[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S874-S876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WORLD WETLANDS DAY

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the floor today on World 
Wetlands Day to acknowledge the proclamation by the Governor of our 
State that today, February 2, America's Wetlands Day in Louisiana. 
World Wetlands Day is a day that we join together with people around 
the world to bring public awareness to the benefits and values of 
wetlands as well as the severe challenges that confront them. February 
2 of each year marks the date of the signing in 1971 of the Convention 
on Wetlands which provided a framework for national action and 
international cooperation toward the conservation and wise use of 
wetlands and their resources. Wetlands can be found in every country 
and are among the most productive ecosystems in the world.
  Those of us from Louisiana bring a rather unique perspective to the 
subject of wetlands. You see, Louisiana's coast is really America's 
wetland. It is not a beach, but a vast landscape of wetlands. The 
landscape that extends along Louisiana's coast is one of the largest 
and most productive expanses of coastal wetlands in North America. It 
is the seventh largest delta on Earth, where the Mississippi River 
drains two-thirds of the United States. It is also one of the most 
productive environments in America--``working wetlands'' as they are 
known to Louisianians--producing more seafood than any other State in 
the lower 48. It is the nursery ground for the Gulf of Mexico and 
habitat for the one of the greatest flyways in the world for millions 
of waterfowl and migratory songbirds.
  Louisiana's coastal wetlands provide storm protection for ports that 
carry nearly 500 million tons of waterborne commerce annually--the 
largest port system in the world by tonnage. That accounts for 21 
percent of all waterborne commerce in the United States each year. In 
fact, four of the top ten largest ports in the United States are 
located in Louisiana.
  These wetlands also offer protection from storm surge for 2 million 
people and a unique culture. However, what should be of fundamental 
interest to those of us here is the role these wetlands play in our 
Nation's energy security by not only protecting the Nation's critical 
energy infrastructure but also providing the energy supply that runs 
our daily lives.
  Eighty percent of the Nation's offshore oil and gas supply, which is 
almost 30 percent of all the oil and gas consumed in this country, 
passes through these wetlands to be distributed to the rest of the 
Nation. There are more than 20,000 miles of pipelines in Federal 
offshore lands and thousands more inland that all make landfall on 
Louisiana's barrier islands and wetland shorelines. The barrier islands 
are the first line of defense against the combined wind and water 
forces of a hurricane, and they serve as anchor points for pipelines 
originating offshore.

  Annual returns to the Federal Government of oil and gas receipts from 
production on the Outer Continental Shelf, OCS, average more than $5 
billion annually. No single area has contributed as much to the Federal 
treasury as the OCS. In fact, since 1953, the OCS has contributed $140 
billion to the U.S. Treasury.
  Between 80 and 90 percent of that amount has come from offshore 
Louisiana. In 2003, almost $6 billion in offshore revenues went into 
the Federal treasury, and more than $5 billion, or 80 percent of that 
amount came from offshore Louisiana. Today the OCS supplies more than 
25 percent of our Nation's natural gas production and more than 30 
percent our domestic oil production, with the promise of more--expected 
to reach 40 percent by 2008. In fact, the OCS supplies more oil to our 
Nation than any other country including Saudi Arabia.
  In addition to domestic production, Louisiana's coast is the land 
base for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, LOOP, America's only offshore 
oil port. LOOP handles about 15 percent of this country's foreign oil 
and is connected to more than 30 percent of the total refining capacity 
in the U.S. Much of the support infrastructure is located in the most 
rapidly deteriorating coastal areas. In addition to LOOP, one will find 
two storage sites for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, SPR, and Henry 
Hub, one of the Nation's major natural gas distribution centers.
  Port Fourchon, which supports 75 percent of the deepwater production 
in the Gulf, is the geographic and economic center of offshore drilling 
efforts along the Louisiana Coast. This port, and much of the Nation's 
energy supply, is connected to the mainland by a 17-mile stretch of 
two-lane highway--LA 1--that is inundated by flooding in relatively 
mild storms and is vulnerable to being washed out completely.
  The oil and gas produced offshore Louisiana moves through a maze of 
pipelines that crisscross our State delivering energy to other regions 
of the country. In order to preserve this supply, Louisiana must be 
able to continue to host this production. Unfortunately, the very 
coastal wetlands that support the critical infrastructure necessary to 
deliver the energy are washing away at an alarming rate leaving 
pipelines and other energy infrastructure vulnerable to the whims of 
Mother Nature.

