[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H12118-H12121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION ACT

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1964) to establish the Highlands Stewardship Area in the 
States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1964

       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 ``Highlands Conservation 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following--
       (1) The Highlands region is a physiographic province that 
     encompasses more than 2,000,000 acres extending from eastern 
     Pennsylvania through the States of New Jersey and New York to 
     northwestern Connecticut.
       (2) The Highlands region is an environmentally unique area 
     that--
       (A) provides clean drinking water to over 15,000,000 people 
     in metropolitan areas in the States of Connecticut, New 
     Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania;
       (B) provides critical wildlife habitat, including habitat 
     for 247 threatened and endangered species;
       (C) maintains an important historic connection to early 
     Native American culture, colonial settlement, the American 
     Revolution, and the Civil War;
       (D) contains recreational resources for 14 million visitors 
     annually;
       (E) provides other significant ecological, natural, 
     tourism, recreational, educational, and economic benefits; 
     and
       (F) provides homeownership opportunities and access to 
     affordable housing that is safe, clean, and healthy.
       (3) An estimated 1 in 12 citizens of the United States live 
     within a 2-hour drive of the Highlands region.
       (4) More than 1,400,000 residents live in the Highlands 
     region.
       (5) The Highlands region forms a greenbelt adjacent to the 
     Philadelphia-New York City-Hartford urban corridor that 
     offers the opportunity to preserve water, forest and 
     agricultural resources, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, 
     and historic sites, while encouraging sustainable economic 
     growth and development in a fiscally and environmentally 
     sound manner.
       (6) Continued population growth and land use patterns in 
     the Highlands region--
       (A) reduce the availability and quality of water;
       (B) reduce air quality;
       (C) fragment the forests;
       (D) destroy critical migration corridors and forest 
     habitat; and
       (E) result in the loss of recreational opportunities and 
     scenic, historic, and cultural resources.
       (7) The water, forest, wildlife, recreational, 
     agricultural, and cultural resources of the Highlands region, 
     in combination with the proximity of the Highlands region to 
     the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, make the 
     Highlands region nationally significant.
       (8) The national significance of the Highlands region has 
     been documented in--
       (A) the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 
     conducted by the Forest Service in 1990;
       (B) the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 
     Update conducted by the Forest Service;
       (C) the bi-State Skylands Greenway Task Force Report;
       (D) the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment 
     Plan;
       (E) the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan;
       (F) the Connecticut Green Plan: Open Space Acquisition FY 
     2001-2006;
       (G) the open space plans of the State of Pennsylvania; and
       (H) other open space conservation plans for States in the 
     Highlands region.
       (9) The Highlands region includes or is adjacent to 
     numerous parcels of land owned by the Federal Government or 
     federally designated areas that protect, conserve, or restore 
     resources of the Highlands region, including--
       (A) the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge;
       (B) the Shawanagunk Grasslands Wildlife Refuge;
       (C) the Morristown National Historical Park;
       (D) the Delaware and Lehigh Canal Corridors;
       (E) the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area;
       (F) the Delaware River Basin;
       (G) the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area;
