[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 77 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H4601-H4602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CAT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ESTABLISHMENT ACT
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3292) to provide for the establishment of the Cat Island
National Wildlife Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3292
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 ``Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) as the southernmost unleveed portion of the Mississippi
River, Cat Island, Louisiana, is one of the last remaining
tracts in the lower Mississippi Valley that is still
influenced by the natural dynamics of the river;
(2) Cat Island supports one of the highest densities of
virgin bald cypress trees in the entire Mississippi River
Valley, including the Nation's champion cypress tree which is
17 feet wide and has a circumference of 53 feet;
(3) Cat Island is important habitat for several declining
species of forest songbirds and supports thousands of
wintering waterfowl;
(4) Cat Island supports high populations of deer, turkey,
and furbearers, such as mink and bobcats;
(5) conservation and enhancement of this area through
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help
meet the
[[Page H4602]]
habitat conservation goals of the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan;
(6) these forested wetlands represent one of the most
valuable and productive wildlife habitat types in the United
States, and have extremely high recreational value for
hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and
others; and
(7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS:
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Refuge'' means the Cat Island National
Wildlife Refuge; and
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall
be managed are--
(1) to conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary
to contribute to the migratory bird population goals and
habitat objective as established through the Lower
Mississippi Valley Joint Venture;
(2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant
aquatic resource values associated with the area's forested
wetlands and to achieve the habitat objectives of the
``Mississippi River Aquatic Resources Management Plan'';
(3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native
bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi
alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant
species;
(4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain
and assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened
plants and animals;
(5) to provide opportunities for priority public wildlife
dependent uses for compatible hunting, fishing, trapping,
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental
education and interpretation; and
(6) to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate
partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, local communities, conservation organizations, and
other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the
resources of the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge
System and public participation in the conservation of those
resources.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.
(a) Acquisition Boundary.--The Secretary is authorized to
establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, consisting
of approximately 36,500 acres of land and water, as depicted
upon a map entitled ``Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge-
Proposed'', dated February 8, 2000, and available for
inspection in appropriate offices of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service.
(b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor
revisions of the boundary designated under this section as
may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or
to facilitate the acquisition of property within the Refuge.
(c) Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire
the lands and waters, or interests therein, within the
acquisition boundary described in subsection (a) of this
section.
(d) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish the
Refuge by publication of a notice to that effect in the
Federal Register and publications of local circulation
whenever sufficient property has been acquired to constitute
an area that can be efficiently managed as a National
Wildlife Refuge.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.
The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, and
interests therein acquired under this Act in accordance with
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16
U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). The Secretary may use such additional
statutory authority as may be available for the conservation
of fish and wildlife, and the provision of fish- and
wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities as the Secretary
considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department
of the Interior--
(1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition of
lands and waters designated in section 5(c); and
(2) such funds as may be necessary for the development,
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs.
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
General Leave
Mr. SAXTON. 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. 3292, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 3292 was introduced by our distinguished
colleague the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker). This measure would
establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana.
Cat Island is a unique habitat of bottomland hardwoods that has never
been leveed, and it is one of the few natural resources along the
Mississippi River that still experiences seasonal overflows. It is an
area that is teeming with wildlife, and it contains prime habitat for
many species of shorebirds, 1,000-year-old bald cypress trees, and
millions of migratory ducks.
According to testimony received, the forested wetlands typical of Cat
Island represent one of the most valuable and productive wildlife
habitat types in the United States.
Under the terms of H.R. 3292, the Secretary of the Interior would be
directed to acquire by purchase or donated property that would form the
basis of the proposed Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge.
At the subcommittee markup, I offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute that expanded the size of Cat Island Refuge from 9,477 acres
to 36,500 acres and clarified the purposes for establishing the refuge.
This amendment was supported by both the sponsor and by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. Once established, this would become the 21st
National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Louisiana.
I want to compliment the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) for his
outstanding leadership in this matter. I know that he has spent an
extraordinary amount of time working with both local and State
officials, industry representatives, and conservation groups to develop
this refuge. This is how the process should work, and I remain
convinced that local support for a proposed refuge is absolutely
essential.
Madam Speaker, I urge an aye vote on H.R. 3292.
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, I rise in support of H.R. 3292, a
bill which would establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge in
the State of Louisiana.
The biological diversity and ecological significance of Cat Island is
most impressive. It would appear by all measures that this habitat in
the bayou of southern Louisiana would be a handsome addition to the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
I believe that the bill was greatly improved by the Committee on
Resources when the total authorization for land acquisition was, by
unanimous vote, increased from 9,400 acres to 36,500 acres. It makes
sense since the land is presently available and because the entire
tract is ecologically significant to ensure the protection of the core
9,400 acres. I want to thank the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman
from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), for agreeing to add these additional lands.
It is also my understanding that the administration fully supports
H.R. 3292. The Fish and Wildlife Service has asked for $4.1 million in
their fiscal year 2001 budget request to begin the acquisition process
for this new refuge. Hopefully, with the passage of this legislation,
the Fish and Wildlife Service can get started on this process very
soon.
The House should pass H.R. 3292 today. I urge all Members to support
this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SAXTON. 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 New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3292, 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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