[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13265-S13266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Martinez):
  S. 2220. A bill to amend the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 to 
authorize certain appropriations; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that 
will amend the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963, to further enhance 
education, instruction and recreation opportunities available in our 
Nation's tropical botanical gardens. I wish to also thank my 
colleagues, Senators Daniel Inouye, Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson, for 
joining me in sponsoring this measure.
  Studies have indicated that throughout the world, our plants and 
their habitats are quickly disappearing. With 90 percent of these 
species existing in tropical areas, it is imperative that we continue 
to strive for a greater understanding of how we can preserve these 
natural resources.
  The legislation that I am introducing today, the Outdoor Recreation 
Act of 1963 Amendments Act, will authorize $1

[[Page S13266]]

million for the National Botanical Gardens in fiscal year 2009, and up 
to $500,000 each fiscal year thereafter. These funds are to be matched 
by State and local governments as well as private individuals.
  Since Congress chartered the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in 
1964, the gardens have not only thrived and flourished, but have 
provided valuable research. This research is vital to enriching our 
lives through not only perpetuating the survival of ecosystems, but 
preserving the cultural knowledge of these tropical regions.
  As we, and the rest of the world, continue to develop rural areas, we 
slowly deplete our natural resources and place our Nation's tropical 
plant bio-diversity at risk. It is our responsibility to ensure that 
measures are in place that will preserve our finite natural resources, 
or we may find ourselves without the basics for survival.
  These gardens serve as safe havens for endangered tropical plants 
where scientists strive to understand the evolution, structure 
relationships and qualities of these plants for the future benefit of 
all Americans. The gardens also serve as a valuable educational tool, 
where students of all ages go to learn about environmental stewardship 
and horticultural practices, and discover that science can be fun. The 
collections at these gardens provide valuable information that 
conservationists and others utilize to study and determine how to 
protect these resources by halting further degradation of habitats so 
that at-risk species will have a better chance of surviving in the 
future.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation in order 
to ensure that these gardens continue to not only thrive for 
generations to come, but ensure that these resources will be preserved.
                                 ______