[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7644-H7648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP ACT OF 2006
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5160) to establish the Long Island Sound Stewardship
Initiative, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 5160
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 ``Long Island Sound
Stewardship Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) Long Island Sound is a national treasure of great
cultural, environmental, and ecological importance;
(2) 8,000,000 people live within the Long Island Sound
watershed and 28,000,000 people (approximately 10 percent of
the population of the United States) live within 50 miles of
Long Island Sound;
(3) activities that depend on the environmental health of
Long Island Sound contribute more than $5,000,000,000 each
year to the regional economy;
(4) the portion of the shoreline of Long Island Sound that
is accessible to the general public (estimated at less than
20 percent of the total shoreline) is not adequate to serve
the needs of the people living in the area;
(5) existing shoreline facilities are in many cases
overburdened and underfunded;
(6) large parcels of open space already in public ownership
are strained by the effort to balance the demand for
recreation with the needs of sensitive natural resources;
(7) approximately 1/3 of the tidal marshes of Long Island
Sound have been filled, and much of the remaining marshes
have been ditched, diked, or impounded, reducing the
ecological value of the marshes; and
(8) much of the remaining exemplary natural landscape is
vulnerable to further development.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the
Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative to identify,
protect, and enhance upland sites within the Long Island
Sound ecosystem with significant ecological, educational,
open space, public access, or recreational value through a
bi-State network of sites best exemplifying these values.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee''
means the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee
established by section 8.
(3) Region.--The term ``Region'' means the Long Island
Sound Stewardship Initiative Region established by section
4(a).
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of
Connecticut and New York.
(5) Stewardship.--The term ``stewardship'' means land
acquisition, land conservation agreements, site planning,
plan implementation, land and habitat management, public
access improvements, site monitoring, and other activities
designed to enhance and preserve natural resource-based
recreation and ecological function of upland areas.
(6) Stewardship site.--The term ``stewardship site'' means
any area of State, local, or tribal government, or privately
owned land within the Region that is designated by the
Administrator under section 5(a).
(7) Systematic site selection.--The term ``systematic site
selection'' means a process of selecting stewardship sites
that--
(A) has explicit goals, methods, and criteria;
(B) produces feasible, repeatable, and defensible results;
[[Page H7645]]
(C) provides for consideration of natural, physical, and
biological patterns;
(D) addresses replication, connectivity, species viability,
location, and public recreation values;
(E) uses geographic information systems technology and
algorithms to integrate selection criteria; and
(F) will result in achieving the goals of stewardship site
selection at the lowest cost.
(8) Qualified applicants.--The term ``qualified applicant''
means a non-Federal person that owns title to property
located within the borders of the Region.
(9) Threat.--The term ``threat'' means a threat that is
likely to destroy or seriously degrade a conservation target
or a recreation area.
SEC. 4. LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE REGION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the States of
Connecticut and New York the Long Island Sound Stewardship
Initiative Region.
(b) Boundaries.--The Region consists of the immediate
coastal upland areas along--
(1) Long Island Sound between mean high water and the
inland boundary, as described on the map entitled ``Long
Island Sound Stewardship Region'' and dated April 21, 2004;
and
(2) the Peconic Estuary as described on the map entitled
``Peconic Estuary Program Study Area Boundaries'' and
included in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management
Plan for the Peconic Estuary Program and dated November 15,
2001.
SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF STEWARDSHIP SITES.
(a) in General.--The Administrator may designate a
stewardship site in accordance with this Act any area that
contributes to accomplishing the purpose of this Act.
(b) Publication of List of Recommended Sites.--The
Administrator shall--
(1) publish in the Federal Register and make available in
general circulation in the States of Connecticut and New York
the list of sites recommended by the Advisory Committee; and
(2) provide a 90-day period for--
(A) the submission of public comment on the list; and
(B) an opportunity for owners of such sites to decline
designation of such sites as stewardship sites.
(c) Opinion Regarding Owner's Responsibilities.--The
Administrator may not designate an area as a stewardship site
under this Act unless the Administrator provides to the owner
of the area, and the owner acknowledges to the Administrator
receipt of, a comprehensive opinion in plain English setting
forth expressly the responsibility of the owner that arises
from such designation.
(d) Designation of Stewardship Sites.--Not later than 150
days after receiving from the Advisory Committee its list of
recommended sites, the Administrator--
(1) shall review the recommendations of the Advisory
Committee; and
(2) may designate as a stewardship site any site included
in the list.
