[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H1331-H1332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE VOLUNTEER ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2408) to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to 
reauthorize volunteer programs and community partnerships for national 
wildlife refuges, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2408

       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 
     Volunteer Act of 2003''.

[[Page H1332]]

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY 
                   PARTNERSHIPS UNDER FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 
                   1956.

       Section 7(f) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 
     U.S.C. 742f(f)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry 
     out subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) $2,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2004 through 2009.''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF PROJECTS UNDER NATIONAL WILDLIFE 
                   REFUGE SYSTEM VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY 
                   PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1998.

       Section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
     Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 
     (16 U.S.C. 742f note) is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``Pilot'';
       (2) by striking ``pilot project'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``project'';
       (3) in paragraph (1) by striking ``, but not more than 20 
     pilot projects nationwide'';
       (4) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``pilot projects'' and inserting 
     ``projects''; and
       (B) by striking ``after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act'' and inserting ``after the date of the enactment of the 
     National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Act of 2003, and every 3 
     years thereafter''; and
       (5) in paragraph (4) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     1999 through 2002'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year 
     through fiscal year 2009''.

     SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY.

       Section 7(d)(2) (A) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 
     (16 U.S.C. 742f(d)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, 
     United States Code, the Secretary of the Interior may 
     negotiate and enter into a cooperative agreement with a 
     partner organization, academic institution, State or local 
     government agency, or other person to implement one or more 
     projects or programs for a refuge or complex of 
     geographically related refuges in accordance with the 
     purposes of this subsection and in compliance with the 
     policies of other relevant authorities, regulations, and 
     policy guidance.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 2408.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced the bill, H.R. 2408, to reauthorize the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership 
Act, which I authored in 1998.
  There is no question that volunteers play an invaluable role in the 
successful operation of hundreds of National Wildlife Refuges 
throughout the United States. Since 1982, the number of refuge 
volunteers has grown from about 4,200 individuals to over 39,000 
people. In the past year alone, volunteers have contributed over 1.4 
million man-hours of their own time to the refuge system. From 
operating a backhoe, assisting in the banding of birds or providing 
education to the public, to many other functions, volunteers can do it 
all.
  At the hearing of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held in June of this year, significant support for 
the volunteer program was very evident. A number of suggestions were 
made to improve the existing 1998 landmark law, and at the subcommittee 
markup these suggestions were incorporated into the bill. Included in 
these changes is the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to 
enter into cooperative agreements outside the Federal Grant and 
Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 with academic institutions, State 
and local agencies, and partner organizations, like the ``Friends'' 
groups that exist at many refuges. The Cooperative Agreement Act has 
been a hindrance to the Secretary in entering into these agreements. 
H.R. 2408 would clarify that Congress intended to give the Secretary 
the same flexibility that the Secretary has to enter into these 
agreements under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
  I urge all Members to support the Refuge Volunteer Program by voting 
yes on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, as noted by the previous speaker, H.R. 2408 
is noncontroversial legislation that would reauthorize the existing 
authority that promotes volunteer programs and community partnerships 
across our National Wildlife Refuge System.
  Volunteers provide truly indispensable hours of service to augment 
the yeoman labor of our Federal resource managers, rangers, and 
biologists stretched thin by the day-to-day demands of managing 98 
million acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Congress should do all that 
it can to encourage the expansion of volunteer opportunities at our 
National Wildlife Refuges.
  I commend the act's author and the bill's sponsor, my good friend, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), for his continued steadfast 
leadership in promoting our refuges as places for both people to enjoy 
and wildlife to have a proper habitat.
  I also congratulate the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries 
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Gilchrest), and the ranking Democratic member of that subcommittee, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), for developing mutually 
acceptable language to clarify the authority for the Fish and Wildlife 
Service to enter into cooperative agreements in support of volunteer 
activities.
  This clarification should not only help spur the creation of new 
partnerships, but also enhance private sources of support for our 
refuges.
  This is good legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I urge all Members to 
support the bill.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in enthusiastic support of H.R. 2408, 
``The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Act.''
  Since the first refuge was established in my home state in 1912, the 
Wisconsin refuge system has become an integral part of life for our 
citizens. Our five wildlife refuges and two wetlands management 
districts attract nearly 2 million visitors each year. They provide 
critical habitat for our state's world-renowned wildlife resources, as 
well as opportunities for recreation and groundbreaking research.
  Thankfully, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has help in meeting 
President Teddy Roosevelt's commitment of protecting our country's 
diverse wildlife heritage for future generations. Volunteers like my 
constituent John Wetzel, and the ``Friends of the Upper Mississippi 
River Refuges,'' work constantly to improve our local refuges and serve 
as advocates at the national level.
  John Wetzel is only one of over 45,000 individuals across the country 
who provide support for our refuge system. These ``Friends of the 
Refuge'' do whatever is needed--whether it is raising funds, guiding 
tours, battling invasive species or restoring wetlands. As noted 
anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said, ``Never doubt that a small 
thoughtful group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it 
is the only thing that ever has.''
  I am proud to support the National Fish and Wildlife Service in its 
vital mission, and I'm pleased this legislation will provide these 
dedicated activists the tools and information necessary to help them in 
their efforts on behalf of us all.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2408, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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