[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 47 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2631-H2633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ACT
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 658) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter
into cooperative agreements to protect natural resources of units of
the National Park System through collaborative efforts on land inside
and outside of units of the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 658
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 ``Natural Resource Protection
Cooperative Agreement Act''.
[[Page H2632]]
SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL
RESOURCE PROTECTION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to
in this Act as the ``Secretary'') may enter into cooperative
agreements with State, local, or tribal governments, other
Federal agencies, other public entities, educational
institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or
participating private landowners for the purpose of
protecting natural resources of units of the National Park
System through collaborative efforts on land inside and
outside of National Park System units.
(b) Terms and Conditions.--A cooperative agreement entered
into under subsection (a) shall provide clear and direct
benefits to park natural resources and--
(1) provide for--
(A) the preservation, conservation, and restoration of
coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and wetlands;
(B) preventing, controlling, or eradicating invasive exotic
species that are within a unit of the National Park System or
adjacent to a unit of the National Park System; or
(C) restoration of natural resources, including native
wildlife habitat or ecosystems;
(2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the
agreement will--
(A) enhance science-based natural resource stewardship at
the unit of the National Park System; and
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
(3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to
be provided by the Secretary or other parties to the
agreement in support of activities inside and outside the
unit of the National Park System that will--
(A) protect natural resources of the unit of the National
Park System; and
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
(4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment and any
other resources that will be contributed by the parties to
the agreement or by other Federal agencies;
(5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the
Secretary or the partners to implement the agreement;
(6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant
to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to support
the purposes of natural resource stewardship at a unit of the
National Park System; and
(7) include such other terms and conditions as are agreed
to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
(c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any funds
associated with an agreement entered into under subsection
(a) for the purposes of land acquisition, regulatory
activity, or the development, maintenance, or operation of
infrastructure, except for ancillary support facilities that
the Secretary determines to be necessary for the completion
of projects or activities identified in the agreement.
(d) Funding.--Funds available to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be limited to programs and amounts
specified in the statute for such use in the annual
appropriation Act for the National Park Service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 658 is an administration proposal introduced by Representative
Jon Porter of Nevada. The bill would authorize the National Park
Service to enter into cooperative agreements to spend Park Service
funds outside of existing Park boundaries.
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, the
National Park Service is the only Federal land management agency that
does not currently have that authority.
While there are several areas in which such cooperative agreements
would be useful, the ability to participate in coordinated plans to
eradicate invasive species in and around national parks is the primary
reason that the National Park Service is seeking this authority.
Under the terms of this legislation, the National Park Service could
enter into such agreements with State, local or tribal governments,
with other public entities, educational institutions, private nonprofit
organizations, or participating private landowners. The legislation
requires that any such cooperative agreements provide clear benefits to
park resources.
Madam Speaker, I would note this legislation does not authorize any
new funding.
I thank my colleague from Nevada for his effort, and we support
passage of H.R. 658 by the House today.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 658, and
I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 658 was introduced by the very effective Congressman from
Nevada, Jon Porter, and would authorize the National Park Service to
enter into a cooperative agreement with willing partners to protect
park natural resources through collaborative efforts on land inside and
outside of units of the National Park System. This was recommended by
the Government Accountability Office, as the Park Service is still the
only land management agency without this particular authority. So we
expect this will help control the spread of invasive species and
increase the protection of parks and wildlife.
At this point, Madam Speaker, I would like to engage the majority
bill manager, Mr. Grijalva, in a colloquy to clarify an issue related
to this bill, if he would.
I understand that the International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies has brought to the committee's attention their concern that
H.R. 658 not be interpreted to give the National Park Service authority
to manage fish and wildlife outside park boundaries.
Management authority for fish and wildlife resources within State
boundaries has customarily been held in trust by the respective States.
Congress has repeatedly affirmed this. This trust responsibility has
been implemented primarily through State fish and wildlife agencies. In
general, these principles are expressed in relevant fish and wildlife
policies of the Department of the Interior found in volume 43 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, part 24.
Can the chairman of the subcommittee please clarify that the States'
existing authority to manage fish and wildlife is not affected by H.R.
658?
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. GRIJALVA. I thank the gentleman, and I agree with the gentleman
from Utah on his description of Federal and State authorities to manage
fish and wildlife resources.
I also agree that we should promote better coordination and
cooperation between the Federal Government and the States to enhance
our fish and wildlife resources for future generations, especially for
the control of invasive species. I assure my colleague that nothing in
H.R. 658 diminishes or enlarges the authority of the Federal Government
or any State for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his
assurances, and with that, I urge adoption of the bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), the author of
this very good piece of legislation.
Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, invasive animal and plant species know no
boundaries. That is why I introduced H.R. 658, the Natural Resource
Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.
The passage of this legislation today has significance to my
district, given the recent infestation at Lake Mead of quagga mussels.
These are a species capable of causing massive destruction and billions
of dollars in damages. The quagga mussel is a resilient species that
multiplies at exponential rates and can cause enormous ecological,
recreational, and economic damage. In recent years, the mussel has
caused an estimated $5 billion in damages to the Great Lakes region.
As the law currently exists, the National Park Service does not have
the legal authority to enter into cooperative agreements with
neighboring States and local governments or private entities. Rather,
the Park Service
[[Page H2633]]
must wait until invasive species cross into their lands and waterways
before they can be dealt with.
Part of responsible stewardship of our local environment is being
proactive and not merely responsive to new ecological challenges. H.R.
658 enables the National Park Service to take preventative measures in
order to preserve our lands and natural resources.
By entering into cooperative agreements with State and local experts,
we will be able to eradicate invasive species before they encroach onto
Federal lands. We have an obligation to our children and to our
community to be responsible stewards of our local environment.
I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working in a
bipartisan manner on this very important issue.
I also want to thank my constituent Ann Schreiber in Nevada who has
worked so hard to eradicate invasive plant life in my district and
recognizes the importance of meeting these challenges head-on.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 658.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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