SEC. 6. RECOMMENDATIONS BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--The Advisory Committee shall--
(1) in accordance with this section, evaluate
applications--
(A) for designation of areas as stewardship sites;
(B) to develop management plans to address threats to
stewardship sites; and
(C) to act on opportunities to protect and enhance
stewardship sites;
(2) develop recommended guidelines, criteria, schedules,
and due dates for the submission of applications and the
evaluation by the Advisory Committee of information to
recommend areas for designation as stewardship sites that
fulfill terms of a multi--year management plan;
(3) recommend to the Administrator a list of sites for
designation as stewardship sites that further the purpose of
this Act;
(4) develop management plans to address threats to
stewardship sites;
(5) raise awareness of the values of and threats to
stewardship sites;
(6) recommend that the Administrator award grants to
qualified applicants; and
(7) recommend to the Administrator ways to leverage
additional resources for improved stewardship of the Region.
(b) Identification of Sites.--
(1) In general.--Any qualified applicant may submit an
application to the Advisory Committee to have a site
recommended to the Administrator for designation as a
stewardship site.
(2) Identification.--The Advisory Committee shall review
each application submitted under this subsection to determine
whether the site exhibits values that promote the purpose of
this Act.
(3) Natural resource--based recreation areas.--In reviewmg
an application for recommendation of a recreation area for
designation as a stewardship site, the Advisory Committee may
use a selection technique that includes consideration of--
(A) public access;
(B) community support;
(C) high population density;
(D) environmental justice (as defined in section 385.3 of
title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations));
(E) open spaces; and
(F) cultural, historic, and scenic characteristics.
(4) Natural areas with ecological value.--In reviewmg an
application for rec-- ommendation of a natural area with
ecological value for designation as a stewardship site, the
Advisory Committee may use a selection technique that
includes consideration of--
(A) measurable conservation targets for the Region; and
(B) prioritizing new sites using systematic site selection,
which shall include consideration of--
(i) ecological uniqueness;
(ii) species viability;
(iii) habitat heterogeneity;
(iv) size;
(v) quality;
(vi) open spaces;
(vii) land cover;
(viii) scientific, research, or educational value; and
(ix) threats.
(5) Deviation from process.--The Advisory Committee may
accept an application to recommend a site other than as
provided in this subsection, if the Advisory Committee--
(A) determines that the site makes significant ecological
or recreational contributions to the Region; and
(B) provides to the Administrator the reasons for deviating
from the process otherwise described in this subsection.
(c) Submission of List of Recommended Sites.--
(1) In general.--After completion of the site
identification process set forth in subsection (b), the
Advisory Committee shall submit to the Administrator its list
of sites recommended for designation as stewardship sites.
(2) Limitation.--The Advisory Committee shall not include a
site in the list submitted under this subsection unless,
prior to submission of the list, the owner of the site is--
(A) notified of the inclusion of the site in the list; and
(B) allowed to decline inclusion of the site in the list.
(3) Public comment.--In identifying sites for inclusion in
the list, the Advisory Committee shall provide an opportunity
for submission of, and consider, public comments.
SEC. 7. GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--The Administrator may provide grants,
subject to the availability of appropriations, and other
assistance for projects to fulfill the purpose of this Act.
(b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of an
activity carried out using any assistance or grant under this
Act shall not exceed 60 percent of the total cost of the
activity.
SEC. 8. LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a committee to be
known as the ``Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory
Committee''.
(b) Membership.
(1) In general.--The Administrator may appoint the members
of the Advisory Committee in accordance with this subsection
and the guidance in section 320(c) of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 D.S.C. 1330(c)), except that the
Governor of each State may appoint 2 members of the Advisory
Committee.
(2) Additional members.--In addition to the other members
appointed under this subsection, the Advisory Committee may
include--
(A) a representative of the Regional Plan Association;
(B) a representative of marine trade organizations; and
(C) a representative of private landowner interests.
(3) Consideration of interests.--In appointing members of
the Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall consider--
(A) Federal, State, and local government interests and
tribal interests;
(B) the interests of nongovernmental organizations;
(C) academic interests;
(D) private interests including land, agriculture, and
business interests; and
(E) recreational and commercial fishing interests.
