[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2123-H2124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1515
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3908) to reauthorize the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3908
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 ``North American Wetlands
Conservation Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION
ACT.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et. seq.).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
(a) Finding.--Section 2(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 4401(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``and other habitats'' and inserting
``and associated habitats''.
(b) Purposes.--Section 2(b) (16 U.S.C. 4401(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and other habitats for
migratory birds'' and inserting ``and associated habitats for
wetland dependent migratory birds'';
(2) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``wetland dependent''
before ``migratory bird''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``wetland dependent'' before ``migratory
birds''; and
(B) by inserting ``, the United States Shorebird
Conservation Plan, the North American Waterbird Conservation
Plan, the Partners In Flight Conservation Plans,'' after
``North American Waterfowl Management Plan''.
SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF WETLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECT.
Section 3(9) (16 U.S.C. 4402(9)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``of a wetland
ecosystem and associated habitat'' after ``including water
rights,''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and other habitat''
and inserting ``and associated habitat''.
SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION.
Section 7(c) (16 U.S.C. 4406(c)) is amended by striking
``not to exceed'' and all that follows and inserting ``not to
exceed--
``(1) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
``(2) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
``(3) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
``(4) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
``(5) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.''.
SEC. 6. ALLOCATION.
Section 8(a) (16 U.S.C. 4407(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``(but at least 50 per centum and not more
than 70 per centum thereof)'' and inserting ``(but at least
25 percent and not more than 50 percent thereof)''; and
(B) by striking ``4 per centum'' and inserting ``4
percent''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``(but at least 30 per
centum and not more than 50 per centum thereof)'' and
inserting ``(but at least 50 percent and not more than 75
percent thereof)''.
SEC. 7. CLARIFICATION OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF THE COST OF
APPROVED WETLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECTS.
Section 8(b) (16 U.S.C. 4407(b)) is amended by striking so
much as precedes the second sentence and inserting the
following:
[[Page H2124]]
``(b) Cost Sharing.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph
(2), as a condition of providing assistance under this Act
for any approved wetlands conservation project, the Secretary
shall require that the portion of the costs of the project
paid with amounts provided by non-Federal United States
sources is equal to at least the amount allocated under
subsection (a) that is used for the project.
``(2) Federal moneys allocated under subsection (a) may be
used to pay 100 percent of the costs of such projects located
on Federal lands and waters, including the acquisition of
inholdings within such lands and waters.
``(3)''.
SEC. 8. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is amended
as follows:
(1) In section 2(a)(10) (16 U.S.C. 4401(a)(10)), by
inserting ``of 1973'' after ``Species Act''.
(2) In section 3(2) (16 U.S.C. 4402(2)), by striking
``Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the United
States House of Representatives'' and inserting ``Committee
on Resources of the House of Representatives''.
(3) In section 3(5) (16 U.S.C. 4402(5)), by inserting ``of
1973'' after ``Species Act''.
(4) In section 4(a)(1)(B) (16 U.S.C. 4403(a)(1)(B)), by
striking ``section 3(2)(B)'' and inserting ``section
3(g)(2)(B)''.
(5) In section 4(c) (16 U.S.C. 4403(c)), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``Commission'' and
inserting ``Council''.
(6) In section 5(a)(5) (16 U.S.C. 4404(a)(5)), by inserting
``of 1973'' after ``Species Act''.
(7) In section 5(f) (16 U.S.C. 4404(f)), by striking
``subsection (d)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)''.
(8) In section 10(1)(C) (16 U.S.C. 4409(1)(C)), by striking
``western hemisphere pursuant to section 17 of this Act'' and
inserting ``Western Hemisphere pursuant to section 16''.
(9) In section 10(1)(D) (16 U.S.C. 4409(1)(D)), by striking
the period and inserting ``; and''.
(10) In section 16(a) (16 U.S.C. 4413), by striking
``western hemisphere'' and inserting ``Western Hemisphere''.
(b)(1) Section 112(1) of Public Law 101-593 (104 Stat.
2962) is amended by striking ``and before the period''.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be effective on
and after the effective date of section 112(1) of Public Law
101-593 (104 Stat. 2962).