       (H) the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River;
       (I) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
       (J) the United States Military Academy at West Point, New 
     York;
       (K) the Highlands National Millenium Trail;
       (L) the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge;
       (M) the proposed Crossroads of the Revolution National 
     Heritage Area;
       (N) the proposed Musconetcong National Scenic and 
     Recreational River in New Jersey; and
       (O) the Farmington River Wild and Scenic Area in 
     Connecticut.
       (10) It is in the interest of the United States to protect, 
     conserve, and restore the resources of the Highlands region 
     for the residents of, and visitors to, the Highlands region.
       (11) The States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and 
     Pennsylvania, and units of local government in the Highlands 
     region have the primary responsibility for protecting, 
     conserving, preserving, restoring and promoting the resources 
     of the Highlands region.
       (12) Because of the longstanding Federal practice of 
     assisting States in creating, protecting, conserving, and 
     restoring areas of significant natural and cultural 
     importance, and the national significance of the Highlands 
     region, the Federal Government should, in partnership with 
     the Highlands States and units of local government in the 
     Highlands region, protect, restore, and preserve the water, 
     forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational and cultural 
     resources of the Highlands region.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are as follows:
       (1) To recognize the importance of the water, forest, 
     agricultural, wildlife, recreational and cultural resources 
     of the Highlands, and the national significance of the 
     Highlands region to the United States.
       (2) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to work in 
     partnership with the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
     financial assistance to the Highlands States to preserve and 
     protect high priority conservation lands in the Highlands 
     region.
       (3) To continue the ongoing Forest Service programs in the 
     Highlands region to assist the Highlands States, local units 
     of government and private forest and farm landowners in the 
     conservation of lands and natural resources in the Highlands 
     region.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Highlands region.--The term ``Highlands region'' means 
     the physiographic province, defined by the Reading Prong and 
     ecologically similar adjacent upland areas, that encompasses 
     more than 2,000,000 acres extending from eastern Pennsylvania 
     through the States of New Jersey and New York to northwestern 
     Connecticut.
       (2) Highlands state.--The term ``Highlands State'' means--
       (A) the State of Connecticut;
       (B) the State of New Jersey;
       (C) the State of New York;
       (D) the State of Pennsylvania; and
       (E) any agency or department of any Highlands State.
       (3) Land conservation partnership project.--The term ``land 
     conservation partnership project'' means a land conservation 
     project located within the Highlands region identified as 
     having high conservation value by the Forest Service in which 
     a non-Federal entity acquires land or an interest in land 
     from a willing seller for the purpose of permanently 
     protecting, conserving, or preserving the land through a 
     partnership with the Federal Government.
       (4) Non-federal entity.--The term ``non-Federal entity'' 
     means any Highlands State, or any agency or department of any 
     Highlands State with authority to own and manage land for 
     conservation purposes, including the Palisades Interstate 
     Park Commission.
       (5) Study.--The term ``study'' means the New York-New 
     Jersey Highlands Regional Study conducted by the Forest 
     Service in 1990.
       (6) Update.--The term ``update'' means the New York-New 
     Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update conducted by the 
     Forest Service.

