[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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