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands (Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, this bill, H.R. 3908, would reauthorize the
tremendously successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act,
NAWCA. This landmark law has been instrumental in the conservation,
restoration and enhancement of wetland and upland habitat throughout
the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Wetlands are among the world's most productive environments. They are
critical to the survival of fish and wildlife populations and vital to
the protection of water quality. Wetlands protect ground and surface
water, reduce severity of floods, and provide habitat for a diverse
community of plants, animals, fish and birds. In particular, millions
of migratory waterfowl rely on wetlands throughout their life cycle.
Wetlands also provide untold hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities
for millions of Americans.
Due to their proximity to water, wetland conversion poses a constant
threat. Indeed, development pressures have already eliminated more than
50 percent of our Nation's original wetlands. It is essential that we
conserve our remaining wetland habitats, and that is the fundamental
goal of this legislation.
NAWCA is a popular and innovative program. It has received
substantial support from the Bush administration, the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, local communities and dozens
of conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited.
Instead of increasing the regulatory restrictions, this act provides
funds as an incentive to conserve and enhance wetlands. Since the first
wetlands grants were awarded in 1991, almost 900 projects have been
funded and over 8 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands have
been conserved.
In the chairman's State of Utah, a NAWCA project was responsible for
acquiring over 1,100 acres for permanent protection and 15,400 acres of
degraded wetlands were restored. These wetlands are invaluable not only
to thousands of migratory birds but also to the sportsmen of the State
of Utah.
What is most remarkable about this program is the substantial partner
support that it receives each year. While the Act requires a one-to-one
match, in a typical year every NAWCA dollar is matched with well over
$3, and this money is contributed by a host of conservation
organizations. Such support indicates the tremendous popularity of this
program and recognizes that wetland conservation is a national
priority.
During committee consideration, the funding levels for the program
were slightly increased and greater emphasis was placed on wetland
conservation projects in the United States. These are both positive
improvements to the act.
I urge an aye vote on H.R. 3908.
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, this coming Saturday on May 11, bird
conservationists across much of the Western hemisphere will celebrate
International Migratory Bird Day.
Established in 1993, this second Saturday in May has been set aside
this year to appreciate the nearly 350 species of migratory birds that
travel between nesting habitats in North America and nonbreeding
grounds in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean,
including my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In this respect, I find it fitting for the House to consider today
legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act, or perhaps better known by its acronym, NAWCA.
Madam Speaker, wetlands are among the world's most productive
environments and remain essential habitat for many migratory birds,
including waterfowl.
In 1986, the United States, Canada and Mexico developed the North
American Waterfowl Management Plan, which established a cooperative
international management effort to reverse the declines in waterfowl
populations and their habitats. Congress subsequently enacted NAWCA in
1989 to implement the habitat conservation elements of that plan.
In the intervening years, NAWCA has proven itself to be an effective
funding mechanism to support a wide range of public/private
conservation activities that preserve or protect wetland habitats on
the landscape. Virtually every region of the United States and vital
wetland habitats in Canada and Mexico have benefited from NAWCA project
grants. The future looks bright.
I am pleased to report that H.R. 3908, the North American Wetlands
Conservation Reauthorization Act, is a positive step towards ensuring
that NAWCA remains an effective conservation tool in the years ahead.
Most importantly, the increased authorizations for appropriations in
H.R. 3908 will help address a significant unmet demand for NAWCA
grants.
In addition, H.R. 3908 will also provide a higher level of financial
support for conservation projects in the United States where the demand
is greatest and where it is possible to generate the necessary non-
Federal matching funds. Overall, there should be an increase in non-
Federal matching funds for NAWCA grants.
Importantly, we have acted responsibly to ensure that this change in
allocation will not decrease the existing level of financial grant
support for our partners in Canada and Mexico.
In closing, NAWCA represents the type of conservation success story
which Congress should strive to emulate in its other programs. H.R.
3908 will maintain and build on this solid record of achievement, and I
urge Members to support this important environmental legislation.
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. SIMPSON. 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 Idaho (Mr. Simpson) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 3908, 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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