     SEC. 5. LAND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS IN THE 
                   HIGHLANDS REGION.

       (a) Submission of Proposed Projects.--Annually, the 
     Governors of the Highlands States, with input from pertinent 
     units of local government and the public, may jointly 
     identify land conservation partnership projects in the 
     Highlands region that shall be proposed for Federal financial 
     assistance and submit a list of those projects to the 
     Secretary of the Interior.
       (b) Consideration of Projects.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, 
     shall annually submit to Congress a list of those land 
     conservation partnership projects submitted under subsection 
     (a) that are eligible to receive financial assistance under 
     this section.
       (c) Eligibility Conditions.--To be eligible for financial 
     assistance under this section for a land conservation 
     partnership project, a non-Federal entity shall enter into an 
     agreement with the Secretary of the Interior that--
       (1) identifies the non-Federal entity that shall own or 
     hold and manage the land or interest in land;
       (2) identifies the source of funds to provide the non-
     Federal share required under subsection (d);
       (3) describes the management objectives for the land that 
     will assure permanent protection and use of the land for the 
     purpose for which the assistance will be provided;
       (4) provides that, if the non-Federal entity converts, 
     uses, or disposes of the land conservation partnership 
     project for a purpose inconsistent with the purpose for which 
     the assistance was provided, as determined by the Secretary 
     of the Interior, the United States may seek specific 
     performance of the conditions of financial assistance in 
     accordance with paragraph (3) in Federal court and shall be 
     entitled to reimbursement from the non-Federal entity in an 
     amount that is, as determined at the time of conversion, use, 
     or disposal, the greater of--
       (A) the total amount of the financial assistance provided 
     for the project by the Federal Government under this section; 
     or
       (B) the amount by which the financial assistance increased 
     the value of the land or interest in land; and
       (5) provides that land conservation partnership projects 
     will be consistent with areas identified as having high 
     conservation value in the following:
       (A) Important Areas portion of the Forest Service study.

