[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4530-H4533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CRANE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2009

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 388) to assist in the conservation of cranes by 
supporting and providing, through projects of persons and organizations 
with expertise in crane conservation, financial resources for the 
conservation programs of countries the activities of which directly or 
indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystems of cranes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 388

       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 ``Crane Conservation Act of 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to perpetuate healthy populations of cranes;
       (2) to assist in the conservation and protection of cranes 
     by supporting--
       (A) conservation programs in countries in which endangered 
     and threatened cranes occur; and
       (B) the efforts of private organizations committed to 
     helping cranes; and
       (3) to provide financial resources for those programs and 
     efforts.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Conservation.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``conservation'' means the use of 
     any method or procedure to improve the viability of crane 
     populations and the quality of the ecosystems and habitats on 
     which the crane populations depend to help the species 
     achieve sufficient populations in the wild to ensure the 
     long-term viability of the species.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``conservation'' includes the 
     carrying out of any activity associated with scientific 
     resource management, such as--
       (i) protection, restoration, and management of habitat;
       (ii) research and monitoring of known populations;
       (iii) the provision of assistance in the development of 
     management plans for managed crane ranges;
       (iv) enforcement of the Convention;
       (v) law enforcement and habitat protection through 
     community participation;
       (vi) reintroduction of cranes to the wild;
       (vii) conflict resolution initiatives; and
       (viii) community outreach and education.
       (2) Convention.--The term ``Convention'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532).
       (3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Crane Conservation 
     Fund established by section 5(a).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. CRANE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations and in consultation with other appropriate 
     Federal officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the 
     Fund to provide financial assistance for projects relating to 
     the conservation of cranes for which project proposals are 
     approved by the Secretary in accordance with this section.
       (b) Project Proposals.--
       (1) Applicants.--
       (A) In general.--An applicant described in subparagraph (B) 
     that seeks to receive assistance under this section to carry 
     out a project relating to the conservation of cranes shall 
     submit to the Secretary a project proposal that meets the 
     requirements of this section.
       (B) Eligible applicants.--An applicant described in this 
     subparagraph is--
       (i) any relevant wildlife management authority of a country 
     that--

       (I) is located within the African, Asian, European, or 
     North American range of a species of crane; and
       (II) carries out 1 or more activities that directly or 
     indirectly affect crane populations;

       (ii) the Secretariat of the Convention; and
       (iii) any person or organization with demonstrated 
     expertise in the conservation of cranes.
       (2) Required elements.--A project proposal submitted under 
     paragraph (1)(A) shall include--
       (A) a concise statement of the purpose of the project;
       (B)(i) the name of each individual responsible for 
     conducting the project; and
       (ii) a description of the qualifications of each of those 
     individuals;
       (C) a concise description of--
       (i) methods to be used to implement and assess the outcome 
     of the project;
       (ii) staff and community management for the project; and
       (iii) the logistics of the project;
       (D) an estimate of the funds and the period of time 
     required to complete the project;
       (E) evidence of support for the project by appropriate 
     government entities of countries in which the project will be 
     conducted, if the Secretary determines that such support is 
     required to ensure the success of the project;
       (F) information regarding the source and amount of matching 
     funding available for the project; and
       (G) any other information that the Secretary considers to 
     be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project to 
     receive assistance under this Act.
       (c) Project Review and Approval.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) not later than 30 days after receiving a final project 
     proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other appropriate 
     Federal officials; and
       (B) review each project proposal in a timely manner to 
     determine whether the proposal meets the criteria described 
     in subsection (d).
       (2) Consultation; approval or disapproval.--Not later than 
     180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to 
     the availability of appropriations, the Secretary, after 
     consulting with other appropriate Federal officials, shall--
       (A) consult on the proposal with the government of each 
     country in which the project is to be carried out;
       (B) after taking into consideration any comments resulting 
     from the consultation, approve or disapprove the proposal; 
     and
       (C) provide written notification of the approval or 
     disapproval to--
       (i) the applicant that submitted the proposal;
       (ii) other appropriate Federal officials; and
       (iii) each country described in subparagraph (A).
       (d) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may approve a 
     project proposal under this section if the Secretary 
     determines that the proposed project will enhance programs 
     for conservation of cranes by assisting efforts to--
       (1) implement conservation programs;
       (2) address the conflicts between humans and cranes that 
     arise from competition for the same habitat or resources;
       (3) enhance compliance with the Convention and other 
     applicable laws that--
       (A) prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of cranes; or
       (B) regulate the use and management of crane habitat;
       (4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods for 
     monitoring--
       (A) the condition of crane habitat;
       (B) crane population numbers and trends; or
       (C) the current and projected threats to crane habitat and 
     population numbers and trends;
       (5) promote cooperative projects on the issues described in 
     paragraph (4) among--
       (A) governmental entities;
       (B) affected local communities;
       (C) nongovernmental organizations; or
       (D) other persons in the private sector;
       (6) carry out necessary scientific research on cranes;
       (7) provide relevant training to, or support technical 
     exchanges involving, staff responsible for managing cranes or 
     habitats of cranes, to enhance capacity for effective 
     conservation; or

