[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6794-H6797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TYLERSVILLE FISH HATCHERY CONVEYANCE ACT
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 4957) to direct the Secretary of the Interior
to convey the Tylersville division of the Lamar National Fish Hatchery
and Fish Technology Center to the State of Pennsylvania, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4957
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--TYLERSVILLE FISH HATCHERY CONVEYANCE
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Tylersville Fish Hatchery
Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 102. CONVEYANCE OF TYLERSVILLE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY TO
THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
(a) Conveyance Requirement.--Within 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
shall convey to the State of Pennsylvania without
reimbursement all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the property described in subsection (b) for
use by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as part of
the State of Pennsylvania fish culture program.
(b) Property Described.--The property referred to in
subsection (a) consists of--
(1) the Tylersville division of the Lamar National Fish
Hatchery and Fish Technology Center comprised of
approximately 40 acres leased to the State of Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission, located on 43 Hatchery Lane in
Loganton, Pennsylvania, as described in the 1984 Cooperative
Agreement between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
and the State of Pennsylvania;
(2) all improvements and related personal property under
the control of the Secretary that is located on that
property, including buildings, structures, equipment, and all
easements and leases relating to that property; and
(3) all water rights relating to that property.
(c) Reversionary Interest.--If any of the property conveyed
to the State of Pennsylvania under this section is used for
any purpose other than the use authorized under subsection
(a), all right, title, and interest in and to all property
conveyed under this section shall revert to the United
States. The State of Pennsylvania shall ensure that all
property reverting to the United States under this subsection
is in substantially the same or better condition as at the
time of transfer to the State.
TITLE II--NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2006''.
SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 10(a)(1) of the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2001 through 2005'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2006 through 2010''.
SEC. 203. APPLICATION OF NOTICE REQUIREMENT LIMITED TO GRANTS
MADE WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.
Section 4(i) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3703(i)) is amended by striking
``grant of funds'' and inserting ``grant of Federal funds in
an amount greater than $10,000''.
SEC. 204. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS TO
MATCH CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO RECIPIENTS OF
NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION GRANTS.
Section 10(a)(3) of the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)(3)) is
amended by inserting ``, or to a recipient of a grant
provided by the Foundation,'' after ``made to the
Foundation''.
TITLE III--NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Improvement Act of 2006''.
SEC. 302. AMENDMENTS TO NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD
CONSERVATION ACT.
(a) Findings.--Section 2(1) of the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101(1)) is amended by
inserting ``but breed in Canada and the United States'' after
``the Caribbean''.
(b) Purposes.--Section 3(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6102(2))
is amended by inserting ``Canada,'' after ``United States,''.
(c) Definition of Caribbean.--Section 4 of such Act (16
U.S.C. 6103) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(3) and (5), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Caribbean.--The term `Caribbean' includes Puerto Rico
and the United States Virgin Islands.''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(4) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established by section
9(a).''.
(d) Authorization of Projects to Enhance Conservation in
Canada.--Section 5(c)(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6104(c)(2))
is amended by inserting ``Canada,'' after ``the United
States,''.
(e) Cost Sharing.--Section 5(e)(2)(B) of such Act (16
U.S.C. 6104(e)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) Form of payment.--
``(i) Projects in the united states and canada.--The non-
Federal share required to be paid for a project carried out
in the United States or Canada shall be paid in cash.
``(ii) Projects in latin america and the caribbean.--The
non-Federal share required to be paid for a project carried
out in Latin America or the Caribbean may be paid in cash or
in kind.''.
(f) Advisory Group.--
(1) Composition.--Section 7(b)(1) of such Act (16 U.S.C.
6106(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``The advisory group as a whole shall have expertise in the
methods and procedures set forth in section 4(2) in each
country and region of the Western Hemisphere''.
(2) Encouragement to convene.--The Secretary of the
Interior is encouraged to convene an advisory group under
section 7(b)(1) of such Act by not later than 6 months after
the effective date of this Act. This paragraph shall not be
considered to authorize delay of the schedule previously
established by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
for the submission, judging, and awarding of grants.
(g) Report.--Section 8 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6107) is
amended by striking ``October 1, 2002,'' and inserting ``2
years after the date of the enactment of the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2006''.
(h) Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.--
(1) In general.--Section 9 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6108) is
amended by striking so much as precedes subsection (c) and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 9. NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION FUND.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
a separate account, which shall be known as the `Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund'. The Fund shall consist of
amounts deposited into the Fund by the Secretary of the
Treasury under subsection (b).
``(b) Deposits Into the Fund.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall deposit into the Fund--
``(1) all amounts received by the Secretary in the form of
donations under subsection (d); and
``(2) other amounts appropriated to the Fund.''.