[[Page H12119]]

       (B) Conservation Focal Areas portion of the Forest Service 
     update.
       (C) Conservation Priorities portion of the update.
       (D) Lands identified as having higher or highest resource 
     value in the Conservation Values Assessment portion of the 
     update.
       (d) Non-Federal Share Requirement.--The Federal share of 
     the cost of carrying out a land conservation partnership 
     project under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the 
     total cost of the land conservation partnership project.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior from the 
     general funds of the Treasury or the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2014. Amounts 
     appropriated pursuant to this authorization of appropriations 
     shall remain available until expended.

     SEC. 6. FOREST SERVICE AND USDA PROGRAMS IN THE HIGHLANDS 
                   REGION.

       (a) In General.--In order to meet the land resource goals 
     of, and the scientific and conservation challenges identified 
     in, the study, update, and any future study that the Forest 
     Service may undertake in the Highlands region, the Secretary 
     of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
     Service and in consultation with the Chief of the National 
     Resources Conservation Service, shall continue to assist the 
     Highlands States, local units of government, and private 
     forest and farm landowners in the conservation of lands and 
     natural resources in the Highlands region.
       (b) Duties.--The Forest Service shall--
       (1) in consultation with the Highlands States, undertake 
     other studies and research as appropriate in the Highlands 
     region consistent with the purposes of this Act;
       (2) communicate the findings of the study and update and 
     maintain a public dialogue regarding implementation of the 
     study and update; and
       (3) assist the Highland States, local units of government, 
     individual landowners, and private organizations in 
     identifying and using Forest Service and other technical and 
     financial assistance programs of the Department of 
     Agriculture.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry 
     out this section $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 
     through 2014.

     SEC. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION AND LACK OF REGULATORY 
                   EFFECT.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this Act shall 
     be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to permit public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; and
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private lands.
       (b) Liability.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
     create any liability, or to have any effect on any liability 
     under any other law, of any private property owner with 
     respect to any persons injured on such private property.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this Act shall be construed to modify any authority of 
     Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners.--Nothing in 
     this Act shall be construed to require the owner of any 
     private property located in the Highlands region to 
     participate in the land conservation, financial, or technical 
     assistance or any other programs established under this Act.
       (e) Purchase of Lands or Interests in Lands From Willing 
     Sellers Only.--Funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall 
     be used to purchase lands or interests in lands only from 
     willing sellers.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1964.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1964, introduced by my good friend, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and amended by the Committee on 
Resources, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to States to 
preserve and protect high priority conservation lands in the Highlands 
region. This geographic region encompasses over 2 million acres of land 
stretching from western Connecticut across the Lower Hudson River 
Valley and northern New Jersey into northeastern Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, not only has the U.S. Forest Service documented the 
national significance of the Highlands area in two extensive studies in 
1990 and 2002, but the President in his 2004 budget recognized the New 
York-New Jersey Highlands forest area as one of nine priority forests 
areas in the country that are threatened.
  H.R. 1964, as amended, is supported by the administration and the 
majority and minority of the committee. I urge adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we fully support the goals of H.R. 1964. The purpose of 
this legislation is to facilitate conservation and preservation, ideals 
we fight for in this Congress on a regular basis.
  However, we must point out that the scope of H.R. 1964 is truly 
stunning. This legislation will create a new Federal conservation 
program covering 2 million acres and 1.4 million people in 4 States. 
The precise boundaries of this new Federally created area are only 
generally defined in the bill, and there are no references to a map to 
allow property owners to know if their property is included or not.
  Furthermore, the goals of this new conservation program are sweeping. 
The bill states that the Federal Government should work with States, 
units of local government and private property owners to ``protect, 
restore and preserve the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, 
recreational and cultural resources'' contained in this new Federal 
area. It is difficult to imagine a broader conservation mandate.
  Given the ongoing and severe underfunding of the land and water 
conservation funds, we continue to have concerns regarding the impact 
of this new $100 million effort may have on other worthy conservation 
programs funded with LWCF dollars. However, we will support H.R. 1964 
at this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  My thanks to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), and 
particular thanks to the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Pombo), the chair of the House Committee on Resources, for all of his 
work and the work of his staff that have helped improve this bill and 
make it possible for us to discuss it and vote on it today. I also 
thank the ranking member for her assistance and recognize the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel), who is going to speak later, as well as the 
gentlewoman New York (Mrs. Kelly) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Gerlach) and over 30 Members of Congress that are sponsoring this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the Highlands is one of the last open treasures in the 
most densely populated area of the United States. In New Jersey alone, 
my home State, it includes more than a million acres of forests, farms, 
streams, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs and historic sites. We need to 
preserve these assets.
  The Highlands Conservation Act represents a major commitment to 
protect them. While remaining mindful of property rights, this bill 
complements ongoing State, private and local partnerships that are 
actively working to protect open space. Our bill does not ask the 
Federal Government to become the landowner or steward to these lands; 
rather, the people of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and 
Pennsylvania would retain ownership and responsibility for caretaking 
of these lands. Indeed, the government will not be taking any land. 
Participants would all be willing sellers.
  Mr. Speaker, the President recognized the national significance of 
the Highlands in his 2004 budget message in January and designated the 
Highlands as one of nine national priorities areas threatened by 
development.

