[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 112 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6388-H6390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: September 12, 2006 (House)]
[Page H6388-H6390]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr12se06-108]
NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY SYSTEM VOLUNTEER ACT OF 2006
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 5381) to establish a volunteer program and
promote community partnerships for the benefit of national fish
hatcheries and fisheries program offices, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 5381
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H6389]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Fish Hatchery
System Volunteer Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The National Fish Hatchery System (in this Act referred
to as the ``System'')--
(A) consists of more than 60 hatcheries, seven fish
technology centers, 9 fish health centers, and other
fisheries program offices;
(B) plays an integral role in the recovery of more than 50
threatened species and endangered species and the restoration
of over 100 native species;
(C) provides healthy fish populations that support
recreational fishing opportunities, many of which are related
to Federal water control structures; and
(D) works with over 250 partners to help mitigate the
impacts of aquatic habitat loss and invasive species.
(2) The System faces many challenges, including aging
facilities, some of which date back to the late 1800s, and
maintenance of intensive infrastructures such as wells,
pumps, valves, pipes, filters, heaters, chillers, and
treatment systems that must keep clean water moving 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year.
(3) By encouraging volunteer programs and donations and
fostering non-Federal partnerships with hatchery facilities,
Federal funding for the hatcheries can be supplemented.
(4) By encouraging hatchery educational programs, public
awareness of the resources of the System and public
participation in the conservation of aquatic resources can be
promoted.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
(1) To encourage the use of volunteers to assist the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service in the management of
hatcheries within the System.
(2) To facilitate partnerships between the System and non-
Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources
of the System and public participation in the conservation of
those resources.
(3) To encourage donations and other contributions by
individuals and organizations to the System.
SEC. 3. GIFTS TO SYSTEM AND PARTICULAR NATIONAL FISH
HATCHERIES.
(a) Authorization of Gifts, Devises, and Bequests for
System.--In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the
Secretary of the Interior may accept any gifts, devises, or
bequests of real and personal property, or proceeds
therefrom, or interests therein, for the benefit of the
National Fish Hatchery System. Such acceptance may be subject
to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or
condition of servitude, if such terms are deemed by the
Secretary to be in accordance with law and compatible with
the purpose for which acceptance is sought.
(b) Use of Gifts, Devises, and Bequests.--
(1) In general.--Any gifts and bequests of money and
proceeds from the sales of other property received as gifts
or bequests pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in
a separate account in the Treasury and may be expended
without further appropriation by the Secretary for the
benefit of the System programs administered by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(2) Gifts, devises, and bequests for particular
facilities.--
(A) Disbursal.--Any gift, devise, or bequest made for the
benefit of a facility of the System shall be disbursed only
for the benefit of that facility and without further
appropriations.
(B) Matching.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations and the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (16 U.S.C 661 et seq.) and other applicable
law, the Secretary may provide funds to match gifts, devises,
and bequests made for the benefit of a facility of the
System. With respect to each gift, devise, or bequest, the
amount of Federal funds may not exceed the amount (or, in the
case of property or in-kind services, the fair market value)
of the gift, devise, or bequest.
SEC. 4. VOLUNTEER ENHANCEMENT PILOT PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior shall carry out
a pilot project at 1 or more facilities of the System. Each
pilot project shall provide for a volunteer coordinator for
the hatchery facility. The volunteer coordinator shall be
responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising
volunteers. The volunteer coordinator may be responsible for
assisting partner organizations in developing projects and
programs under cooperative agreements under section 7(d) of
the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(d)) and
coordinating volunteer activities with partner organizations
to carry out the projects and programs.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate evaluating and making recommendations regarding the
pilot projects.
SEC. 5. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT.
(a) Projects and Programs.--Subject to the requirements of
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et
seq.) and other applicable law, and such terms and conditions
as the Secretary of the Interior determines to be
appropriate, the Secretary may approve projects and programs
for a facility of the System that--
(1) promote the stewardship of resources of the hatchery
through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement,
biological monitoring, or research;
(2) support the operation and maintenance of the hatchery
through constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving
the facilities and services of the hatchery;
(3) increase the awareness and understanding of the
hatchery and the System, through the development,
publication, or distribution of educational materials and
products;
(4) advance education concerning the purposes of the
hatchery and the mission of the System, through the use of
the hatchery as an outdoor classroom and development of other
educational programs; or
(5) contribute financial resources to the hatchery, under
the terms that require that the net revenues be used
exclusively for the benefit of the hatchery, through donation
of net revenues from the sale of educational materials and
products and through encouragement of gifts, devises, and
bequests.