(2) Administrative expenses.--Section 9(c)(2) of such Act
(16 U.S.C. 6108(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``$80,000'' and
inserting ``$100,000''.
(3) Conforming amendments.--Such Act is amended further as
follows:
(A) In section 4 (16 U.S.C. 6103), by striking paragraph
(1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established by section
9(a).''.
[[Page H6795]]
(B) In section 9(d) (16 U.S.C. 6108(d)), by striking
``Account'' and inserting ``Fund''.
(4) Transfer.--The Secretary of the Treasury may transfer
to the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund amounts
that were in the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Account immediately before the enactment of this Act.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10 of such
Act (16 U.S.C. 6109) is amended to read as follows:
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before the first
sentence;
(2) by striking ``$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001
through 2005'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2006
through 2010 the amount specified for that fiscal year in
subsection (b)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Authorized Amount.--The amount referred to in
subsection (a) is--
``(1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007;
``(2) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
``(4) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2010.
``(c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated under this
section may remain available until expended.
``(d) Allocation.--Of amounts appropriated under this
section for each fiscal year, not less than 75 percent shall
be expended for projects carried out outside the United
States.''.
TITLE IV--ED FOUNTAIN PARK EXPANSION ACT
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Ed Fountain Park Expansion
Act''.
SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Administrative site.--The term ``administrative site''
means the parcel of real property identified as ``Lands to be
Conveyed to the City of Las Vegas; approximately, 7.89
acres'' on the map entitled ``Ed Fountain Park Expansion''
and dated November 1, 2005.
(2) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of Las Vegas,
Nevada.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
SEC. 403. CONVEYANCE OF UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall convey to the City,
without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to the administrative site for use by
the City--
(1) as a park; or
(2) for any other recreation or nonprofit-related purpose.
(b) Administrative Expenses.--As a condition of the
conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall require
that the City pay the administrative costs of the conveyance,
including survey costs and any other costs associated with
the conveyance.
(c) Reversionary Interest.--
(1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that the City
is not using the administrative site for a purpose described
in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), all right, title,
and interest of the City in and to the administrative site
(including any improvements to the administrative site) shall
revert, at the option of the Secretary, to the United States.
(2) Hearing.--Any determination of the Secretary with
respect to a reversion under paragraph (1) shall be made--
(A) on the record; and
(B) after an opportunity for a hearing.
TITLE V--CAHABA RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Cahaba River National
Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act''.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Cahaba River
National Wildlife Refuge and the lands and waters in such
refuge in Bibb County, Alabama, as established by the Cahaba
River National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act (Public Law
106-331).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 503. EXPANSION OF BOUNDARIES.
(a) Expansion.--The boundaries of the Refuge are expanded
to include land and water in Bibb County, Alabama, depicted
as ``Proposed National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Boundary''
on the map entitled ``Cahaba River NWR Expansion'' and dated
March 14, 2006.
(b) Availability of Map.--The Secretary shall make the map
referred to in subsection (a) available for inspection in
appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service.
SEC. 504. ACQUISITION OF LAND AND WATER IN EXPANDED
BOUNDARIES.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary
may acquire by donation, purchase with donated or
appropriated funds, or exchange the land and water, and
interests in land and water (including conservation
easements), within the boundaries of the Refuge as expanded
by this title.
(b) Manner of Acquisition.--All acquisitions of land or
waters under this section shall be made in a voluntary manner
and shall not be the result of forced takings.
(c) Inclusion in Refuge; Administration.--Any land, water,
or interest acquired by the Secretary under this section--
(1) shall be part of the Refuge; and
(2) shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance
with--
(A) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.);
(B) the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Establishment
Act; and
(C) this Act.
TITLE VI--CHERRY VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Cherry Valley National
Wildlife Refuge Study Act''.
SEC. 602. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The scenic Cherry Valley area of Northeastern
Pennsylvania is blessed with more than 80 special-concern
animal and plant species and natural habitats.
(2) In a preliminary assessment of Cherry Valley, United
States Fish and Wildlife Service biologists ranked Cherry
Valley very high as a potential national wildlife refuge.
(3) Six species that are listed as endangered species or
threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) have been documented within or near
Cherry Valley: The bog turtle (possibly the most significant
population of the listed subspecies), the dwarf wedge mussel,
the northeastern bulrush, the small whorled pogonia, the bald
eagle, and the Indiana bat (a historic resident, with efforts
under way to re-establish favorable conditions).