(4) Chairperson.--In addition to the other members
appointed under this subsection, the Administrator may
appoint as a member of the Advisory Committee an individual
to serve as the Chairperson, who may be the Director of the
Long Island Sound Office of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
(5) Completion of appointments.--The Administrator shall
complete the appointment of all members of the Advisory
Committee by not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(A) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Advisory Committee--
(i) shall be filled not later than 90 days after the
vacancy occurs;
(ii) shall not affect the powers of the Advisory Committee;
and
(iii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made.
(c) Term.--
(1) In general.--A member of the Advisory Committee shall
be appointed for a term of 4 years.
(2) Multiple terms.--An individual may be appointed as a
member of the Advisory Committee for more than 1 term.
(d) Powers.--The Advisory Committee may hold such hearings, meet and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Advisory Committee considers advisable to carry out
this Act.
(e) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson, but no fewer than 4 times each year.
[[Page H7646]]
(2) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date
on which all members of the Advisory Committee have been
appointed, the Chairperson shall call the initial meeting of
the Advisory Committee.
(3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Advisory
Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.
(f) Adaptive Management.--
(1) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall use an
adaptive management framework to identify the best policy
initiatives and actions through--
(A) definition of strategic goals;
(B) definition of policy options for methods to achieve
strategic goals;
(C) establishment of measures of success;
(D) identification of uncertainties;
(E) development of informative models of policy
implementation;
(F) separation of the landscape into georaphic units;
(G) monitoring key responses at different spatial and
temporal scales; and
(H) evaluation of outcomes and incorporation into
management strategies.
(2) Application of adaptive management framework.--The
Advisory Committee shall apply the adaptive management
framework to the process for making recommendations under
subsections (b) through (f) of section 6 to the Administrator
regarding sites that should be designated as stewardship
sites.
(3) Adaptive management.--The adaptive management framework
required by this subsection shall consist of a scientific
process--
(A) for--
(i) developing predictive models;
(ii) making management policy decisions based upon the
model outputs;
(iii) revising the management policies as data become
available with which to evaluate the policies; and
(iv) acknowledging uncertainty, complexity, and variance in
the spatial and temporal aspects of natural systems; and
(B) that requires that management be viewed as
experimental.
(g) Termination of Advisory Committee.--The Advisory
Committee shall terminate on December 31, 2011.
SEC. 9. REPORTS.
(a) Administrator.--The Administrator shall publish and
make available to the public on the Internet and in paper
form--
(1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, a report that--
(A) assesses the role of this Act in protecting the Long
Island Sound;
(B) establishes in coordination with the Advisory Committee
gllidelines, criteria, schedules, and due dates for
evaluating information to designate stewardship sites;
(C) includes information about any grants that are
available for the purchase of land or property rights to
protect stewardship sites; and
(D) accounts for funds received and expended during the
previous fiscal year;
(2) an update of such report, at least every other year;
and
(3) information on funding and any new stewardship sites
more frequently than every other year.
(b) Advisory Committee.--
(1) Report.--For each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011,
the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Administrator and
the decisionmaking body of the Long Island Sound Study
Management Conference established under section 320 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330), an
annual report that contains--
(A) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Advisory Committee since the last report under this
subsection;
(B) a description of all sites recommended by the Advisory
Committee to the Administrator for designation as stewardship
sites;
(C) the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for such
legislation and administrative actions as the Advisory
Committee considers appropriate; and
(D) in accordance with paragraph (2), the recommendations
of the Advisory Committee for the awarding of grants.
(2) Recommendation for grants.--
(A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall recommend
that the Administrator award grants to qualified applicants
to help to secure and improve the open space, public access,
or ecological values of stewardship sites, through--
(i) purchase of the property of a stewardship site;
(ii) purchase of relevant property rights to a stewardship
site; or
(iii) entering into any other binding legal arrangement
that ensures that the values of a stewardship site are
sustained, including entering into an arrangement with a land
manager or property owner to develop or implement a
management plan that is necessary for the conservation of
natural resources.
(B) Equitable distribution of funds.--The Advisory
Committee shall exert due diligence to ensure that its
recommendations result in an equitable distribution of funds
between the States.
SEC. 10. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION; NO REGULATORY
AUTHORITY.
(a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this Act--
(1) requires any private property owner to allow public
access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
to the private property; or
(2) modifies the application of any provision of Federal,
State, or local law with regard to public access to or use of
private property, except as entered into by voluntary
agreement of the owner or custodian of the property.
