[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8587-H8588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LOWER FARMINGTON RIVER AND SALMON BROOK WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY ACT 
                                OF 2005

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 435) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to 
designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the 
State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 435

       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 ``Lower Farmington River and 
     Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL SEGMENT OF FARMINGTON RIVER 
                   AND SALMON BROOK IN CONNECTICUT FOR STUDY FOR 
                   POTENTIAL ADDITION TO NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC 
                   RIVERS SYSTEM.

       (a) Designation.--Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(139) Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, 
     Connecticut.--The segment of the Farmington River downstream 
     from the segment designated as a recreational river by 
     section 3(a)(156) to its confluence with the Connecticut 
     River, and the segment of the Salmon Brook including its 
     mainstream and east and west branches.''.
       (b) Time for Submission.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, 
     the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a 
     report containing the results of the study required by the 
     amendment made by subsection (a).
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. 
Herseth) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume
  Mr. Speaker, Senate 435, introduced by Senator Lieberman of 
Connecticut and a companion to H.R. 1344 sponsored by our colleague 
Nancy Johnson, would study a segment of Farmington River and Salmon 
Brook in Connecticut for potential addition to the National Wild and 
Scenic River System.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of S. 
435, which passed the Senate in December 2005. The legislation is 
nearly identical to a bill which has already passed the House. Since S. 
435 simply authorizes a study of a proposed river designation, we have 
no objection to the adoption of the legislation by the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I 
rise today in strong support of S. 435,

[[Page H8588]]

the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study 
Act of 2005. Once passed, the bill will designate a segment of the 
Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study 
for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. I 
would like to thank the chairman of the Resources Committee, Mr. Pombo, 
for bringing this legislation to the floor and for working with me to 
ensure that this important study can commence promptly.
  The bill commissions a feasibility study to evaluate whether the 
Lower Farmington River and the Salmon Brook qualify as a Wild and 
Scenic Partnership River within the National Park Service's Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. The Lower Farmington River is defined as the 40-
mile stretch between the end of the west branch of the Farmington River 
in Canton, Connecticut, and the Rainbow Dam in Windsor, and the Salmon 
Brook, an additional 32-mile stretch in the top 12 in the State of 
Connecticut for diversity of aquatic insects it hosts. The study area 
crosses both the Fifth and First Congressional Districts. The 
Farmington River and Salmon Brook's recreational and environmental 
contributions to our State are well-known and a valuable resource for 
future generations.
  The 14 miles of the Farmington River's west branch, designated as a 
Wild and Scenic Partnership River in 1994, is a resounding 
environmental and economic success story. Partnership designation for 
the west branch has fostered public-private partnerships to preserve 
the area's environment and heritage while yielding economic benefits to 
river towns. Its designation has preserved it as a home to trout, river 
otter, and bald eagle populations; and historic structures still grace 
its banks. Fishermen, hikers, canoeists, and kayakers enjoy the river 
year-round.
  I hope to see the rest of the Farmington River, as well as Salmon 
Brook, enjoy similar success. This new initiative is a an ideal way to 
showcase the whole river's unique cultural and recreational resources. 
The direct economic impact of the final designation is estimated at $3 
million and an additional $9 million in total economic impact from 
recreational users.
  This legislation has broad bipartisan support at the local, State, 
and Federal level, and I urge my colleagues' support for the bill.
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut for her hard work and bipartisanship in 
advancing this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 435.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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