[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.
____________________