  When Hurricane Ivan struck back in September, it should have been a 
wake-up call to us all. Although the storm did not directly hit 
Louisiana, its impact on prices and supply continues to be felt today. 
Four months later, a percentage of oil and gas production in the Gulf 
of Mexico remains offline as a result of the storm, directly 
contributing to higher oil and gas prices in our country. One can only 
imagine what the impact would have been to supply and prices had Ivan 
cut a more Western path in the Gulf.
  Louisiana is losing its coastal land at the staggering rate of 25 
square miles a year. That is square miles, not acres. That is a 
football field every 30 minutes. We lost more than 1,900 square miles 
in the past 70 years, and the U.S. Geological Survey predicts we will 
lose another 1,000 if decisive action is not taken now to save it. The 
effects of natural processes like subsidence and storms combined with 
the unintended consequences of Federal actions like the leveeing of the 
Mississippi River and impacts from offshore oil and gas exploration and 
development have led to an ecosystem on the verge of collapse.
  With the loss of barrier islands and wetlands over the next 50 years, 
New Orleans will lose its wetland buffer that now protects it from many 
effects of flooding. Hurricanes will pose the greatest threat, since 
New Orleans sits on a sloping continental shelf that makes it extremely 
vulnerable to storm surges.
  More than 2 million people in inland south Louisiana will be subject 
to more severe and frequent flooding than ever before. Coastal 
communities will become shore-front towns, and the economic and 
cultural costs of relocation are estimated in the billions of dollars.
  Louisiana takes pride in its role as the country's most crucial 
energy provider. Ours is a State rich in natural resources. However, 
given the contribution my State makes to the Nation, it is time for all 
of us to consider what

[[Page S875]]

the effects will be should we continue on our present track and ignore 
the problem. The fate of the country's energy supply and infrastructure 
are just one example of what is at stake.
  There are increasing signs that people around the country understand 
the seriousness of the situation. In a poll released today, 90 percent 
of the respondents said it was important to fund national efforts to 
restore Louisiana's wetlands in and around New Orleans as a means to 
limit the damage that a direct hit from a hurricane would cause to the 
area. It is now long past time for the Federal Government to step up 
and invest in a State that gives so much to the rest of the country.

            Rules of Procedure--Committee on Armed Services

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Committee on Armed Services met today 
and adopted its rules for the 109th Congress. In accordance with the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that these rules 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Rules of Procedure of the Committee on Armed Services

