[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 87 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CORAL REEF AND COASTAL MARINE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2001

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced bipartisan legislation, 
H.R. 2272 the ``Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 
2001,'' to help developing countries reduce foreign debt and provide 
for the creation of comprehensive environmental preservation programs 
to protect endangered marine habitats around the world. I have been 
joined by thirteen of my colleagues who are committed to creatively 
addressing two problematic issues of foreign policy.
  The burden of foreign debt falls especially hard on the smallest of 
nations, such as island nations in the Carribean and Pacific. With few 
natural resources, these nations often resort to harvesting or 
otherwise exploiting coral reefs and other marine habitats to earn hard 
currency to service foreign debt.
  The Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2001 will 
essentially credit qualified developing nations for each dollar spent 
on a comprehensive reef preservation or management program designed to 
protect these unique ecosystems from degradation.
  This legislation will make available resources for environmental 
stewardship that would otherwise be of the lowest priority in a 
developing country. It will reduce debt by investing locally in 
programs that will strengthen indigenous economies by creating long-
term management policies that will preserve the natural resources upon 
which local commerce is based.
  This concept has been successfully used by the United States to 
encourage environmental stewardship that would otherwise prove cost-
prohibitive to developing countries. Resources are reinvested in local 
economic growth and our planet as a whole reaps the benefit.
  I urge my colleagues to join myself and my cosponsors in support of 
this legislation.

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