(4) Cherry Valley provides habitat for at least 79 species
of national or regional concern, which either nest in Cherry
Valley or migrate through the area during critical times in
their life cycle, including--
(A) neo-tropical migratory birds such as the Cerulean
Warbler, the Worm-eating Warbler, and the Wood Thrush, all of
which nest in Cherry Valley;
(B) waterfowl such as the American Black Duck;
(C) several globally rare plants, such as the spreading
globeflower; and
(D) anadromous fish species.
(5) The Cherry Valley watershed encompasses a large segment
of the Kittatinny Ridge, an important migration route for
birds of prey throughout the Northeastern United States.
Every migratory raptor species in the Northeast is regularly
observed along the Kittatinny Ridge during the autumnal
migration, including the bald eagle, the golden eagle, and
the broad-winged hawk.
(6) The Kittatinny Ridge also includes a long segment of
the Appalachian Trail, a nationally significant natural-
cultural-recreational feature.
(7) Many of the significant wildlife habitats found in the
Cherry Valley, especially the rare calcareous wetlands, have
disappeared from other localities in their range.
(8) Ongoing studies have documented the high water quality
of Cherry Creek.
(9) Public meetings over several years have demonstrated
strong, deep, and growing local support for a Cherry Valley
National Wildlife Refuge, as demonstrated by the following:
(A) Area landowners, business and community leaders, media,
and elected officials have consistently voiced their
enthusiasm for a Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
(B) Numerous local communities and public and private
conservation entities share complementary goals for
protecting Cherry Valley and are energetically conserving
wildlife habitat and farmland. Along with State land-
management agencies and the National Park Service, these
local entities represent potential strong partners for the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and view a Cherry
Valley National Wildlife Refuge as a complement to existing
private, county, municipal, and State efforts.
(C) A number of local landowners have already put their
land into conservation easements or other conservation
arrangements.
(D) A voter-approved Monroe County Open Space Fund and a
voter-approved Stroud Township municipal land conservation
fund have contributed to many of these projects.
(10) Two federally owned parcels of land are contiguous to
the area to be studied under this title as for acquisition
and inclusion in a future Cherry Valley National Wildlife
Refuge: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and a
700-acre segment of the Appalachian Trail owned by the
National Park Service.
SEC. 603. STUDY OF REFUGE POTENTIAL AND FUTURE REFUGE LAND
ACQUISITION.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall initiate within 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act a study to
evaluate the fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and
terrestrial communities located in Northeastern Pennsylvania
and identified on the map entitled, ``Proposed Cherry Valley
National Wildlife Refuge--Authorization Boundary'', dated
February 24, 2005, for their potential acquisition by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service through donation,
exchange, or willing seller purchase and subsequent inclusion
in a future Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
(b) Consultation.--The Secretary, while conducting the
study required under this section, shall consult appropriate
State and local officials, private conservation
organizations, major landowners and other interested persons,
regarding the identification of eligible lands, waters, and
interests therein that are appropriate for acquisition for a
national wildlife refuge and the determination
[[Page H6796]]
of boundaries within which such acquisitions should be made.
(c) Components of Study.--As part of the study under this
section the Secretary shall do the following:
(1) Determine if the fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic
and terrestrial communities to be evaluated are suitable for
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System and
management under the policies of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
(2) Assess the conservation benefits to be gained from the
establishment of a Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge
including--
(A) preservation and maintenance of diverse populations of
fish, wildlife, and plants, including species listed as
threatened species or endangered species;
(B) protection and enhancement of aquatic and wetland
habitats;
(C) opportunities for compatible wildlife-dependent
recreation, scientific research, and environmental education
and interpretation; and
(D) fulfillment of international obligations of the United
States with respect to fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
(3) Provide an opportunity for public participation and
give special consideration to views expressed by local public
and private entities regarding lands, waters, and interests
therein for potential future acquisition for refuge purposes.
(4) The total area of lands, water, and interests therein
that may be acquired shall not in the aggregate exceed 30,000
acres.
(d) Report.--The Secretary shall, within 12 months after
date of the enactment of this Act, complete the study
required by this section and submit a report containing the
results thereof to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate. The report shall include--
(1) a map that identifies and prioritizes specific lands,
waters, and interests therein for future acquisition, and
that delineates an acquisition boundary, for a potential
Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge;
(2) a cost estimate for the acquisition of all lands,
waters, and interests therein that are appropriate for refuge
status; and
(3) an estimate of potentially available acquisition and
management funds from non-Federal sources.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary $200,000 to carry out the
study.
SEC. 604. DEFINITIONS.
In this title the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior acting through the Director of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
TITLE VII--GREAT APE CONSERVATION
SEC. 701. GREAT APE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE.
