[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 87 (Monday, July 10, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5673-H5676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENNIAL ACT

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and

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pass the bill (H.R. 4442) to establish a commission to promote 
awareness of the National Wildlife Refuge System among the American 
public as the System celebrates its centennial anniversary in 2003, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4442

       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 ``National Wildlife Refuge 
     System Centennial Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) President Theodore Roosevelt began the National 
     Wildlife Refuge System by establishing the first refuge at 
     Pelican Island, Florida, on March 14, 1903.
       (2) The National Wildlife Refuge System is comprised of 
     more than 93,000,000 acres of Federal lands managed by the 
     United States Fish and Wildlife Service in more than 520 
     individual refuges and thousands of waterfowl production 
     areas located in all 50 States and the territories of the 
     United States.
       (3) The System is the only network of Federal lands 
     dedicated singularly to wildlife conservation and where 
     wildlife dependent recreation and environmental education are 
     priority public uses.
       (4) The System serves a vital role in the conservation of 
     millions of migratory birds, endangered species and 
     threatened species, fish, marine mammals, and the habitats on 
     which these species depend.
       (5) Each year the System provides millions of Americans 
     with opportunities to participate in wildlife-dependent 
     recreation, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife 
     observation.
       (6) Public visitation to National Wildlife Refuges is 
     growing, with more than 35,000,000 visitors annually. It is 
     essential that visitor centers and public use facilities be 
     properly constructed, operated, and maintained.
       (7) The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and 
     Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (Public Law 
     105-242) significantly enhances the ability to incorporate 
     volunteers and partnerships in refuge management.
       (8) The System currently has an unacceptable backlog in 
     critical operations and maintenance needs.
       (9) The centennial anniversary of the System in 2003 offers 
     an historic opportunity to appreciate these natural resources 
     and expand public enjoyment of these lands.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
       (1) To establish a commission to promote awareness of the 
     National Wildlife Refuge System among the American public as 
     the System celebrates its centennial anniversary in 2003.
       (2) To develop a long-term plan to meet the priority 
     operations, maintenance, and construction needs of the 
     System.
       (3) To require each fiscal year an annual report prepared 
     in the context of--
       (A) the budget submission of the Department of the Interior 
     to the President; and
       (B) the President's budget request to the Congress.
       (4) To improve public use programs and facilities of the 
     System to meet the increasing needs of the public for 
     wildlife-dependent recreation in the 21st century.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENNIAL 
                   COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the 
     National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Commission (in 
     this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Members.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of the 
     following members:
       (A) The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service.
       (B) Up to 10 persons recommended by the Secretary of the 
     Interior and appointed by the President.
       (C) The chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and of 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, 
     the congressional representatives of the Migratory Bird 
     Conservation Commission, and the Secretary of the Interior, 
     who shall be ex-officio members.
       (2) Appointments.--Members of the Commission shall be 
     appointed no later than 90 days after the effective date of 
     this Act. Persons appointed by the President as members of 
     the Commission may not otherwise be officers or employees of 
     the Federal Government and shall, in the judgment of the 
     President, represent the diverse beneficiaries of the System 
     and have outstanding knowledge or appreciation of wildlife, 
     natural resource management, or wildlife-dependent 
     recreation. In making such appointments, the President shall 
     make every effort to ensure that the views of the hunting, 
     fishing, and wildlife observation communities are represented 
     on the Commission.
       (3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission--
       (A) shall not affect its power or functions; and
       (B) shall be expeditiously filled in the same manner as the 
     original appointment.
       (c) Chairperson.--The President shall appoint one of the 
     members as the Chairperson of the Commission.
       (d) Basic Pay.--The members of the Commission shall receive 
     no compensation for their service on the Commission.
       (e) Travel Expenses.--
       (1) Legislative branch members.--Members of the Commission 
     from the legislative branch of the Government shall be 
     allowed necessary travel expenses otherwise authorized by law 
     for official travel.
       (2) Executive branch members.--Members of the Commission 
     from the executive branch of the Government shall be allowed 
     necessary travel expenses in accordance with section 5702 of 
     title 5, United States Code.
       (3) Other members and staff.--Members of the Commission 
     appointed by the President and staff of the Commission may be 
     allowed necessary travel or transportation expenses as 
     authorized by section 5702 of title 5, United States Code.
       (f) Functions.--The Commission shall--
       (1) prepare, in cooperation with Federal, State, local, and 
     nongovernmental partners, a plan to commemorate the 100th 
     anniversary of the beginning of the National Wildlife Refuge 
     System on March 14, 2003;
       (2) coordinate the activities of such partners undertaken 
     pursuant to such plan; and
       (3) plan and host, in cooperation with such partners, a 
     conference on the National Wildlife Refuge System, and assist 
     in the activities of such a conference.
       (g) Staff.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
     the Commission may employ staff as necessary to carry out its 
     functions.
       (h) Donations.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission may, in accordance with 
     criteria established under paragraph (2), accept and use 
     donations of money, personal property, or personal services.
       (2) Criteria.--The Commission shall establish written 
     criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of 
     gifts or donations under paragraph (1) would--
       (A) reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Commission 
     or any employee of the Commission to carry out its 
     responsibilities or official duties in a fair and objective 
     manner; or
       (B) compromise the integrity or the appearance of the 
     integrity of any person involved in those programs.
       (i) Administrative Support.--Upon the request of the 
     Commission--
       (1) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
     United States Fish and Wildlife Service, may provide to the 
     Commission the administrative support services necessary for 
     the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this 
     Act, including services related to budgeting, accounting, 
     financial reporting, personnel, and procurement; and
       (2) the head of any other appropriate Federal department or 
     agency may furnish to the Commission such advice and 
     assistance, with or without reimbursement, to assist the 
     Commission in carrying out its functions.
       (j) Reports.--
       (1) Annual reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Commission shall submit to the Congress an annual report of 
     its activities and plans to Congress.
       (2) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 2004, the 
     Commission shall submit to the Congress a final report of its 
     activities, including an accounting of all funds received and 
     expended by the Commission.
       (k) Termination.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall terminate upon the 
     submission of its final report under subsection (j).
       (2) Disposition of materials.--Upon termination of the 
     Commission and after consultation with the Archivist of the 
     United States and the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
     Institution, the Secretary of the Interior--
       (A) may deposit all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous 
     printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other similar 
     materials of the Commission relating to the 100th anniversary 
     of the National Wildlife Refuge System in Federal, State, or 
     local libraries or museums or otherwise dispose of such 
     materials; and
       (B) may use other property acquired by the Commission for 
     the purposes of the National Wildlife Refuge System, or treat 
     such property as excess property.