                              {time}  1045

  These lands, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) has said, 
have been identified by the U.S. Forest Service in virtually all other 
Federal, State and local entities as critical lands in need of 
preservation.

[[Page H12120]]

  This bill represents an opportunity for the Federal Government to 
work with the State government and local groups to preserve the 
Highlands. It is a unique opportunity, an historic opportunity, and it 
is a symbolic opportunity of the Federal Government to work with so 
many partners.
  This legislation also represents a landmark commitment of the Federal 
Government to the Highlands. It is a genuine partnership. It is 
important to preserving open space. I am proud to support the bill and 
to have so many partners in that regard.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to 
me, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 1954, the Highland Stewardship 
Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. I pledged 
that I would do everything in my power to pass this bill, and I am 
delighted that this bill is on the floor today.
  I want to start by thanking the Committee on Resources chairman, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from West Virginia 
(Mr. Rahall), the ranking member, and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Radanovich), the subcommittee chairman, and the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the subcommittee ranking member, 
for their assistance and support.
  More importantly, I want to commend the sponsor of this legislation 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen). It is because of his 
vigorous and stalwart support of this bill and his active participation 
in moving it forward that we are here today. It has been a pleasure to 
work with him, and this is a very, very important bill not only for his 
district and my district, but for many, many districts and many, many 
States in the Northeast.
  I represent Rockland County. We have a pristine area there which is 
very, very important, and we need to protect this area. We very often 
talk about suburban sprawl and development, which is unwanted and which 
would mar this pristine land. This bill gives us the opportunity to 
balance that. That is what is so important.
  The Highlands in my district encompasses an area totally of 1.5 
million acres from the lower Hudson River Valley in New York to the 
Delaware River in New Jersey. Within this area are some spectacular 
things to see and do, and, of course, many people, 1.4 million people, 
live within the Highlands area.
  The Highlands adjoins a metropolitan area, the New York metropolitan 
area, with a population of more than 20 million people. More than 11 
million people rely on the Highlands' drinking water resources, which 
serves at least half of New York City's water supply. More than 14 
million people visit the Highlands each year for recreational 
opportunities. Over 240 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and 
reptiles depend on Highlands habitat, and more than 160 historical and 
cultural sites have been identified in the region.
  Where once apple farms and bungalows dotted the landscape, we now 
have 300,000 people living in Rockland County, and as I mentioned 
before, it is very, very important to have that balance between 
development and preserving pristine areas such as this.
  The Federal Government has an important role to play in protecting 
our area of national significance here in our own backyard. I have 
supported increased funding for Forest Service programs such as the 
Forest Legacy Program, the Forest Stewardship Program and the new 
Forest Land Enhancement Program that protect environmentally sensitive 
forestlands such as the Highlands.
  Again, I want to say that it is vitally important that the Federal 
Government facilitate partnerships between all levels of government to 
protect the Highlands and prevent the region from suffering from 
further urban sprawl. My district is a combination of an urban district 
and a suburban district, and I am very, very sensitive to the needs of 
the suburbs, and this bill and the money put into this bill goes a long 
way in keeping that balance and keeping these lands pristine.
  The Highlands Act will really move us far along in this effort 
because we do not want further urban sprawl. So I thank the chairs and 
ranking members and, again, most of all, my friend from New Jersey (Mr. 
Frelinghuysen). This is truly bipartisan and truly a very, very good 
day for the American people.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield what time he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the chairman of the Committee on 
Resources.
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the 
time.
  I come to the floor today to speak in support of this bill. This is 
the kind of legislation that in the past I have opposed and have had 
concerns about, but I have to give all due credit to my colleague the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) for the work that they put into this bill.
  When they originally introduced this legislation, I had some concerns 
over it, and they came in and sat down with me, and we were able to 
work through all of the concerns that I had, and they were very good at 
coming in and sitting down and working through the property rights 
concerns that I had, what impact this would have on small property 
owners that were involved with this area, and gave me the assurances 
that as we worked our way through this process, that their private 
property rights would be protected. They were willing to accept 
language into the bill that protects those small property owners, and I 
think that that is extremely important.
  I will tell my colleagues, on any legislation like this in the future 
that we choose to move through the Committee on Resources, we will use 
this bill as a template, as a way to get things done in a bipartisan 
way in trying to move forward with a Federal and a local partnership in 
protecting lands that are environmentally sensitive and that are 
important, but at the same time protecting the property rights of those 
individual owners, which is something that is extremely important to 
me.
  So I just want to come down here and tell my colleagues I strongly 
support this legislation. I think that the work that the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Frelinghuysen) did on this is a very, very positive step for the 
future. I know that they are going to do great things with this. I know 
that this land is extremely important to them. So I look forward to 
working with them in future and making sure that these lands are 
protected, at the same time that small property owners are protected.
  So I thank them for all of the great work that they did, and I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), my good friend and classmate.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 
1964, the Highlands Conservation Act.
  I want to congratulate the chairmen and ranking members for getting 
this to the floor, but I want to pay particular attention, and I know 
he does not like this but I will do it anyway, to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen). This has been a continuation, Mr. 
Speaker, of his work in the New Jersey State Legislature, not to 
balance anything, but to secure and preserve lands not only in New 
Jersey, but to set a model throughout the United States, and I think he 
has done that, and he has done it in a most professional way.
  I am proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle for years to 
preserve and protect this magnificent sweep of the Appalachian ridges, 
stretching for 1.5 million acres across New Jersey and New York.
  The Highlands are an essential source of drinking water, we have 
heard that already, clean air, and wildlife habitat, and recreational 
opportunities for nearly 25 million people located right in the 
backyard of our Nation's most densely populated region. The irony is 
staring us right in the face.
  The Highlands region has been in grave danger throughout the last 
decade. The region lost 5,200 acres a year to intensive development of 
strip malls and office campuses. Development also threatens the water 
supply for millions of residents in New Jersey and endangers critical 
wildlife.