Section 4 of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 6303) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ``or'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) address root causes of threats to great apes in range
states, including illegal bushmeat trade, diseases, lack of
regional or local capacity for conservation, and habitat loss
due to natural disasters.''; and
(2) in subsection (i)--
(A) by striking ``Every'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Every'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as designated by subparagraph (A)),
by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Applicability of faca.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 App. U.S.C.) shall not apply to a panel
convened under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 702. GREAT APE CONSERVATION FUND.
Section 5(b)(2) of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000
(16 U.S.C. 6304(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``expand'' and inserting ``expend''; and
(2) by striking ``$80,000'' and inserting ``$100,000''.
SEC. 703. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 6 of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 6305) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2001
through 2005'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2006 through
2010''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee)
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.
H.R. 4957 contains several important conservation titles. It would
first convey the Tylersville National Fish Hatchery to the State of
Pennsylvania, a provision authored by Congressman John Peterson and
Senator Rick Santorum.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been operating this
facility under a long-term lease agreement with the Fish and Wildlife
Service. By all accounts they have operated this hatchery in a highly
effective manner, producing adult trout for thousands of recreational
fishermen and investing nearly $4 million in improvements. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service has testified that this facility is not
considered an active component of the Federal Fish Hatchery System.
Title II of this bill is based on the text of H.R. 1428, the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization Act, as passed by the
House. It will simply extend the existing authorization levels for the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The foundation has funded more
than 6,500 conservation projects and involved more than 1,800
conservation organizations.
The goal of those projects has been to increase resources for fish
and wildlife conservation and develop innovative conservation solutions
while respecting private property rights and sustaining healthy
ecosystems.
Title III of the legislation will extend the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act of 2000, legislation which has already been
passed by the House. This will allow the Secretary of the Interior to
continue to approve grants for the conservation of the more than 800
species of neotropical birds that migrate and reside throughout North
America.
Title IV incorporates the text of the Ed Fountain Park Expansion Act,
approved by the other body on July 11. Under this provision, about 8
acres of Federal land would be conveyed from the Fish and Wildlife
Service to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. There, land was once used as
the headquarters for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, but the only
remaining structure on the property is an abandoned storage building.
The city of Las Vegas would pay administrative transfer costs and the
property would revert back to the Federal Government if not used for a
park.
Title V incorporates the House-passed language of H.R. 4947, the
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. The Cahaba River
is the longest free-flowing river in the State of Alabama, and it may
have the greatest fish biodiversity per mile of any river in the United
States. This measure will modestly expand the boundaries of the
existing refuge.
Title VI incorporates the House-passed text of H.R. 5232, the Cherry
Valley National Wildlife Refuge Study Act. This legislation requires
the Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate the potential of creating a
new national wildlife refuge in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Finally, there is an extension of existing authorization of
appropriation levels for the Great Ape Conservation Act taken from S.
1250 which passed the Senate earlier this month.
For the past 6 years, about $1 million per year has been spent to
stop great ape species from sliding toward extinction. The Fish and
Wildlife Service has assisted endangered chimpanzees, gorillas and
orangutans through 155 projects in dozens of range States and leveraged
an additional $7.7 million in private matching funds.
Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote 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. Speaker, I support H.R. 4957, an omnibus package of fish,
wildlife and conservation legislation. I thank Chairman Pombo and
Ranking Member Nick Rahall of the Committee on Resources for bringing
this legislation to the House floor.
Title I of H.R. 4957 is noncontroversial legislation sponsored by
Representative John Peterson. It will direct the Secretary of the
Interior to convey the Tylersville National Fish Hatchery to the State
of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Speaker, also included in the omnibus legislation before us today
are a number of other important conservation measures, all of which
have previously passed either the House or the Senate.
[[Page H6797]]
Title II contains the text of H.R. 1428, legislation sponsored by
Chairman Pombo. It will reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation which has been a valuable resource in fostering private-
public conservation partnerships.
Title III includes H.R. 158, legislation sponsored by Congressman Ron
Kind, that would reauthorize and enhance the Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Act. Since 2000, $17.2 million of Federal funding under
this act has supported 186 conservation projects in 42 U.S. States and
30 Latin American and Caribbean countries.
This investment has leveraged an additional $89.1 million in total
partner contributions to conserve some 3.2 million acres of bird
habitat. I applaud Congressman Kind for his dedication and leadership
on this critical conservation issue.
Title IV includes H.R. 4345, legislation sponsored by our colleague
from Nevada, Representative Shelley Berkley, which would transfer
abandoned Federal property to the city of Las Vegas to enhance popular
park and recreational programs. Both Representative Berkley and Senator
Harry Reid of Nevada deserve credit for this initiative.