[[Page H4531]]

       (8) reintroduce cranes successfully back into the wild, 
     including propagation of a sufficient number of cranes 
     required for this purpose.
       (e) Project Sustainability; Matching Funds.--To the maximum 
     extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a 
     project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give 
     preference to a proposed project--
       (1) that is designed to ensure effective, long-term 
     conservation of cranes and habitats of cranes; or
       (2) for which matching funds are available.
       (f) Project Reporting.--
       (1) In general.--Each person that receives assistance under 
     this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary, at 
     such periodic intervals as are determined by the Secretary, 
     reports that include all information that the Secretary, 
     after consulting with other appropriate government officials, 
     determines to be necessary to evaluate the progress and 
     success of the project for the purposes of--
       (A) ensuring positive results;
       (B) assessing problems; and
       (C) fostering improvements.
       (2) Availability to the public.--Each report submitted 
     under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to a 
     project for which financial assistance is provided under this 
     Act, shall be made available to the public.

     SEC. 5. CRANE CONSERVATION FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Multinational Species Conservation Fund established by the 
     matter under the heading ``MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION 
     FUND'' in title I of the Department of the Interior and 
     Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (112 Stat. 2681-
     237; 16 U.S.C. 4246) a separate account to be known as the 
     ``Crane Conservation Fund'', consisting of--
       (1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury 
     for deposit into the Fund under subsection (c); and
       (2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 7.
       (b) Expenditures From Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), upon 
     request by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     transfer from the Fund to the Secretary, without further 
     appropriation, such amounts as the Secretary determines are 
     necessary to provide assistance under section 4.
       (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts in the Fund 
     available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not 
     more than 3 percent, or $150,000, whichever is greater, to 
     pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this 
     Act.
       (3) Limitation.--Not more than 20 percent of the amounts 
     made available from the Fund for any fiscal year may be used 
     for projects relating to the conservation of North American 
     crane species.
       (c) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may accept and use donations 
     to provide assistance under section 4.
       (2) Transfer of donations.--Amounts received by the 
     Secretary in the form of donations shall be transferred to 
     the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the Fund.

     SEC. 6. ADVISORY GROUP.

       (a) In General.--To assist in carrying out this Act, the 
     Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting of 
     individuals representing public and private organizations 
     actively involved in the conservation of cranes.
       (b) Public Participation.--
       (1) Meetings.--The advisory group shall--
       (A) ensure that each meeting of the advisory group is open 
     to the public; and
       (B) provide, at each meeting, an opportunity for interested 
     persons to present oral or written statements concerning 
     items on the agenda.
       (2) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the public 
     timely notice of each meeting of the advisory group.
       (3) Minutes.--Minutes of each meeting of the advisory group 
     shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available to 
     the public.
       (c) Exemption From Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
     apply to the advisory group.