     SEC. 4. FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL WILDLIFE 
                   REFUGE SYSTEM: LONG-TERM PLANNING AND ANNUAL 
                   REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE OPERATIONS 
                   AND MAINTENANCE BACKLOG.

       (a) Unified Long-Term Plan.--No later than March 1, 2002, 
     the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare and submit to the 
     Congress and the President a unified long-term plan to 
     address priority operations, maintenance, and construction 
     needs of the National Wildlife Refuge System, including--
       (1) priority staffing needs of the System; and
       (2) operations, maintenance, and construction needs as 
     identified in the Refuge Operating Needs System, the 
     Maintenance Management System, the 5-year deferred 
     maintenance list, the 5-year construction list, the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service report entitled ``Fulfilling 
     the Promise of America's National Wildlife Refuge System'', 
     and individual refuge comprehensive conservation plans.
       (b) Annual Submission.--Beginning with the budget request 
     for fiscal year 2003, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     prepare and submit in the context of each annual budget 
     submission, a report that contains--
       (1) an assessment of expenditures in the prior, current, 
     and upcoming fiscal years to

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     meet the operations and maintenance backlog as identified in 
     the long-term plan under subsection (a); and
       (2) transition costs in the prior, current, and upcoming 
     fiscal years, as identified in the Department of the Interior 
     analysis of newly acquired refuge lands, and a description of 
     the method used to determine the priority status of these 
     needs.

     SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall become effective on January 20, 2001.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 4442. This is the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act. This legislation was 
introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), along with a 
list of distinguished cosponsors, including the committee chairman, the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, my colleague 
and friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).
  This legislation recognizes a great achievement in conservation, 100 
years of the National Wildlife System. While this is an important 
milestone, H.R. 4442 recognizes that we still have work ahead of us to 
reduce the operations and maintenance backlog within the refuge system. 
H.R. 4442 establishes a commission to plan activities to commemorate 
the 100th anniversary of this system. The bill also requires the 
Secretary to submit a comprehensive plan for addressing the maintenance 
and operations backlog within the refuge system.
  This bill is supported by the administration and is noncontroversial. 
The American people deserve the finest refuge system in the world. I 
urge an aye vote on this important measure.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to join my colleague from Oregon in calling for 
the support of this legislation to establish the Centennial Committee 
to coordinate the 100th anniversary of the refuge system.
  Our National Wildlife Refuge system is one of the most magnificent 
land systems that we have in this country. It is the only system that 
we have where lands are set aside exclusively for the protection and 
conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and it is something 
that we can be very proud of as a nation. It is envied by countries all 
over the world for the foresight that so many people in different 
locations had to try and protect these available ecosystems and the 
refuge systems to protect fish and wildlife.
  I also want to recognize that the workload of the Fish and Wildlife 
Service to manage these refuges has continued to soar as the public has 
continued to want to enjoy them, as they become outdoor schoolrooms for 
children to learn about fish and wildlife, for communities to learn 
about the interaction of fish and wildlife and our environment.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), the 
Audubon Society, and others for working out an amendment to the 
legislation with the Department of the Interior.
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that today the House is 
considering H.R. 4442, the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial 
Act. I am joined in this important effort by 17 cosponsors, including 
the distinguished Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Don Young, 
the Ranking Democratic Member of the Committee, George Miller, the 
Ranking Democratic Subcommittee Member, Eni Faleomavaega, the Dean of 
the House of Representatives, John Dingell, and our colleague, Duke 
Cunningham.
  Since becoming Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Fisheries 
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, I have held many hearings on the 
operation, maintenance, and management of our nation's National 
Wildlife Refuge System. This unique system of Federal lands provides 
essential habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including 
more than 258 species listed as threatened or endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act.
  The first wildlife refuge was created at Pelican Island, Florida, in 
1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Today the System has 521 refuges 
and 38 wetland management districts, which are located in all 50 States 
and the 9 Commonwealths, Territories, and island possessions. These 
units range in size from the smallest of less than one acre, the Mille 
Lacs National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota, to the largest of 19.3 
million acres in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Money 
for refuge land acquisition primarily comes from the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund and the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.
  During the past five years, my Subcommittee has taken a leadership 
role in approving legislation to improve our National Wildlife Refuge 
System. Without question, the most important change was the enactment 
of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. This 
landmark Act, P.L. 105-57, was sponsored by Chairman Don Young and, for 
the first time, it created a comprehensive ``organic law'' governing 
the management of the world's largest and most diverse network of lands 
devoted to fish and wildlife. This historic measure also created a 
statutory shield to ensure that hunting and fishing and other forms of 
wildlife-dependent recreation will continue within the Refuge System, 
and it facilitates these traditional activities where compatible with 
conservation.
  The second improvement, which I was honored to sponsor, was the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership 
Enhancement Act. This legislation will improve the infrastructure of 
the Refuge System by encouraging volunteer activities. In 1999, over 
28,000 individuals volunteered more than 1.3 million hours, which was 
worth more than $11 million in services. These services included 
staffing visitors centers, conducting hunter safety classes, 
landscaping, and operating heavy equipment. My bill, which was signed 
into law on October 5, 1998, and will encourage additional volunteers 
by establishing up to 20 pilot projects for the purpose of hiring full-
time volunteer coordinators. It also made it easier for interested 
individuals and groups to donate money or services to a particular 
refuge.
  Finally, during the past four years, a bipartisan group of Members, 
including myself, Don Young, George Miller, Eni Faleomavaega, Neil 
Abercrombie, John Dingell, and others have vigorously lobbied the House 
Appropriations Committee to increase funding to reduce the Refuge 
System's operations and maintenance backlog. Together with the 
Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement [CARE], we were successful 
in persuading our Appropriations colleagues to increase funding for 
this account by $86 million, which is a down payment on the maintenance 
backlog. While these increases were significant, there is much work to 
be done to reach the goal of having a fully operational Refuge System 
by 2003.
  The legislation we are considering today recognizes the vital 
importance of the Refuge System and the fact that the System will 
celebrate its Centennial Anniversary in three years. Under the terms of 
this bill, a Commission will be established to promote awareness of the 
System; develop a long-term plan to meet the priority operations, 
maintenance and construction needs of the System; and to improve public 
use programs and facilities.
  The National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Commission would be 
composed of 11 voting members, including the Director of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service. In addition, the Chairman and Ranking Minority 
Members of the House Resources and Senate Environment and Public Works 
Committees, plus the Congressional Members of the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Commission, would serve as ex officio members.
  The Commission would be charged with the responsibility for preparing 
a plan to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the System, coordinating 
activities to celebrate that event, and hosting a conference on the 
National Wildlife Refuge System. The Commission would issue annual 
reports and would terminate no later than September 30, 2004.
  Finally, this bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to prepare 
and submit to the Congress a long-term plan to address priority 
operations, maintenance, and construction needs of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System.
  Madam Speaker, the American people deserve the finest Refuge System 
in the world. This bill is supported by the Administration and is 
noncontroversial. It is an appropriate next step in our efforts to 
ensure that the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, one of our nation's 
greatest conservationists, will live on in the years ahead.
  Again, I want to thank my distinguished colleagues for joining with 
me in this endeavor, and I urge enthusiastic support for the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I wish to voice my strong support for H.R. 
4442, The National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act. My 
congressional district in western Wisconsin has more miles along the 
Mississippi River than another other district in the basin. My district 
is also home to the Upper Mississippi