Title V includes H.R. 4947, a bill sponsored by Representative Bachus
which would expand the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama.
Title VI includes H.R. 5232, a bill sponsored by Representative
Kanjorski, which directs the Fish and Wildlife Service to complete its
study for a new refuge in the Cherry Valley region of northeast
Pennsylvania.
Representative Kanjorski has worked throughout the process to address
the concerns of all stakeholders, and this study would be the catalyst
towards achieving the long-term protection of this area.
Mr. Speaker, last but certainly not least, Title VII contains S.
1250, legislation sponsored by Senator Jeffords, that would reauthorize
funding for the Great Ape Conservation Act.
I commend the sponsor of the House companion bill, H.R. 2693, and the
author of the original act, Representative George Miller of California,
for his continued leadership in international wildlife conservation,
for raising awareness of the dire plight of great apes in Africa.
In closing, the fish and wildlife and conservation titles in this
legislation are all worthy of our support. I urge adoption of H.R.
4957.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for
being so gracious with this legislation that is so important to my
constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation. My
primary interest in this bill, although all of it is very laudatory, is
title IV, which incorporates the language of legislation I introduced
earlier this year, the Ed Fountain Park Expansion Act.
This language, which, as has been previously mentioned, has already
been approved by the Senate and would transfer a vacant 8-acre parcel
of land from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the city of Las
Vegas for the expansion of the Ed Fountain Park. The city of Las Vegas
intends to build a new community center on the site to complement the
existing recreational elements of the park, which include lighted
soccer fields, outdoor basketball courts, an artificial turf football
field, a bicycle track, and picnic areas.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has no further use for this property,
which had previously housed the headquarters of the Desert National
Wildlife Refuge at a time when this location was on the outskirts of
Las Vegas. Due to the phenomenal growth we have experienced in southern
Nevada, the site is very much now in the middle of town, and I cannot
think of a better use for it than expanding a popular and valuable
community resource.
{time} 1700
Again, I would like to thank Chairman Gilchrest and Ranking Member
Pallone from the Fisheries Subcommittee for their assistance in moving
this issue forward. I urge all the Members to support the underlying
bill, and again thank the chairman and the ranking member for their
extraordinary support.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
this legislative package, which will reauthorize important
international fish and wildlife conservation programs and will expand
national parks and wildlife refuges.
In particular, I want to draw special attention to the Great Ape
Conservation Act. The reauthorization that's before us today was
introduced by Senator Jeffords last June, following a bill that I
introduced in May 2005 with Rep. Baird.
It has now been more than 5 years since the Great Ape Conservation
Act was signed into law. In that time, this program has helped protect
threatened primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos,
orangutans, and gibbons. I'm very pleased that the House is now poised
to pass this reauthorization, which is needed to continue progress in
this important field.
As the Fish and Wildlife Service testified in the Resources Committee
last June, ``Much of the success of the Great Ape Conservation Act has
been a direct result of the unique small project focus on on-the-ground
conservation projects in Africa and Asia.'' The funds provided by the
Great Ape Conservation Act have gone to such diverse projects as:
protecting chimpanzee habitat from logging operations; establishing
anti-poaching enforcement units; starting conservation education
programs; coordinating gibbon population surveys and threat
assessments; and implementing ape health monitoring programs.
Like the other Multinational Species programs, Federal funds under
the Great Ape Conservation Act are distributed as matching grants,
meaning that the expense for these projects is shared between the
Federal government and project partners. This match requirement has
leveraged over $7.7 million in non-federal contributions over the
period of 2001-2005 and has more than doubled the actual funding for
conservation projects.
But despite the ongoing successes of the Act, the threats to these
noble primates continue, and time is not on our side. Press accounts
and reports from the field indicate that these species continue to be
placed in jeopardy by habitat loss, poaching, logging, and the bush
meat trade. The bill before us today specifically authorizes funding to
address these root causes of threats to great apes.
The contributions of the Great Ape Conservation Act have been very
important in the international efforts to protect and conserve the
great apes of Africa and Asia, but there is much work yet to be done.
Accordingly, today's bill extends the program's authorization through
the year 2010.
As I said when I introduced the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000,
the task ahead is daunting. But the ecological consequences of not
acting are far more tragic if it means that great apes will cease to
exist in the wild.
I want to thank the Resources Committee staff, especially Dave
Jansen, for their work in shepherding this bill through the House, and
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. 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. 4957, 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 direct
the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Tylersville division of the
Lamar National Fish Hatchery and Fish Technology Center to the State of
Pennsylvania, and for other purposes.''
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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