[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6797-H6799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill (S. 260) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to private
landowners to restore, enhance, and manage private land to improve fish
and wildlife habitats through the Partners For Fish and Wildlife
Program.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 260
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 ``Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Act''.
[[Page H6798]]
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) approximately 60 percent of fish and wildlife in the
United States are on private land;
(2) it is imperative to facilitate private landowner-
centered and results-oriented efforts that promote efficient
and innovative ways to protect and enhance natural resources;
(3) there is no readily available source of technical
biological information that the public can access to assist
with the application of state-of-the-art techniques to
restore, enhance, and manage fish and wildlife habitats;
(4) a voluntary cost-effective program that leverages
public and private funds to assist private landowners in the
conduct of state-of-the-art fish and wildlife habitat
restoration, enhancement, and management projects is needed;
(5) durable partnerships working collaboratively with
willing private landowners to implement on-the-ground
projects has lead to the reduction of endangered species
listings;
(6) Executive Order No. 13352 (69 Fed. Reg. 52989) directs
the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and
Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency to pursue new
cooperative conservation programs involving the collaboration
of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, private
for-profit and non-profit institutions, non-governmental
entities, and individuals;
(7) since 1987, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
has exemplified cooperative conservation as an innovative,
voluntary partnership program that helps private landowners
restore wetland and other important fish and wildlife
habitat; and
(8) through 33,103 agreements with private landowners, the
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has accomplished the
restoration of 677,000 acres of wetland, 1,253,700 acres of
prairie and native grasslands, and 5,560 miles of riparian
and in-stream habitat since 1987, demonstrating much of that
success since only 2001.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the
restoration, enhancement, and management of fish and wildlife
habitats on private land through the Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program, a program that works with private
landowners to conduct cost-effective habitat projects for the
benefit of fish and wildlife resources in the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Federal trust species.--The term ``Federal trust
species'' means migratory birds, threatened species,
endangered species, interjurisdictional fish, marine mammals,
and other species of concern.
(2) Habitat enhancement.--
(A) In general.--The term ``habitat enhancement'' means the
manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a habitat to change a specific function or
seral stage of the habitat.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``habitat enhancement''
includes--
(i) an activity conducted to increase or decrease a
specific function for the purpose of benefitting species,
including--
(I) increasing the hydroperiod and water depth of a stream
or wetland beyond what would naturally occur;
(II) improving waterfowl habitat conditions;
(III) establishing water level management capabilities for
native plant communities;
(IV) creating mud flat conditions important for shorebirds;
and
(V) cross fencing or establishing a rotational grazing
system on native range to improve grassland nesting bird
habitat conditions; and
(ii) an activity conducted to shift a native plant
community successional stage, including--
(I) burning an established native grass community to reduce
or eliminate invading brush or exotic species;
(II) brush shearing to set back early successional plant
communities; and
(III) forest management that promotes a particular seral
stage.
(C) Exclusions.--The term ``habitat enhancement'' does not
include regularly scheduled and routine maintenance and
management activities, such as annual mowing or spraying of
unwanted vegetation.
(3) Habitat establishment.--The term ``habitat
establishment'' means the manipulation of physical, chemical,
or biological characteristics of a project site to create and
maintain habitat that did not previously exist on the project
site, including construction of--
(A) shallow water impoundments on non-hydric soils; and
(B) side channel spawning and rearing habitat.
(4) Habitat improvement.--The term ``habitat improvement''
means restoring, enhancing, or establishing physiographic,
hydrological, or disturbance conditions necessary to
establish or maintain native plant and animal communities,
including periodic manipulations to maintain intended habitat
conditions on completed project sites.
(5) Habitat restoration.--
(A) In general.--The term ``habitat restoration'' means the
manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a site with the goal of returning the
majority of natural functions to the lost or degraded native
habitat.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``habitat restoration''
includes--
(i) an activity conducted to return a project site, to the
maximum extent practicable, to the ecological condition that
existed prior to the loss or degradation, including--
(I) removing tile drains or plugging drainage ditches in
former or degraded wetland;
(II) returning meanders and sustainable profiles to
straightened streams;
(III) burning grass communities heavily invaded by exotic
species to reestablish native grass and plant communities;
and
(IV) planting plant communities that are native to the
project site;
(ii) if restoration of a project site to its original
ecological condition is not practicable, an activity that
repairs 1 or more of the original habitat functions and that
involve the use of native vegetation, including--
(I) the installation of a water control structure in a
swale on land isolated from overbank flooding by a major
levee to simulate natural hydrological processes; and
(II) the placement of streambank or instream habitat
diversity structures in streams that cannot be restored to
original conditions or profile; and
(iii) removal of a disturbing or degrading element to
enable the native habitat to reestablish or become fully
functional.
