlife habitat, coastal 
     protections, and other vital natural concerns. This type of 
     legislative package would put in place an ongoing source of 
     funds to support federal and state needs and enable us to 
     fulfill important environmental and conservation goals.
       This would also be a fitting and winning follow up to your 
     successes this year with the American Heritage Rivers 
     Initiative and Clean Water Action Plan. I hope you can 
     include this type of broad conservation initiative supported 
     by offshore energy revenues in your priorities for the FY 
     2000 Budget.
       My warmest personal regards.
           Sincerely,
     James B. Hunt Jr.
                                  ____



  testimony of governor christine todd whitman before the u.s. senate 
 committee on energy and natural resources, washington, d.c., tuesday, 
                             april 27, 1999

       Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
       I am pleased to have the opportunity to testify on the 
     various legislative proposals before the Committee that 
     address land and natural resources conservation.
       States and local governments are leading the way in the 
     preservation of land and natural resources, and we welcome 
     federal efforts that build on and complement what we are 
     already doing.
       I want to applaud the Committee and the sponsors of the 
     various bills for the bipartisan and inclusive process that 
     recognizes the critical role of state and local governments 
     in preserving and protecting natural resources.
       Before I comment specifically on the federal legislation, I 
     would like to briefly discuss what we have already done in 
     New Jersey.
       By way of background, New Jersey is a state of 8 million 
     people living on 5 million acres. Ours is the most densely 
     populated state in the country, yet it maintains five 
     national wildlife areas, two national park areas, three 
     nationally designated estuaries, the internationally 
     recognized and environmentally sensitive New Jersey 
     Pinelands, and 127 miles of ocean shoreline.
       The Garden State has made consistent and aggressive efforts 
     to preserve and protect its natural resources. In fact, 
     between 1961 and 1995, our voters approved bond issues 
     totaling more than $1.4 billion to acquire 390,000 acres of 
     open space, protect 50,000 acres of farmland, preserve 
     historic sites, and develop parks. And last November, by a 2-
     to-1 margin, New Jersey voters approved a long-term stable 
     source of funding to preserve forever 1 million additional 
     acres of open space and farmland.
       Saving our precious land is the centerpiece of New Jersey's 
     effort to build a future in which we can sustain both the 
     strength of our economy and the integrity of our environment.
       That effort includes directing future growth to areas that 
     have the infrastructure already in place, such as our cities 
     and town centers. In support of that effort, we are working 
     hard to revitalize our cities as thieving centers of culture 
     and commerce. We are also committing some of our preservation 
     funds to protect and preserve our most significant historic 
     treasures.
       New Jersey's commitment to land preservation dates back to 
     the 1960s. Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
     and the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery program have 
     provided New Jersey with over $145 million in matching funds 
     to acquire open space and develop and maintain recreational 
     facilities and urban parks.
       Some recent projects the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
     has supported include the first county park in Hudson County 
     in 80 years and the development of Liberty State Park, one of 
     New Jersey's most culturally and historically significant 
     attractions.
       Clearly, while my state will continue to make open space 
     preservation a priority, the need to preserve land exceeds 
     state and local funding levels, particularly given the 
     federal government's decision in 1995 to stop the flow of 
     land and water conservation funds to the states.
       Restoring the stateside funding of the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund would assist New Jersey's open space and 
     farmland preservation efforts by enhancing our ability to 
     partner with local governments and nonprofit agencies in 
     order to achieve our million acre goal.
       Mr. Chairman, an important priority in New Jersey is 
     preserving our farmland, and I would encourage the Committee 
     to allow Land and Water Conservation Fund money to be used to 
     purchase farmland conservation easements to assist us in this 
     effort.
       When it comes to wildlife, the reinvestment of Outer 
     Continental Shelf revenues will enable states to ensure that 
     we bequeath to our children and grandchildren healthy and 
     abundant species populations with adequate habitat.
       Federal funding would allow New Jersey to fully implement 
     projects that protect critical wildlife habitats and species 
     and encourage private landowners to do the same. We have 
     saved the peregrine falcon and the osprey, and we have 
     increased the number of nesting bald eagles from one pair in 
     1988 to 22 pairs in 1999. Increased revenue would allow New 
     Jersey to continue these efforts and develop a strategic plan 
     for the preservation of all species and their habitat.
        Mr. Chairman, I also want to comment on the coastal impact 
     assistance provision in your proposal. The New Jersey coast 
     generates more than $20 billion per year. Supporting a 
     thriving coastline is critical to our economy and our 
     environment. Coastal impact assistance could be used for 
     vital projects such as restoring beaches, dunes, and wetlands 
     as well as state and local smart growth planning.
       New Jersey does not have oil and gas exploration or 
     production off our coast, and we support the existing 
     moratorium on oil and gas production off New Jersey's coast.
       Members of the Committee, I recognize that approving the 
     proposals before you would require a shift in the budgets of 
     other federal programs. It is important that funds provided 
     to states under this legislation not come at the expense of 
     other federally supported state programs.
       I do believe, however, that since Outer Continental Shelf 
     revenues come from a nonrenewable resource, it makes sense to 
     dedicate them to natural resource conservation rather than 
     dispersing them for general government purposes.
       I would urge the Committee to give state and local 
     governments maximum flexibility in determining how to invest 
     these funds. In this way, federal resources can be tailored 
     to complement state plans, priorities, and resources.
       I look forward to continuing to work with you as this 
     legislation moves forward. Thank you for this opportunity to 
     testify on an issue of great importance to New Jersey and the 
     nation. I would be happy to answer any questions.
                                  ____


        THE COSTLIEST HURRICANES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1900-1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Ranking: Hurricane            Year  Category    Damage (U.S.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Andrew (SE FL/SE LA).............   1992        4    $26,500,000,000
 2. Hugo (SC)........................   1989        4      7,000,000,000
 3. Fran (NC)........................   1996        3      3,200,000,000
 4. Opal (NW FL/AL)..................   1995        3      3,000,000,000
 5. Frederic (AL/MS).................   1979        3      2,300,000,000
 6. Agnes (NE U.S.)..................   1972        1      2,100,000,000
 7. Alicia (N TX)....................   1983        3      2,000,000,000
 8. Bob (NC and NE U.S.).............   1991        2      1,500,000,000

[[Page S11032]]

 
 9. Juan (LA)........................   1985        1      1,500,000,000
10. Camille (MS/AL)..................   1969        5      1,420,700,000
11. Betsy (FL/LA)....................   1965        3      1,420,500,000
12. Elena (MS/AL/NW FL)..............   1985        3      1,250,000,000
13. Gloria (Eastern U.S.)............   1985        3        900,000,000
14. Diane (NE U.S.)..................   1955        1        831,700,000
15. Erin (Central & NW FL/SW AL).....   1995        2        700,000,000
16. Allison (N TX)...................   1989     T.S.        500,000,000
16. Alberto (NW FL/GA/AL)............   1994     T.S.        500,000,000
18. Eloise (NW FL)...................   1975        3        490,000,000
19. Carol (NE U.S.)..................   1954        3        461,000,000
20. Celia (S TX).....................   1970        3        453,000,000
21. Carla (TX).......................   1961        4        408,000,000
22. Claudette (N TX).................   1979     T.S.        400,000,000
22. Gordon (S & Cent. FL/NC).........   1994     T.S.        400,000,000
24. Donna (FL/Eastern U.S.)..........   1960        4        387,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                        

                          ____________________