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River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, a refuge whose 200,000 acres 
extend 261 miles southward from Wabasha, Minnesota to just north of 
Rock Island, Illinois.
  The Upper Mississippi Refuge lies at the heart of an area that serves 
as a migratory flyway for 40 percent of North America's waterfowl. It 
provides habitat for some 292 species of birds, 57 species of mammals, 
37 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 118 species of fish. 
Moreover, it is the most widely used of all our National Wildlife 
Refuges, attracting roughly 3.5 million visitors a year--more than 
Yellowstone National Park.
  Despite this fact, the Upper Mississippi Refuge currently lacks a 
full-time refuge manager. The nation's busiest refuge does not have a 
visitor center and there is only one handicapped boat landing along the 
entire border of the refuge.
  I support Mr. Saxton's National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act 
of 2000 because it will draw much needed public attention to the rich 
resources and the serious needs of Region 3 refuges as well as others 
across the nation. H.R. 4442 endorses Secretary Babbitt's directive to 
the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a long-term plan to address 
the priority operations, maintenance, and construction needs of the 
Refuge System. This legislation goes a long way toward ensuring that 
the Refuge System will remain strong and vital for many years to come.
  I urge my colleagues in the House to vote in favor of H.R. 4442.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, March 14, 2003 will mark a milestone in the 
history of wildlife in America--the centennial anniversary of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System.
  When President Theodore Roosevelt set aside tiny Pelican Island on 
Florida's East Coast for birds nearly a century ago, he began a 
conservation legacy that now spans 93 million acres across the United 
States and its territories.
  The National Wildlife Refuge System is America's only network of 
federal lands dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation, 
representing a steadfast commitment to protecting our wildlife 
heritage.
  This vast network of strategically located habitats protect hundreds 
of endangered species, serves as stepping stones for millions of 
migratory birds and conserves our premier fisheries.
  Incredibly, one of these stepping stones lies just 26 miles west of 
New York City's Times Square. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge 
in Morris County, New Jersey, which is just north of my district, was 
established in 1960.
  This 7,500-acre refuge consists of swamp woodland, hardwood ridges 
and cattail marsh. In the heart of one of the most densely populated 
areas in the world, the Refuge is home to more than 220 species of 
birds, as well as white tail deer, mink, beaver, river otter and 
coyote.
  As development and sprawl continue to swallow more and more of our 
nation's critical wildlife habitat, we need to ensure that refuges like 
the Great Swamp continue to thrive. I have worked with my colleagues in 
Congress to protect our irreplaceable ecosystems by reinstating full 
state funding in Land and Water Conservation Fund. We are now setting 
aside proceeds from offshore oil drilling to protect our open spaces.
  H.R. 4442, the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act would 
greatly help improve the operations, maintenance and expansion of the 
refuge system to ensure that wildlife gets the protection it deserves. 
The refuge system currently has a $1 billion operations backlog and a 
$800 million maintenance backlog. H.R. 4442 would require the Secretary 
of the Interior to prepare and submit to Congress a long term plan to 
address these deficiencies and outline system expansion
  Maybe most importantly, however, this legislation would establish a 
commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the refuge system. 
This would be instrumental in broadening public understanding and 
appreciation of protecting our wildlife heritage.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I urge support for 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. 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 Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4442, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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