(b) Liability.--Establishment of the Region does not create
any liability, or have any effect on any liability under any
other law, of any private property owner with respect to any
person injured on the private property.
(c) Recognition of Authority To Control Land Use.--Nothing
in this Act modifies the authority of Federal, State, or
local governments to regulate land use.
(d) Participation of Private Property Owners Not
Required.--Nothing in this Act requires the owner of any
private property located within the boundaries of the Region
to participate in any land conservation, financial or
technical assistance, or other programs established under
this Act.
(e) Purchase of Land or Interest in Land From Willing
Sellers Only.--Funds appropriated to carry out this Act may
be used to purchase land or interests in land only from
willing sellers.
(f) Manner of Acquisition.--All acquisitions of land under
this Act shall be made in a voluntary manner and shall not be
the result of forced takings.
(g) Effect of Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The boundaries of the Region represent the
area within which Federal funds appropriated for the purpose
of this Act may be expended.
(2) Regulatory authority.--The establishment of the Region
and the boundaries of the Region do not provide any
regulatory authority not in existence immediately before the
enactment of this Act on land use in the Region by any
management entity, except for such property rights as may be
purchased from or donated by the owner of the property
(including public lands donated by a State or local
government).
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Administrator $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007
through 2011 to carry out this Act, including for--
(1) acquisition of land and interests in land;
(2) development and implementation of site management
plans;
(3) site enhancements to reduce threats or promote
stewardship; and
(4) administrative expenses of the Advisory Committee and
the Administrator.
(b) Use of Funds.--Amounts made available to the
Administrator under this section each fiscal year shall be
used by the Administrator after reviewing the recommendations
included in the annual reports of the Advisory Committee
under section 9.
(c) Authorization of Gifts, Devises, and Bequests for
System.--In furtherance of the purpose of this Act, the
Administrator may accept and use any gift, devise, or bequest
of real or personal property, proceeds therefrom, or
interests therein, to carry out this Act. Such acceptance may
be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative
covenant, or condition of servitude, if such terms are
considered by the Administrator to be in accordance with law
and compatible with the purpose for which acceptance is
sought.
(d) Limitation on Administrative Costs.--Of the amount
available each fiscal year to carry out this Act, not more
than 8 percent may be used for administrative costs.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, sponsored by
Congressman Rob Simmons, which would establish the Long Island Sound
Stewardship Initiative. This initiative allows the administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to protect and
restore land around the Long Island Sound in the States of Connecticut
and New York. This bill acknowledges the collaborative efforts among
the many public and private partners in the region and allows for a
ground-up approach to managing and maintaining the long-term ecological
health and public enjoyment of Long Island Sound.
I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 5160.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to one of
the chief sponsors and leaders of this important piece of legislation,
my good friend and distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Wisconsin for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall
for bringing this bill to the floor today. I also want to thank my
colleague from Connecticut, Representative Simmons, and the rest of the
members of the Long Island Sound Caucus for their very hard work on
this legislation and their ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the
Long Island Sound. I have the privilege of serving
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as co-chair of the Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus with the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) and we have worked together
for many years in the hope that this bill would become a reality. I was
proud to introduce it with the gentleman from Connecticut, and I am
proud of the Long Island Caucus for standing behind it every step of
the way.
This bill is bipartisan. It is bicoastal. It is bicameral. It is one
of the most important initiatives that we can take to protect the Long
Island Sound, to identify and enhance sites with ecological,
educational, and recreational value in Connecticut and New York. And it
does so in a way that is consistent with the vision put forward by a
consortium of local groups who have been working for over a decade to
save the sound.
The Long Island Sound is one of our Nation's great natural wonders.
It sustains a diversity of birds, wildlife, and marine organisms. It is
a very important part of the national economy. It remains a vital
component of our identity, our way of life.
Today over 8 million people live in the sound's watershed and 20
million people live within 50 miles of its shores. The sound alone
contributes $5 billion to the regional economy through sport and
commercial fishing, recreation and tourism.
Mr. Speaker, I served for 8 years as a member of the Huntington Town
Board, and I worked with our local baymen and worked with different
organizations to preserve the Long Island Sound, and I am acutely aware
of the many environmental challenges that confront our community. In
fact, my town and many others initiated bond acts, asking local
taxpayers to come up with a few more dollars to support and protect the
Long Island Sound. And I always believed that the Federal Government
should be more of a partner with local townships. And tonight we take
the first big step in that new partnership.
