[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6414-H6415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1714) to clarify the boundaries of Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Clam Pass Unit FL-64P.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1714

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES 
                   SYSTEM MAPS.

       (a) In General.--The map subtitled ``FL-64P'', relating to 
     the Coastal Barrier Resources System unit designated as 
     Coastal Barrier Resources System Clam Pass Unit FL-64P, that 
     is included in the set of maps entitled ``Coastal Barrier 
     Resources System'' and referred to in section 4(a) of the 
     Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)), is hereby 
     replaced by another map relating to that unit entitled 
     ``Coastal Barrier Resources System Clam Pass Unit, FL-64P'' 
     and dated July 21, 2005
       (b) Availability.--The Secretary of the Interior shall keep 
     the map referred to in subsection (a) on file and available 
     for inspection in accordance with section 4(b) of the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(b)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1714 is noncontroversial legislation 
that would replace the Coastal Barrier Resources System map designated 
as Clam Pass Unit FL-64P to correct legitimate inaccuracies. This 
legislation is identical to noncontroversial legislation reported by 
the Committee on Resources during the 109th Congress.
  The new map, dated July 21, 2005, that would be adopted by passage of 
this legislation, would remove approximately 48 acres of private land 
from the otherwise protected area, or the

[[Page H6415]]

OPA, that was established in 1990 to include the Clam Pass Conservation 
Area. Private land owners indicated that these lands were never held 
within the conservation area, and were erroneously included in the OPA. 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after completing an exhaustive 
investigation, agreed that these areas, in fact, were added in error.

                              {time}  1415

  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fully supports this technical 
correction legislation which will also add approximately 68 acres of 
undeveloped land to the OPA that were previously omitted. In addition, 
Mr. Speaker, the new map that would be adopted also has been certified 
as accurate by all local authorities.
  Again, I ask my colleagues to support passage of this 
noncontroversial bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1714, introduced by 
Congressman Connie Mack of Florida, corrects an honest mapping mistake 
made in the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990. Under current law, 
only Congress can add or delete property from the Coastal Barrier 
Resources System.
  Under this bill, 48 acres of previously held land would be removed 
from the system, which would allow the affected homeowners to qualify 
for Federal flood insurance. We would be making this change because 
this property is not contained within the designated Clam Pass 
Conservation Area, these are not inholdings, and these lands were never 
held for conservation or recreation purposes.
  We would be providing this relief because this bill satisfies the 
threshold of being a legitimate mapping mistake. The Fish and Wildlife 
Service testified in support of this technical correction, and the new 
implementing map would add 65 acres of conservation land to the Coastal 
Barrier Resources System that was overlooked when the unit was 
originally created. As a result, the net effect of H.R. 1714 is to 
actually increase the size of the system by 17 acres.
  I would urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1714.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this 
legislation. Again, I want to thank my colleague from South Carolina 
(Mr. Wilson) for supporting this noncontroversial piece of legislation, 
and I urge Members to support the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1714.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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