[[Page H12121]]

  In land right next to my district, millions of residents enjoy the 
drinking water and the recreational resources of the Ramapo Mountains, 
the Wyanokie Highlands and the Pequannock Watershed. This bill will 
provide millions of dollars in land preservation assistance to protect 
this core of wilderness in our region.
  The Highlands Conservation Act should be a model for future land 
preservation efforts. We have debated land preservation on this very 
floor, and yes, we need to have a sensible approach to it and respect, 
as the gentleman from California pointed out, property rights.
  This legislation encourages a strong partnership between the Federal, 
State and local communities, and the gentleman from New Jersey, my 
colleague in the State legislature, this has been the center of his 
work on preservation, and it is fitting, it is fitting on this floor 
that we salute his efforts, particularly at a time when things can get 
downright contentious here.
  The bipartisan efforts we have made to create innovative legislation 
that preserves critical land while respecting the rights of property 
owners should set a standard for this House. Advocates for this bill 
worked tirelessly with environmentalists and private industry to create 
a worthy compromise that does a service to the legislative process.
  So preservation of the Highlands will benefit all Americans. Indeed, 
the Highlands is not just a New Jersey resource. As in any other parts 
in this country, it is a national treasure.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Again, I want to point out that this bill eliminated the Office of 
Highlands Stewardship and the accompanied regulatory process. It 
reduced the authorization level from $25 million annually to $10 
million annually over 10 years. It focused conservation efforts only on 
those resources most important. This bill clarified that the bill would 
not establish a wholly new programmatic category of land use, and, 
finally, it assured landowners in the Highlands region that private 
property rights will be protected by including safeguards for those 
landowners potentially at risk.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. It has been 
developed over a long period of time.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As stated, we did have some concerns about the expense of the bill 
and the funding for it, given the limitations of the land and water 
conservation fund, but we are supportive of the bill.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Highlands 
Conservation Act.
  To anyone in this Congress who questions the value of efforts to 
preserve open space, I invite them to come to New Jersey. My 
constituents, like most people around the state, have seen the ills of 
sprawl and the consequences of poor planning and meager preservation 
efforts.
  Despite the fact that many see rampant commercial and industrial 
development in New Jersey, however, there are still some wonderful 
tracts of land left in some areas of our state. One in particular is 
part of this tract we are trying to save through today's legislation, 
the Highlands Region. These are important not just for aesthetically 
pleasing vistas, but especially for the health of our environment, our 
water, our air, and mostly our people.
  The Highlands is an incredible 2 million acre swath across four 
states--New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. This tract 
is home to nearly one and a half million people and is still a quick 
drive away from New York City and other major metropolitan areas.
  Even more importantly, the Highlands provides and protects the 
drinking water supplies for over 15 million people who live in the 
Philadelphia-New York-Hartford metropolitan area, which cuts right 
through my central New Jersey district.
  That is why it is so important that the House today pass the 
Highlands Conservation Act. This bill authorizes federal Land and Water 
Conservation Fund money that will be matched at least one to one by 
local, state, and private funding. The governors of the four Highlands 
states will identify which lands are best eligible for conservation 
efforts, then apply to the federal government for funding. I know that 
the governor of New Jersey is ready and eager to get to work 
identifying these areas and preserving more green space in the state.
  I also want to highlight provisions in the bill that provide 
technical assistance to communities and organizations involved in 
conservation efforts for the Highlands. So many people in the region 
have already done so much wonderful work to help preserve the area, and 
they will now get the added benefit of assistance and expertise from 
the federal government.
  I want to recognize Mr. Frelinghuysen for his leadership on this 
issue and his hard work to get the legislation on the floor. I also 
want to salute the work of former Representative Ben Gilman, who led 
the effort on this legislation during the last Congress.
  I also want to thank Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall, 
Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich, and Ranking Member Christensen for 
helping see this legislation through the Resources committee. This bill 
means a lot to New Jersey, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1964, 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.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to assist 
the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in 
conserving priority lands and natural resources in the Highlands 
region, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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