This bill creates a purely voluntary process to protect coastal areas
along the Long Island Sound. It creates a process that will bring
together stakeholders on a committee, including Connecticut and New
York representatives from the Federal Government, the State government,
local governments, nongovernment organizations, academic, private and
development interests. This is a critically important step.
And, Mr. Speaker, before I close, I just want to mention that, in
fact, this bill has been the product of cooperation at all levels of
government with advocacy groups in both New York and Connecticut, and I
am grateful to all of them for their input.
On a personal note, I have been very fortunate to have a wonderful
staff for working on this legislation for most of the last 4 years. And
I want to thank Karen Agostisi, who devoted so much of her time to this
effort and helped navigate this bill through the sometimes choppy and
turbulent waters of the Long Island Sound. I was privileged to work
with the gentleman from Connecticut.
This is a very important step for this Federal and local partnership.
I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill. And again I thank the gentleman for
his cooperation. I thank my colleagues for their consideration.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my good friend from
New York (Mr. Israel) for his leadership that he has shown on this
piece of legislation. It has been many years that they have been
working on this. But I also want to take a moment to commend my good
friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York, Tim Bishop, for the
leadership and the work that he has put into this legislation; along
with the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Rosa DeLauro, who has also been
very involved; as well as 15 original cosponsors, Democratic
cosponsors, from the New York delegation.
I urge an ``aye'' vote on this important bill to restore and preserve
the Long Island Sound and encourage its adoption this evening.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, understanding the full risk of filibuster, I
yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut,
the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Simmons.
(Mr. SIMMONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
We have already heard many good words about this legislation, and I
would like to associate myself with those words.
Quite simply, this legislation represents many years of effort
between two States, New York and Connecticut; between the House and the
Senate; and, of course, a bipartisan effort by Republicans and
Democrats.
The Long Island Sound is a unique estuary, with economic and
environmental assets. It generates about $6 billion annually to the
regional economy and is a cherished environmental resource for over 28
million people who live within 50 miles of the shore.
Four generations of my family have enjoyed Long Island Sound, and we
have lived on Long Island Sound. And yet with the increase in
population, with land development, and other pressures, some of the
assets of this unique estuary are being lost. And that is why this
bipartisan legislation has been introduced.
It originally passed the Senate a couple of years ago in a somewhat
different form and then Senator Lieberman and I reintroduced it last
year at the beginning of the 109th Congress. I have worked with
Chairman Pombo, I have worked with subcommittee Chairman Gilchrest, and
my colleagues across the aisle to make sure that the language of this
bill respects property rights but also allows us to use science-based
mechanisms to identify properties that can be acquired and preserved
and protected for future generations.
Again, we don't infringe on property rights because the bill seeks to
create and does create, we believe, a purely voluntary process to
protect important sites along the sound.
The committee that we are creating is advisory in nature and has no
authority to seize lands or to mandate action on private property. It
simply recommends sites and allows an administrator to allocate funds
to purchase or enter into legal arrangements to secure these
properties. The legislation provides for transparency and
accountability and is responsible, in a fiduciary manner, for the
dollars that are authorized by the law.
I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this wonderful
piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5160, the ``Long
Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006.''
I want to thank Chairman Richard Pombo and Chairman Wayne Gilchrest--
as well as their capable staff--for their leadership and work on this
important legislation. I also would like to thank my co-chair of the
Long Island Sound Caucus, Representative Steve Israel and the rest of
the caucus for their work to promote the importance of Long Island
Sound.
The Long Island Sound is a unique estuary with economic and
ecological importance to the region and to the Nation. The Sound
contributes approximately $6 billion annually to the regional economy
and is a cherished resource for the 28 million people living within 50
miles of its shores. The Sound is heavily used for recreation and for
commerce by residents of Connecticut and New York as well as numerous
visitors from across the country each year. This treasure deserves our
utmost support.
Senator Lieberman and I originally introduced the Long Island
Stewardship Act (LISSA) in the 108th Congress. H.R. 5160 is the product
of bipartisan cooperation among legislators from Connecticut and New
York and local groups that have been working together to protect the
Sound. Without infringing on private property rights of local
landowners, the bill seeks to create a purely voluntary process to
protect important sites along the Sound through the creation of the
Long Island Sound Advisory Committee. Chaired by the director of the
Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound Office and
comprised of representatives from Federal, State, and local governments
and nongovernmental organizations, the Committee will assess potential
stewardship sites along the coast and work to preserve them.