     SEC. 7. FUNDING.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 
     $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014, to 
     remain available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Bishop) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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 the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 388, the Crane Conservation Act, 
was reintroduced in the 111th Congress by our colleague from Wisconsin, 
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. The bill is identical to noncontroversial 
legislation that passed the House during the 110th Congress.
  The overall purpose of the bill is to assist in the conservation of 
the world's 15 crane species, including the two crane species found in 
North America, the whooping crane and the sandhill crane. The bill 
would establish a new crane conservation fund to finance Federal 
matching grants that support critical conservation projects that 
conserve these highly endangered birds and their scarce and shrinking 
habitats in Europe, Asia, South Asia, Africa, and North America. The 
legislation also mirrors other highly popular and effective wildlife 
conservation funds authorized under the Multinational Species 
Conservation Fund that support other critically endangered wildlife 
species and their habitats.
  Mr. Speaker, cranes play an important iconic role in cultures around 
the world. These birds are viewed as universal symbols of peace, 
happiness, and good fortune. I ask Members on both sides to support 
passage of this noncontroversial bill that will help to conserve this 
family of large, charismatic birds.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to actually speak on this particular bill, H.R. 
388, the Crane Conservation Act. Under this legislation, a new 
international conservation fund is going to be established to assist up 
to 15 species of cranes that are in Africa, Asia, Australia, North 
America--I guess everyone except South America.
  There are currently seven crane species that are protected under our 
Endangered Species Act. The two most imperiled species reside here in 
the United States and are covered.
  The United States already has several laws on the books which can 
help conserve domestic cranes and their habitats, which includes such 
things as the Migratory Bird Treaty, the Neotropical Migratory Bird 
Conservation Act, wetlands conservation statutes, and the Endangered 
Species Act.
  With the current economic crisis the United States finds itself in--
exacerbated by our spending bills in the stimulus, in the budget, and 
the omnibus bills which simply spend too much, tax too much, and borrow 
too much--it is highly questionable whether this is the time to once 
again create another multinational fund to spend taxpayers' money 
overseas. Other countries should be required to step up to the plate to 
save their own wildlife without relying on American funds going there.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I will submit for the 
Record the following exchange of letters between the Committee on 
Natural Resources and the Committee on Foreign Affairs concerning H.R. 
388 and H.R. 411.
                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2009.
     Hon. Nick J. Rahall II,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 388, 
     the Crane Conservation Act of 2009, and H.R. 411, the Great 
     Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009.
       These bills contain provisions within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the 
     interest of permitting your Committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of these important 
     bills, I am willing to waive this Committee's right mark up 
     these bills. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     consideration of the bills, the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     subject matters contained in the bills which fall within its 
     Rule X jurisdiction.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Foreign Affairs Committee conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation. I would ask that you 
     place this letter into the Congressional Record when the 
     Committee has these bills under consideration.
       I look forward to working with you as we move these 
     important measures through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Howard L. Berman,
                                                         Chairman.

[[Page H4532]]

     
                                  ____
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2009.
     Hon. Howard Berman,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rayburn H.O.B., 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your willingness to allow 
     floor consideration of H.R. 388, the Crane Conservation Act 
     of 2009 and H.R. 411, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 
     2009, to proceed unimpeded.
       I understand that this waiver is not intended to prejudice 
     any future jurisdictional claims over these provisions or 
     similar language. I also understand that you reserve the 
     right to seek to have conferees named from the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs on these provisions, and would support such a 
     request if it were made.
       This letter will be entered into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of H.R. 388 and H.R. 411 on the House 
     floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have 
     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     respective committees.
       With warm regards, I am
           Sincerely,

                                            Nick J. Rahall II,

                                                         Chairman,
                                   Committee on Natural Resources.

  Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor 
of H.R. 388, our distinguished colleague from Wisconsin, Representative 
Baldwin.
  Ms. BALDWIN. I thank the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Dr. Christensen, for yielding time. And I also thank the chairman of 
the full committee for reporting out this bill for consideration on the 
suspension calendar.
  I rise today in support of the Crane Conservation Act of 2009, 
legislation to help protect and preserve the world's 15 species of 
cranes for generations to come.
  Cranes are the most endangered family of birds in the world, with 11 
of the world's 15 crane species at risk of extinction. Their special 
characteristics and unique ability to bring people together across 
city, State, and international boundaries place them in a class worthy 
of our conservation efforts.
  Cranes are revered throughout the world for their beauty, grace, and 
long-distance migrations, frequently spanning numerous countries. In 
fact, their appeal is so vast that they figure prominently in the 
culture, folklore, and art of many people around the world. They are 
featured in the silks, sculpture, poetry, and folk tales of many 
cultures. And because of their long lifespans, they have become symbols 
of longevity and good fortune.
  These magnificent birds also have served as ambassadors of harmony 
and peace in the international arena. Representatives from nations with 
various political struggles have reached beyond the instability to 
address the conservation of cranes. In fact, about 2 years ago, 
representatives from bordering nations, including India, China, 
Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, and others, met in an attempt to 
overcome strained relations and send a message of goodwill for the sake 
of protecting this threatened species. Similarly, African nations which 
share troubled borders also have joined together in recent years to 
stop the illegal trade of cranes.
  In North America, the whooping crane is the rarest of the crane 
species. Back in the year 1941, only 21 whooping cranes existed in the 
entire world. Today, there are almost 400 birds in existence. The 
resurgence is attributed to the bird's tenacity for survival and to the 
efforts of conservationists in the United States and Canada. In fact, 
since 2001, coordinated efforts have focused on encouraging young 
whooping cranes to migrate from their breeding grounds in Wisconsin's 
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to their destination in Florida.
  In an effort to reintroduce a migratory flock into their historic 
range in the eastern United States, the recovery team used ultralight 
aircraft to train and lead these young cranes on their spectacular 
journey, stretching from city to city and State to State. Fortunately, 
these efforts have been successful, and the Crane Conservation Act 
would complement them, both domestically and internationally.
  This bill will provide the resources to support initiatives that 
protect cranes and, importantly, their habitats, which have 
deteriorated due to industrial development, pollution, and other human 
disturbances, including wars and other violent conflicts. The bill will 
also provide the means for the United States to fulfill various 
international obligations and commitments, thus having a large 
environmental and cultural impact across the globe.
  Additionally, the Crane Conservation Act will provide resources for 
the United States to bring people and governments around the world 
together to protect ecosystems, develop adequate habitats, and 
encourage overall goodwill. Specifically, the Crane Conservation Act 
will authorize up to $5 million per year to be distributed in the form 
of conservation project grants to protect cranes in the wetlands and 
grasslands and other ecosystems on which they depend.
  Congress has passed similar bills in support of globally significant 
and endangered wildlife species, including tigers, rhinos, elephants, 
and neotropical migratory birds. And just as these efforts took 
significant steps in international wildlife conservation, the Crane 
Conservation Act would play a similar and promising role in improving 
endangered wildlife and their habitats.
  This bill, in identical form, passed on the suspension calendar last 
session. I encourage my colleagues to support the Crane Conservation 
Act of 2009.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Texas, who is an expert not only in cranes and 
whooping cranes, but on whoopings themselves.
  Mr. GOHMERT. I appreciate my friend from Utah yielding in such an 
amazing form.
  I do appreciate my friend from Wisconsin's sensitivity over cranes. 
And she is right; they are a thing of beauty. We have seen whooping 
cranes in Texas. I am glad they are protected; they are beautiful.
  We have heard President Obama say recently that we are going to have 
to make some tough choices, that we are going to have to scour through 
our appropriations, our authorizations, our budgets and cut things that 
are not really essential. And it is my understanding that of the 15 
crane species here, 13 are not in the United States.
  Currently, it is clear we are borrowing a great deal of our money 
that we use as we appropriate from this floor from the Chinese. As I 
understand it, many of these crane species are not located in the 
United States, but are located in Asia. What an incredible irony, that 
we could borrow money from the Chinese for which we will owe principal 
and interest to the Chinese, and then potentially turn around and pay 
money to help habitats in China. The irony is astounding.

