[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 77 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H4600-H4601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TAUNTON RIVER WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY ACT OF 2000

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2778) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 
study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2778

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Taunton River Wild and 
     Scenic River Study Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Taunton River in the State of Massachusetts 
     possesses important resource values (including wildlife, 
     ecological, and scenic values), historic sites, and a 
     cultural past important to the heritage of the United States;
       (2) there is strong support among State and local 
     officials, area residents, and river users for a cooperative 
     wild and scenic river study of the area; and
       (3) there is a longstanding interest among State and local 
     officials, area residents, and river users in undertaking a 
     concerted cooperative effort to manage the river in a 
     productive and meaningful way.

[[Page H4601]]

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.

       Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1276(a)) is amended--
       (1) by designating the undesignated paragraph following 
     (135) as paragraph (136); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(137) Taunton River, Massachusetts.--The segment 
     downstream from the headwaters, from the confluence of the 
     Town River and the Matfield River in Bridgewater to the 
     confluence with the Forge River in Raynham, Massachusetts.''.

     SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.

       Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1276(b)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the second paragraph (8) as paragraph 
     (10);
       (2) by redesignating the second paragraph (11) as paragraph 
     (12);
       (3) by redesignating the third paragraph (11) as paragraph 
     (13);
       (4) by redesignating the fourth paragraph (11) as paragraph 
     (14);
       (5) by redesignating the first undesignated paragraph as 
     paragraph (15);
       (6) by redesignating the second undesignated paragraph as 
     paragraph (16);
       (7) in paragraph (16), as so redesignated by paragraph (6) 
     of this subsection, by striking ``paragraph ( )'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (136)''; and
       (8) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(17) Taunton River, Massachusetts.--Not later than 3 
     years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
     Secretary of the Interior--
       ``(A) shall complete the study of the Taunton River, 
     Massachusetts; and
       ``(B) shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
     results of the study.''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.  Souder).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2778.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2778, as amended, and 
introduced by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley). This bill 
authorizes a study of the Taunton River for inclusion into the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
  The Taunton River contains a variety of natural and cultural 
resources important to America's heritage. H.R. 2778 will assess these 
resources and determine whether the river meets the requirements for 
inclusion into the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The study authorized by 
H.R. 2778 has strong public support from State and local officials, 
residents, and river users.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2778, as amended.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2778, introduced by our 
colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), amends the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to provide for a study of the Taunton River 
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for potential addition to the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
  The Taunton River is located in southeastern Massachusetts, about 30 
miles from Boston. The Taunton and its tributaries form the second 
largest watershed in the Commonwealth. Much of the river corridor is 
forested or in agricultural use.
  H.R. 2778 is a noncontroversial bill. The administration has 
testified in support of the study. Further, it is our understanding 
that there is strong local support for this initiative.
  During consideration of the bill by the Committee on Resources, an 
amendment was adopted that made a number of technical corrections to 
the bill and the underlying Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. These changes 
improve the legislation, and we support the bill as amended.
  Madam Speaker, I also have a statement from the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), the sponsor of H.R. 2778, who is 
unavoidably unable to be here during the consideration of this bill; 
and I include his statement for the Congressional Record during 
consideration of this bill.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, 
Representative George Miller, Repesentative Don Young, Representative 
Carlos Romero-Barcelo, and Representative James Hansen for bringing 
this important bill to the floor.
  H.R. 2778 would direct the National Park Service to study the Taunton 
River in Massachusetts to determine if it should be added to the Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System. The 70-mile river is threatened by an 
alarming rate of residential and commercial development. If the river 
meets the necessary federal requirements and is added to the system, 
then its flow could not be hindered or diverted and local regional 
planners would be able to receive federal assistance to help manage the 
river.
  The Taunton River is of tremendous historical and ecological value to 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and also the nation. In the early 
1600's, the Taunton River was the first river the Pilgrims encountered 
as they moved inland, and they used the river as a meeting spot with 
the Native Americans. Chief Massasoit of the Wompanoag tribe befriended 
the Pilgrims, who were ill-prepared for New England's harsh winters. 
Without the help of the Native Americans, the early settlers would have 
perished. As a result of the goodwill of the local Native Americans, 
the Pilgrims dedicated a day in celebration of the harvest and their 
good fortune. This day is celebrated throughout the country today and 
is better known as our national holiday of Thanksgiving.
  From an ecological standpoint, the Taunton River is a tremendous 
resource because of its improved water quality and the various species 
of marine life that thrive there. There have been numerous sightings of 
the American Bald Eagle. The improved water quality of the river has 
resulted in the river becoming a tremendous recreational resource for 
thousands of Southeastern Massachusetts residents. The river is part of 
a river water trail called the Wampanoag Commemorative canoe passage. 
The course, which was the main travel route for the Wampanoag Native 
Americans, is now used by scouting groups, conservation leaders, and 
recreational enthusiasts.
  The river is of tremendous historical and scenic value to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I strongly support H.R. 2778 and thank 
my colleagues for bringing the measure to the House floor.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2778, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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