To ensure private property rights, the Committee was made advisory in
nature and would not have the authority to seize lands or to mandate
action on private property. Instead,
[[Page H7648]]
the Committee would be required to recommend sites for stewardship and
submit its findings to the EPA Administrator. The Administrator would
then allocate funds to purchase relevant property rights or enter into
binding legal arrangements that ensure the value of the sites is
maintained in accordance with the Committee's recommendations.
In an effort to provide maximum transparency and accountability, the
EPA Administrator would then be required to produce a bi-annual report
that assesses the status of the Long Island Sound and that notifies the
public of the program activities. To maintain the bi-state partnership,
the Committee would be required to exert due diligence to ensure that
it recommends an equitable distribution of funds between Connecticut
and New York.
Mr. Speaker, the use of Federal dollars requires careful scrutiny. My
bill would authorize $25 million annually for 5 years to advance this
important initiative. This figure represents a reduction from an
initial draft of the bill during the 108th Congress, at the
recommendation of Senate and House committee chairmen. And if we
consider the precedent for Federal funds authorized and appropriated
for estuarine ecosystem restoration programs elsewhere in the country,
we'll find $25 million to be an appropriate amount. This is especially
true when one considers the cost of real estate in the Long Island
Sound region.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for bringing this legislation before the
House. I am gratified to have the support of my colleagues in passing
this bill.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of th1s legislation,
I rise in strong support of H.R. 5160, the Long Island Sound
Stewardship Act. I recognize the vital role the Long Island Sound plays
in the Fourth Congressional District as well as all of Connecticut.
The Long Island Sound contributes more than $5 billion annually to
the regional economy and is one of the most populated and visited areas
of our country. In fact, approximately 10 percent of the American
population lives within the Long Island Sound watershed.
It is a source of livelihood, nourishment, and recreation for many in
Connecticut and elsewhere, and it is critical that we treat it well.
This legislation would authorize $40 million to protect and preserve
areas along the Sound's shorelines with significant ecological,
recreational, or educational value. The Long Island Sound Stewardship
Act gives those most familiar with the Sound's precious and diverse
resources the tools necessary to continue their conservation efforts,
and applies the most effective methods available to identify, protect,
and enhance sites with ecological, educational, and recreation value in
Connecticut and New York.
Protecting and preserving the environment is one of the most
important jobs I have as a Member of Congress. We simply will not have
a world to live in if we continue our neglectful ways.
The Long Island Sound is our Yellowstone. I urge passage of this
legislation so that we may continue its conservation and protection.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation,
which will help ensure that future generations of New Yorkers and all
Americans will enjoy a clean, well-preserved Long Island Sound.
The Long Island Sound is critically important to our Nation and vital
to the health and well-being of the communities I represent. As an
Estuary of National Significance, the Sound provides habitat for a wide
array of plant and animal life, and contributes an estimated $5.5
billion to the regional economy from boating, fishing and tourism-
related commerce. Boating and fishing are deeply enmeshed in the
culture and traditions of Long Island, and the Sound has long been our
region's gateway to the seas.
Unfortunately, the effects of millions of people living adjacent to
the Sound's shore have been profound. At the turn of the millennium,
lobster catch rates plummeted by 90%, costing our local economy between
$30 and $50 million. Dangerous levels of toxins continue to threaten
the well-being of the Sound's diverse habitats and wildlife breeding
areas, as well as the livelihoods of those who depend on these
resources for their livelihood.
The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act supplements conservation and
preservation efforts along the shoreline of Long Island and
Connecticut, and authorizes $25 million in federal appropriations over
the next 4 fiscal years.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is not perfect. I strongly support and will
continue to advocate for funding at the original proposed level of $40
million annually. Properly conceived, the legislation should include
wetlands and underwater lands within the authority of the Long Island
Sound Stewardship Initiative, which will be established by this
legislation. Additionally, I strongly support fully funding
conservation and preservation offshore via the Long Island Sound
Restoration Act, which has fallen victim to the Majority's budget cuts.
The Long Island Sound, however, is a national treasure and I believe
that any preservation efforts to conserve any part of the Sound should
be embraced. I do support this legislation and I would like to thank my
colleague from New York, the co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus,
Mr. Israel, for all of his efforts to bring this bill to the floor and
to preserve the Long Island Sound.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, appreciating the bipartisan nature of this,
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 Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5160, 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.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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