[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E293]]



INTRODUCTION OF THE CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP 
                              ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 2000

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce the Coral 
Reef Conservation and Restoration Partnership Act of 2000. I am joined 
in this effort by the distinguished gentleman from American Samoa, who 
is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans, along with 12 other bipartisan cosponsors.
  Coral reefs support the economies of many local communities 
throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Sea, and Pacific Ocean. Coral 
reefs provide important areas for tourism, diving, fishing, scientific 
research and offers potential life saving pharmaceutical advances to 
treat human diseases. Unfortunately, many of our coral reef areas are 
threatened by a variety of natural impacts and human activities 
including coral disease, hurricanes, destructive fishing practices, 
over fishing, pollution, and changing ocean conditions. Under ideal 
circumstances, coral reefs can take decades or more to recover, and it 
is critical that we address the most serious problems facing these 
valuable marine areas. In cases where damage has occurred, we need to 
develop the technologies to help repair and restore coral reefs. 
Further, we need to improve our abilities to recognize areas that are 
susceptible to coral reef loss. This requires developing comprehensive 
maps of U.S. coral reef resources using new remote as well as using 
satellite data to monitor coral reef change.
  Last year, I introduced H.R. 2903, the Coral Reef Conservation and 
Restoration Act, which was based on a bill approved by the House of 
Representatives in the 105th Congress. The Subcommittee on Fisheries 
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2903 on 
October 21, 1998. The bill I am introducing today replaces that 
legislation and incorporates suggestions from that hearing, as well as 
provisions from H.R. 3133, the Coral Reef Protection Act, which was 
introduced by my friend and colleague from American Samoa, Eni 
Faleomavaega. Over the last several months, I have worked closely with 
him to craft the Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration Partnership 
Act. This bill represents a major step forward in this nation's efforts 
to conserve valuable coral reef ecosystems.
  The Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration Partnership Act 
represents a combination of the best ideas for enhancing and conserving 
coral reefs. The bill greatly assists ongoing efforts to understand, 
map and conserve U.S. coral reefs. Our bill authorizes $15 million per 
year for coral reef conservation, for a total of $60 million over four 
years. This level of funding is consistent with the FY 2001 budget 
request of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  The bill establishes a grant program to provide funding for coral 
reef projects carried out in local communities, States and U.S. Insular 
Areas that have limited sources of funding. Eligible grantees include 
local and State governments, certain nonprofit groups and educational 
institutions. A grant partner can receive up to 50 percent Federal 
matching funds for a variety of projects, such as mapping, monitoring, 
assessment, restoration and law enforcement. The Secretary of Commerce 
is given flexibility in the match requirements for small projects 
carried out in the Insular Areas.
  The bill also provides statutory authority for the Coral Reef Task 
Force, which was established by Presidential Executive Order 13089. The 
Departments of Interior and Commerce are the designated Task Force co-
chairs. The co-chairs can jointly designate the governors of the States 
and Territories to serve on the Task Force. The Task Force is charged 
with coordinating Federal agency activities, establishing a national 
coral reef action strategy, developing a comprehensive mapping, 
monitoring and assessment program for U.S. coral reefs, and providing 
regular reports to Congress on activities to conserve coral reefs.
  Finally, our bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) to carry out a variety of coral reef-related 
conservation activities, including restoration, mapping, and 
monitoring. The proposed legislation recognizes NOAA's important role 
in managing coral reef resources, and authorizes ongoing activities 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act and the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act.
  Sine the Year of the Reef in 1997, I have been working to enact 
legislation that would focus the necessary resources to protect and 
restore coral reefs. I believe that the Coral Reef Conservation and 
Restoration Partnership Act will accomplish this goal, and I intend to 
work to ensure that this bill is signed into law. It is essential that 
we work to conserve our coral reef ecosystems for future generations. 
These ecosystems are the marine equivalent of the rain forest, rich in 
biological diversity and they provide innumerable benefits to the 
Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join with us by co-sponsoring this important 
measure.

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