(b) Treasury Account.--Amounts received by the Secretary of
the Interior as a result of projects and programs under
subsection (a) shall be deposited in a separate account in
the Treasury. Amounts in the account that are attributable to
activities at a particular facility of the System shall be
available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further
appropriation, to pay the costs of incidental expenses
related to volunteer activities, and to carry out cooperative
agreements for the hatchery facility.
SEC. 6. HATCHERY EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall
develop guidance for the hatchery education programs to
further the mission of the System and the purposes of
individual hatcheries through--
(1) providing outdoor classroom opportunities for students
on fish hatcheries that combine educational curricula with
the personal experiences of students relating to fish,
aquatic species, and their habitat, and to the cultural and
historical resources of the hatcheries;
(2) promoting understanding and conservation of fish,
aquatic species, and the cultural and historical resources of
the hatcheries; and
(3) improving scientific literacy in conjunction with both
formal and nonformal education programs.
(b) Hatchery Programs.--Based on the guidance developed
under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior may, with
assistance from the Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance
Program, develop or enhance hatchery educational programs as
appropriate, based on the resources of individual hatcheries
and the opportunities available for such programs in State,
local, and private schools. In developing and implementing
each program, the Secretary should cooperate with State and
local education authorities, and may cooperate with partner
organizations in accordance with subsection (d).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Grijalva) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present H.R. 5381 introduced by a
distinguished colleague, Jim Saxton of New Jersey, to enhance the
existing volunteer program within the National Fish Hatchery System.
The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act is modeled after the
highly successful Refuge Volunteer Act. This legislation will allow the
national fish hatcheries to replicate the success of the refuge
volunteer program. In 1982, about 4,000 volunteers worked at one or
more of our refuges. Today, that figure is 37,000 and growing each
year.
Based on testimony, we know that there are 18 Friends of the Hatchery
organizations out of the 150 eligible facilities throughout the system.
While the National Fish Hatchery System has an existing volunteer
policy, its limited statutory authority is inadequate. At the same
time, the need for volunteers is critical because the vast majority of
our hatcheries are more than 50 years old, they require constant
attention and maintenance, and
[[Page H6390]]
the number of full-time hatchery employees has declined by more than 12
percent over the past decade.
There is no question that during these difficult budgetary times the
National Fish Hatchery System could utilize the talents, experience,
and expertise of thousands of volunteers.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1530
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, it is always important to provide
opportunities for the public to participate in conservation activity,
yet in the case of our Federal fish hatcheries, the development of an
enthused and motivated cadre of volunteers will help to partially
address the chronic operations budget shortfall that severely limits
existing visitor service programs.
One shining example of how a volunteer effort can enable a hatchery
to become part of the fabric of its surrounding community is found at
the White Sulphur Springs Natural Fish Hatchery in West Virginia. This
hatchery, which is located in the district of the ranking Democrat
member of the Resources Committee, Nick Rahall, has partnered for years
with civic organizations such as the Rotary Club, its local friends
group to coordinate widely popular recreational events such as annual
fishing derbies, the hatchery's Centennial Celebration, and annual
Freshwater Folk Festivals.
Clearly, as the volunteer program at White Sulphur Springs Natural
Fish Hatchery demonstrates, our natural fish hatcheries could benefit
from enhanced opportunities for volunteer participation, and I urge
Members to support this legislation which seeks to make that goal a
reality.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5381--The National Fish Hatchery System
Volunteer Act of 2006 will enhance a volunteer program and promote
community partnerships for the benefit of our Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) fish hatcheries and fisheries program offices across the nation.
H.R. 5381 is modeled on the successful partnership and volunteer laws
for the National Wildlife Refuges. I was proud to sponsor the
legislation that established the partnership and volunteer laws for the
refuges and am equally proud to be the sponsor of the bill under
consideration today.
The FWS National Fish Hatchery System consists of more than 60
hatcheries, 7 fish technology centers, 9 fish health centers and other
fisheries program offices. The system plays an integral role in the
recovery of more than 50 threatened and endangered species and the
restoration of more than 100 native species. It helps to provide
healthy fish populations that support recreational fishing
opportunities, working with over 250 partners to help mitigate the
impacts of aquatic habitat loss and invasive species. Currently, the
system faces many challenges, including aging facilities and
infrastructure.
In 1998 and 2004, Congress passed legislation that enhanced the
ability of the National Wildlife Refuge System to use volunteers and
work with partner groups. These acts gave authority for the refuge
system to: accept gifts and bequests from individuals to specific
refuges; carry out volunteer enhancement programs; enter into
cooperative agreements with partner organizations; and develop guidance
for refuge education programs.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide the National Fisheries
Program the same authorities that were given to the National Wildlife
Refuge System. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional
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 North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5381, 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 enhance
an existing volunteer program of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service and promote community partnerships for the benefit of national
fish hatcheries and fisheries program offices''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________