[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE GLOBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, COORDINATION AND 
                        ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, as our understanding of human impacts on 
the environment grows, so too, must our commitment to the protection 
and conservation of the world's fish and wildlife resources. The United 
States is largely regarded as the global frontrunner in international 
fish and wildlife conservation. Our nation has a longstanding history 
of sharing our knowledge, technical abilities, and experience gained 
through the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to aid other 
countries in the conservation of their wildlife and wildlife habitat. 
Unfortunately, wildlife conservation resources, including trained 
wildlife professionals and basic logistical and communication tools, 
still commonly remain unavailable in many foreign range states that are 
home to globally significant species.
  Notwithstanding the many successful conservation initiatives 
implemented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service around the 
world through its programs such as Wildlife Without Borders Program, 
there remains a glaring need to improve coordination and collaboration 
within the Federal government. In addition, improving cooperation 
between the Federal Government and non-governmental organizations to 
increase public awareness about illegal and unsustainable wildlife 
trade, to raise awareness about the implications of global biodiversity 
loss, to enhance assistance to range states in the conservation of 
their wildlife, and to close existing gaps in current conservation 
activities, is necessary and long overdue.
  The Global Wildlife Conservation, Coordination and Enhancement Act of 
2009, which I have introduced today, would address these needs by 
consolidating and enhancing the authority of the Secretary of the 
Interior to specifically conduct fish and wildlife conservation 
activities internationally. This legislation reflects the solid input 
gained through two oversight hearings conducted by the Committee on 
Natural Resources during the 110th Congress. The bill also benefits 
from extensive dialogue with wildlife conservationists, zoo and 
aquarium professionals, law enforcement experts, animal health and 
welfare organizations, and other stakeholders.
  Title I of the bill would create an Institute for International 
Wildlife Conservation within the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, through which the Department of the Interior's international 
conservation initiatives would be coordinated and collaborative 
partnerships built. The Institute, which would enhance and strengthen 
the Service's existing International Affairs Office, would have 
authority to carry out a targeted public education and awareness 
campaign to better inform U.S. consumers of the illegal trade in 
wildlife and wildlife products, and most important, what they can do to 
limit the United States as a market for illegal contraband.
  The Institute also would be empowered to provide financial, 
educational and technical assistance to range states and other partner 
institutions to support capacity building, to create and enhance 
locally adapted wildlife management programs abroad, and to develop 
professional cadres of wildlife conservationists in the United States 
and abroad. In addition, the Institute, through its Center for 
International Wildlife Recovery Partnerships, would provide a forum for 
the active collaboration of federal, state, tribal, local, and non-
governmental entities regarding wildlife conservation and the care, 
rehabilitation and recovery of threatened and endangered wildlife 
species.
  Title II of this bill would create a Global Wildlife Coordination 
Council within the Executive Branch in recognition of the fact that 
international wildlife conservation is a multi-dimensional issue that 
requires the broad involvement of the Federal Government to be 
successful. This Council, which is patterned after the highly 
successful United States Coral Reef Task Force, would be comprised of 
various Federal agencies with a responsibility and stake in global 
wildlife conservation. To comprehensively address the myriad threats 
confronting global wildlife, this Council would be tasked to develop a 
cross-cutting strategy to better utilize existing resources to increase 
Federal coordination without creating new bureaucracy.
  In closing, the illegal wildlife trade, which has received 
considerably less public attention than the illegal trade in narcotics 
and weapons, is an increasing challenge threatening not only the 
conservation of biodiversity but also the social, political and 
environmental stability of range states throughout the world. Congress 
must act to ensure that the Federal Government has the authority and 
tools it needs to promote the conservation of wildlife resources 
abroad, to protect the environmental health and security of the United 
States today, and ensure that we pass on those resources to future 
generations.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to advance this legislation and to strengthen the abilities of 
the Federal Government to provide critical wildlife conservation 
support around the world and to maintain the United States' leadership 
role internationally in wildlife conservation.

                          ____________________