[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 126 (Wednesday, October 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 
                                 2000.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Environment 
and Public Works Committee's substitute to H.R. 3671, the Wildlife and 
Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000.
  Chairman Young and others did a tremendous amount of investigative 
and legislative work to get us to this point, and I want to thank them 
for all of their efforts. Their original bill passed the House with 
tremendous bi-partisan approval, garnering just two ``no'' votes.
  Senator Crapo and I took the House bill and strengthened it by 
providing a sensible level for grants for projects that affect more 
than one state and strengthening the provision to ensure states use a 
reasonable portion of the Pittman-Robertson money to provide hunter 
education programs. It was introduced as S. 2609 and garnered 14 
cosponsors.
  Senators Smith, Crapo, Baucus, and Boxer worked hard on Senate 
legislation that everyone can agree on. I appreciate their dedication 
to that work, and we have produced an excellent product that will bring 
accountability to a program that represents one-third of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service's budget, ensure the hunting and fishing community 
that the money they pay in excise taxes is being used for its intended 
purpose, and that the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson programs 
will continue to be this nation's premier wildlife and fisheries 
conservation programs.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support this substitute, and I 
encourage the President of the United States to sign this important 
piece of legislation.

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