       1. Regular Meeting Day.--The Committee shall meet at least 
     once a month when Congress is in session. The regular meeting 
     days of the Committee shall be Tuesday and Thursday, unless 
     the Chairman, after consultation with the Ranking Minority 
     Member, directs otherwise.
       2. Additional Meetings.--The Chairman, after consultation 
     with the Ranking Minority Member, may call such additional 
     meetings as he deems necessary.
       3. Special Meetings.--Special meetings of the Committee may 
     be called by a majority of the members of the Committee in 
     accordance with paragraph 3 of Rule XXVI of the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate.
       4. Open Meetings.--Each meeting of the Committee, or any 
     subcommittee thereof, including meetings to conduct hearings, 
     shall be open to the public, except that a meeting or series 
     of meetings by the Committee or a subcommittee thereof on the 
     same subject for a period of no more than fourteen (14) 
     calendar days may be closed to the public on a motion made 
     and seconded to go into closed session to discuss only 
     whether the matters enumerated below in clauses (a) through 
     (f) would require the meeting to be closed, followed 
     immediately by a record vote in open session by a majority of 
     the members of the Committee or subcommittee when it is 
     determined that the matters to be discussed or the testimony 
     to be taken at such meeting or meetings--
       (a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in 
     the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct 
     of the foreign relations of the United States;
       (b) will relate solely to matters of Committee staff 
     personnel or internal staff management or procedure;
       (c) will tend to charge an individual with a crime or 
     misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing 
     of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to 
     public contempt or obloquy or will represent a clearly 
     unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual;
       (d) will disclose the identity of any informer or law 
     enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating 
     to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense 
     that is required to be kept secret in the interests of 
     effective law enforcement;
       (e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets 
     or financial or commercial information pertaining 
     specifically to a given person if--
       (1) an Act of Congress requires the information to be kept 
     confidential by Government officers and employees; or
       (2) the information has been obtained by the Government on 
     a confidential basis, other than through an application by 
     such person for a specific Government financial or other 
     benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to 
     prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such 
     person; or
       (f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential 
     under other provisions of law or Government regulations.
       5. Presiding Officer.--The Chairman shall preside at all 
     meetings and hearings of the Committee except that in his 
     absence the Ranking Majority Member present at the meeting or 
     hearing shall preside unless by majority vote the Committee 
     provides otherwise.
       6. Quorum.--(a) A majority of the members of the Committee 
     are required to be actually present to report a matter or 
     measure from the Committee. (See Standing Rules of the Senate 
     26.7(a)(1).
       (b) Except as provided in subsections (a) and (c), and 
     other than for the conduct of hearings, eight members of the 
     Committee, including one member of the minority party; or a 
     majority of the members of the Committee, shall constitute a 
     quorum for the transaction of such business as may be 
     considered by the Committee.
       (c) Three members of the Committee, one of whom shall be a 
     member of the minority party, shall constitute a quorum for 
     the purpose of taking sworn testimony, unless otherwise 
     ordered by a majority of the full Committee.
       (d) Proxy votes may not be considered for the purpose of 
     establishing a quorum.
       7. Proxy Voting.--Proxy voting shall be allowed on all 
     measures and matters before the Committee. The vote by proxy 
     of any member of the Committee may be counted for the purpose 
     of reporting any measure or matter to the Senate if the 
     absent member casting such vote has been informed of the 
     matter on which the member is being recorded and has 
     affirmatively requested that he or she be so recorded. Proxy 
     must be given in writing.
       8. Announcement of Votes.--The results of all roll call 
     votes taken in any meeting of the Committee on any measure, 
     or amendment thereto, shall be announced in the Committee 
     report, unless previously announced by the Committee. The 
     announcement shall include a tabulation of the votes cast in 
     favor and votes cast in opposition to each such measure and 
     amendment by each member of the Committee who was present 
     at such meeting. The Chairman, after consultation with the 
     Ranking Minority Member, may hold open a roll call vote on 
     any measure or matter which is before the Committee until 
     no later than midnight of the day on which the Committee 
     votes on such measure or matter.
       9. Subpoenas.--Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and 
     for the production of memoranda, documents, records, and the 
     like may be issued, after consultation with the Ranking 
     Minority Member, by the Chairman or any other member 
     designated by the Chairman, but only when authorized by a 
     majority of the members of the Committee. The subpoena shall 
     briefly state the matter to which the witness is expected to 
     testify or the documents to be produced.
       10. Hearings.--(a) Public notice shall be given of the 
     date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be held by 
     the Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, at least 1 week 
     in advance of such hearing, unless the Committee or 
     subcommittee determines that good cause exists for beginning 
     such hearings at an earlier time.
       (b) Hearings may be initiated only by the specified 
     authorization of the Committee or subcommittee.
       (c) Hearings shall be held only in the District of Columbia 
     unless specifically authorized to be held elsewhere by a 
     majority vote of the Committee or subcommittee conducting 
     such hearings.
       (d) The Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee shall 
     consult with the Ranking Minority Member thereof before 
     naming witnesses for a hearing.
       (e) Witnesses appearing before the Committee shall file 
     with the clerk of the Committee a written statement of their 
     proposed testimony prior to the hearing at which they are to 
     appear unless the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member 
     determine that there is good cause not to file such a 
     statement. Witnesses testifying on behalf of the 
     Administration shall furnish an additional 50 copies of their 
     statement to the Committee. All statements must be received 
     by the Committee at least 48 hours (not including weekends or 
     holidays) before the hearing.
       (f) Confidential testimony taken or confidential material 
     presented in a closed hearing of the Committee or 
     subcommittee or any report of the proceedings of such hearing 
     shall not be made public in whole or in part or by way of 
     summary unless authorized by a majority vote of the Committee 
     or subcommittee.
       (g) Any witness summoned to give testimony or evidence at a 
     public or closed hearing of the Committee or subcommittee may 
     be accompanied by counsel of his own choosing who shall be 
     permitted at all times during such hearing to advise such 
     witness of his legal rights.
       (h) Witnesses providing unsworn testimony to the Committee 
     may be given a transcript of such testimony for the purpose 
     of making minor grammatical corrections. Such witnesses will 
     not, however, be permitted to alter the substance of their 
     testimony. Any question involving such corrections shall be 
     decided by the Chairman.
       11. Nominations.--Unless otherwise ordered by the 
     Committee, nominations referred to the Committee shall be 
     held for at least seven (7) days before being voted on by the 
     Committee. Each member of the Committee shall be furnished a 
     copy of all nominations referred to the Committee.
       12. Real Property Transactions.--Each member of the 
     Committee shall be furnished with a copy of the proposals of 
     the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, submitted 
     pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2662 and with a copy of the proposals 
     of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     submitted pursuant to 50 U.S.C. App. 2285, regarding the 
     proposed acquisition or disposition of property of an 
     estimated price or rental of more than $50,000. Any member of 
     the Committee objecting to or requesting information on a 
     proposed acquisition or disposal shall communicate his 
     objection or request to the Chairman of the Committee within 
     thirty (30) days from the date of submission.
       13. Legislative Calendar.--(a) The clerk of the Committee 
     shall keep a printed calendar for the information of each 
     Committee member showing the bills introduced and referred to 
     the Committee and the status of such bills. Such calendar 
     shall be revised from time to time to show pertinent changes 
     in such bills, the current status thereof, and new bills 
     introduced and referred to the Committee. A copy of each new 
     revision shall be furnished to each member of the Committee.

[[Page S876]]

       (b) Unless otherwise ordered, measures referred to the 
     Committee shall be referred by the clerk of the Committee to 
     the appropriate department or agency of the Government for 
     reports thereon.
       14. Except as otherwise specified herein, the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate shall govern the actions of the 
     Committee. Each subcommittee of the Committee is part of the 
     Committee, and is therefore subject to the Committee's rules 
     so far as applicable.
       15. Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Each subcommittee 
     is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and 
     report to the full Committee on all matters referred to it. 
     Subcommittee chairmen, after consultation with Ranking 
     Minority Members of the subcommittees, shall set dates for 
     hearings and meetings of their respective subcommittees after 
     consultation with the Chairman and other subcommittee 
     chairmen with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling 
     of full Committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings 
     whenever possible.

                          ____________________