(6) Private land.--
(A) In general.--The term ``private land'' means any land
that is not owned by the Federal Government or a State.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``private land'' includes tribal
land and Hawaiian homeland.
(7) Project.--The term ``project'' means a project carried
out under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
established by section 4.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 4. PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall carry out the Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service to provide--
(1) technical and financial assistance to private
landowners for the conduct of voluntary projects to benefit
Federal trust species by promoting habitat improvement,
habitat restoration, habitat enhancement, and habitat
establishment; and
(2) technical assistance to other public and private
entities regarding fish and wildlife habitat restoration on
private land.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act not more than $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006
through 2011.
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.
I am pleased to support S. 260, the Partners For Fish and Wildlife
Act, and compliment the House and Senate authors of this legislation,
Representative John Sullivan and Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma.
This is not a new Federal program. It has been administratively
managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over two decades. It
is based on the innovative concept that wildlife populations and their
habitats can be effectively conserved, managed and restored through
voluntary agreements between private landowners and the Federal
Government.
During the past 20 years, more than 35,000 agreements have been
signed throughout the United States. The result has been remarkable
with the protection, restoration and enhancement of nearly 2.5 million
acres of important fish and wildlife habitat. In specific terms, over
700,000 acres of wetlands, 1.5 million acres of upland habitat and
6,000 miles of riparian and instream habitat have been restored. In
addition, over 120,000 acres have been treated for invasive species,
and 194 barriers to the fish passage have been removed.
What this legislation simply proposes is to build upon the existing
successes by converting the line item within the Fish and Wildlife
Service budget to a congressionally authorized program. By so doing, we
will provide stability to the program, highlight the benefits of public
and private partnership, and increase the amount of congressional
oversight in the future.
[[Page H6799]]
S. 260 is strongly supported by the Bush administration to States,
private landowners and wildlife conservation organizations. The
Partners Program has been a huge success, and we should ensure that
this innovative program will flourish in the future.
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, we support this legislation that will provide a
statutory authorization for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program.
This popular program facilitates cooperation between the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and non-Federal organizations to voluntarily protect,
conserve and restore habitat important to fish and wildlife.
It is our understanding that this legislation ratifies the existing
administrative program, and that the service will implement the act
under its existing regulations. I urge Members to support S. 260.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 260,
the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, which was introduced in the
Senate by my friend and fellow Oklahoman, Senator Inhofe.
I would like to thank some of the people that work on the staff,
Nathan Richmond and the famous Ryan Jackson on the Public Works
Committee for all their support. The bill is supported by 34 different
sportsmen and conservation groups.
I would like to thank my colleagues, Fisheries and Oceans
Subcommittee Chairman Gilchrest and House Resources Chairman Pombo, for
their consideration and leadership on this bill. I was proud to
introduce companion legislation, H.R. 2018, in the House last year.
Senate bill 260 will authorize the popular Partners for Fish and
Wildlife program. The Partners Program provides technical and financial
assistance to private landowners to voluntarily restore wetlands and
other fish and wildlife habitat on their own land.
With more than 80 percent of the fish and wildlife in the United
States on private lands, S. 260 is needed to encourage public-private
landowners in Oklahoma and around our Nation to enter into agreements
with the Federal Government to conserve valuable natural habitat and
wildlife.
Since 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has operated the
Partners Program as a separate line item under the President's budget,
subjecting these funds to reprogramming within the Fish and Wildlife
Services.
Senate bill 260 authorizes up to $75 million through fiscal year 2011
to allow this successful program to stabilize and expand. Given that
thousands of landowners are eager to participate in the Partners
Program, Senate bill 260 couldn't come at a better time.
As a sportsman, I believe that it is our responsibility to protect
and preserve our natural resources. There are few things I enjoy more
than fishing with my kids, and we owe our future generations the same
opportunity.
Most people think that wildlife conservation and the rights of
private landholders are a naturally combative force and are mutually
exclusive. The Partners Program is a shining example of how we can
protect wildlife and the property of individuals at the same time.
The simple fact is the future of our natural resources depends on the
conservation of habitat, the successful management of wildlife, and the
control of invasive species on private land. Passage of S. 260 today is
critical to ensure its continued success.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 260.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________