[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11177-H11178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND DESIGN PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT 
                                OF 2009

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3537) to amend and reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp 
Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3537

       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 ``Junior Duck Stamp 
     Conservation and Design Program Reauthorization Act of 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) In 2007-2008, sales of the $5 Junior Duck Stamp 
     generated more than $100,000 in revenue, all of which was 
     used to provide educational materials for the program, fund 
     scholarships for students, and support and promote the 
     program's goal of connecting children with nature.
       (2) Now in its 20th year, the Junior Duck Stamp 
     Conservation and Design Program is one of this country's 
     oldest and most successful government-sponsored, youth-
     focused conservation biology programs. The program continues 
     to build strong partnerships with public and parochial 
     schools, homeschoolers and after-school programs, and other 
     youth-focused education programs throughout the country.
       (3) The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program 
     continues to foster strong partnerships among Federal and 
     State government agencies, nongovernment organizations, the 
     business community, and others in the private sector to 
     promote youth conservation initiatives.
       (4) With its conservation-focused science and arts 
     curriculum, the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design 
     Program has helped prepare hundreds of thousands of students 
     to become stewards of America's irreplaceable wild places and 
     treasured outdoor heritage.

     SEC. 3. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       Section 2(c)(2) of the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and 
     Design Program Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 719(c)(2)) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(2) Reporting requirement.--Beginning in 2010 and every 5 
     years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the status of the Program in each State.''.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 6 of the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design 
     Program Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 719c) is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     for administrative expenses of the Program $500,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 2010 through 2015.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from Alaska 
(Mr. Young) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. 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 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress passed the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and 
Design Program Act in 1994 to connect

[[Page H11178]]

children with nature through science and art. This act promotes the 
education of students from kindergarten through high school about 
migratory waterfowl and the habitats through the distribution of 
educational materials and the promotion of a wildlife art competition.

                              {time}  1415

  Today, more than 27,000 students participate in the Nationwide Junior 
Duck Stamp art contest, and the winning design is reproduced as the 
Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The pending measure will simply reauthorize 
the Junior Duck Stamp Program.
  I commend my good friend, Congressman Solomon Ortiz from Texas, for 
his leadership in reauthorizing the Junior Duck Stamp Program, and we 
urge our colleagues to support passage of this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The Junior Duck Stamp Program was developed 20 years ago and first 
authorized by Congress in 1994. Today, more than 28,000 students 
participate in the conservation curriculum and annual nationwide 
wildlife art contest.
  During hearings of this legislation, one of the witnesses was a 
teacher from an elementary school in Frederick, Maryland. In her 
statement, she noted: ``As a teacher, I believe that the Junior Duck 
Stamp Program is an excellent learning opportunity for students at all 
grade levels. What is difficult for me to put into words is the looks 
on the curious faces of my students as they research to learn about 
various waterfowl and their habitat; the looks of determination as they 
work hard to capture the likeness of the birds; and the smiles when 
their entries are finally completed.''
  This is an excellent program, Mr. Speaker, and a sound investment of 
U.S. taxpayer dollars. The Junior Duck Stamp Program should be extended 
for an additional 5 years.
  I would also like to compliment the authors of this bill, Congressmen 
Solomon Ortiz and Henry E. Brown, Jr., for their leadership on behalf 
of wildlife conservation of this Nation.
  This is a good piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I urge an 
``aye'' vote on H.R. 3537.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3537, the Junior 
Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.
  I had the privilege of sponsoring the original legislation to 
authorize this program in 1994. As the chairman of the Oceanography, 
Gulf of Mexico, and Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the 
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, I was asked to help pass 
authorizing legislation for the Junior Duck Stamp Program.
  I was familiar with the successful Duck Stamp Program but had never 
heard of the Junior Duck Stamp, JDS, Program.
  Now, 15 years later, this is the third reauthorization of this 
program.
  I am very happy to say that it is one of this country's oldest and 
most successful youth-focused conservation programs in the federal 
government, and over the years, JDS has expanded to all 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.
  For those of you who don't know about the JDS Program, it is a 
conservation-focused science and arts curriculum for grade-school and 
high-school students. It is an art contest centered around studies that 
teach the fundamentals of waterfowl anatomy and environmental science.
  Students submit their artwork depicting waterfowl in natural habitat 
settings to a state or territory contest. Winners from these contests 
are submitted for the national contest. Just as in Duck Stamps, the 
winning artwork at the national JDS contest is used to create a Junior 
Duck Stamp for the following year.
  The stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service and consignees for $5 
per stamp. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conservation 
education and are used for awards and scholarships for the students, 
teachers, and schools that participate in the program.
  I must commend the JDS administrators and coordinators at the 
national, state, and local levels; the teachers and schools that 
support the JDS program; and the students who participate each year in 
the contest for the success of the Junior Duck Stamp Program.
  Your dedication and hard work have made this program a premier 
wildlife conservation education tool, and I am proud to be associated 
with it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this very 
worthy program.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3537.
  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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