[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself and Mr. Hutchinson):
  S. 2329. A bill to improve the administration of the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry.


 legislation to improve the animal and plant health inspection service

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, the Wildlife Services Division of the 
United States Department of Agriculture needs assistance in expediting 
proper bird management activities. I am here today to introduce 
legislation that accomplishes this goal.
  Proper migratory bird management is important to the state of 
Arkansas for a number of reasons. We are deemed ``The Natural State'' 
due to the numerous outdoor recreational opportunities that exist in 
the state. Fishing, hunting, and bird watching opportunities abound 
throughout Arkansas. Maintaining proper populations of wildlife, 
especially migratory birds, is essential for sustaining a balanced 
environment.
  In Arkansas, aquaculture production has taken great strides in recent 
years. The catfish industry in the state has grown rapidly and Arkansas 
currently ranks second nationally in acreage and production of catfish. 
The baitfish industry is not far behind, selling more than 15 million 
pounds of fish annually, with a cash value in excess of $43 million. I 
have been a great supporter of this industry since my days in the House 
of Representatives and I am concerned about the impact the double 
breasted cormorant is having on this industry. In the words of one of 
my constituents, ``The double-crested cormorant has become a natural 
disaster!'' I am pleased that the Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed 
to develop a national management plan for the double breasted 
cormorant. I am hopeful that an effective management program will be 
the result of these efforts.
  One of my first priorities since coming to Congress in 1992 has been 
to work to make government more efficient and effective. To 
specifically address what I see as an inequity among government 
agencies regarding this issue, I am introducing a bill today that gives 
Wildlife Service employees as much authority to manage and take 
migratory birds as any U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee. After 
all, Wildlife Services biologists are professional wildlife managers 
providing the front line of defense against such problems. With this 
legislation I would like to recognize the excellent job that Wildlife 
Services has done and is doing for bird management.
  Currently, USDA-Wildlife Services is required to apply for and 
receive a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before they 
can proceed with any bird collection or management activities. This 
process is redundant and unnecessary. Oftentimes, Wildlife Services 
finds that by the time a permit arrives, the birds for which the permit 
was applied for are already gone. I hope that this legislation will 
lead to a more streamlined effort for management purposes and I urge 
both agencies, USDA and the Fish and Wildlife Service, to work together 
to accomplish this goal.
  I would like to thank my colleague from Arkansas, Senator Tim 
Hutchinson, for joining me in this effort and look forward to working 
with my colleagues to ensure that government is operating efficiently.
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