                              {time}  1430

  I know all of us have people in our districts who are struggling to 
maintain their own habitat. As we make tough decisions in this body, 
this ought to be one that is not that tough: The American people 
keeping their habitat or cranes in a foreign country keeping their 
habitat. I think we ought to vote for Americans to keep their habitat. 
We have got to make some tough choices. It is time to quit borrowing 
money from China. It's time to quit printing additional money. It's 
time for some responsibility on this floor. We owe that to future 
generations not to put them in debt to pay foreign countries to create 
habitats for cranes.
  With that I would urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to respond briefly 
to some of the mischaracterizations that have been raised about this 
legislation.
  As I stated earlier, the Crane Conservation Act is identical to 
noncontroversial legislation that passed the House during the 110th 
Congress. This legislation also mirrors other highly popular and 
effective wildlife conservation funds authorized under the 
Multinational Species Conservation Fund that support other critically 
endangered wildlife species and their habitats. It is no exaggeration 
to say that the grants awarded through these funds have been pivotal in 
the recovery of some of the most endangered wildlife populations on the 
planet. Cranes are no less deserving.
  I think that it is also important to note that grants awarded through 
these funds generate non-Federal matching contributions commonly in 
excess of three or four times the amount of the Federal grant. As a 
result, these wildlife programs are some of our most effective 
conservation programs in leveraging additional funds from partner 
organizations.

[[Page H4533]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is expected that future grants awarded from a crane 
conservation fund will provide the same kind of leveraging benefit as 
demonstrated by the other funds authorized under the Multinational 
Species Conservation Fund. The track record for these programs has 
proven that they are not only good for wildlife conservation, they are 
also a great value to the Federal taxpayer.
  Again, I ask Members on both sides to support passage of this 
noncontroversial bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I will conclude simply by saying 
this is a noble concept, but what Dr. Christensen argued is exactly the 
problem inherent in this noble concept. What we are continuing to do 
more and more is carve out specific funds for specific animal species 
that then add up to the total that we are doing rather than realizing 
our common goals and what we need to deal with. There are seven species 
that are covered already, two of those in the United States already 
covered on prior pieces of legislation. This is simply extra funding 
that is not going to assist necessarily on the American side; it is 
going to assist overseas in other countries where, quite frankly, in 
these conditions they should be stepping up to deal with their own 
wildlife problems, not relying on the United States simply to bail them 
out once again with another special fund crafted out for American money 
to go overseas.
  This is simply another one of several funds that keep growing all the 
time without any coordinated policy to it. And that is the danger of 
this bill. It's not the issue at hand. It's not trying to protect these 
species. It is the haphazard way we go about creating these funds to 
try to fund specific entities rather than coming up with a 
comprehensive overall plan and not requiring our friends in other 
countries to step up to the plate as well.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 388, the Crane 
Conservation Act of 2009. I strongly endorse this effort to provide 
financial resources and foster international cooperation to restore and 
perpetuate healthy populations of endangered species and to protect 
threatened habitats.
  This bill establishes a fund to support specific conservation 
activities by ``any wildlife management authority'' of a foreign 
country that meets certain criteria, as well as groups and individuals 
with demonstrated, relevant expertise. While supporting such efforts is 
a key element of any effective conservation strategy, it seems to me 
that such funding in effect constitutes a new form of foreign 
assistance that ought to be carefully coordinated with our other 
foreign aid programs.
  In the first place, it is essential that the Secretary of the 
Interior, who will be administering these programs, consult closely 
with the Secretary of State to ensure that these activities will not 
conflict with our overall foreign policy objectives. For instance, if 
there are problems with corruption or transparency and accountability 
in a particular government, the State Department would be in a better 
position to know which entities are reliable partners, and to ensure 
that funding is not diverted to unauthorized purposes. There may also 
be some countries to which all other government-to-government aid has 
been terminated for political or human rights reasons, and in which 
these conservation activities ought to be conducted exclusively through 
non-governmental organizations.
  Secondly, the State Department, the United States Agency for 
International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the 
Peace Corps and other foreign policy agencies may be carrying out their 
own environmental programs in a given--country. The conservation 
activities supported by this new fund must be coordinated with ongoing 
and planned efforts of such agencies in order to avoid duplication and 
overlap and to seize openings for collaboration. Without a mechanism 
for consultation with the State Department and USAID, opportunities to 
build synergy among programs will be lost and the risks of waste and 
inefficiency will escalate.
  In light of these concerns, I would strongly urge that in 
implementing these new provisions, the Secretary of Interior develop a 
mechanism for full and meaningful consultation with the State 
Department, USAID and the foreign policy agencies under the 
Department's guidance.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I again just ask colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to support H.R. 388, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 388.
  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. GOHMERT. Mr. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________