[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 36 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E371-E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF 
   REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES ON WILD 
     ANIMALS AT THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES OF THE CONVENTION ON 
   INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 12, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
regarding the policy of the United States on wild animals at the 
Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
  CITES was created in 1973 to regulate international trade in 
endangered species to ensure that it does not threaten their survival. 
Launched with a few signatory nations, CITES has now 175 parties that 
have an international obligation and responsibility to protect our 
planet's endangered animals and plants. Adherence to these protective 
measures has proven to have benefited the conservation of animals and 
plants worldwide.
  Unfortunately, more and more species are at risk of extinction and 
international trade, both legal and illegal, has exacerbated the 
dangers. International wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions 
of dollars a year and to include hundreds of millions of live plants 
and animals and derived products such as food, leather, fur, ivory, and 
timber. Such high levels of exploitation of and trade in wild animals 
and plants, together with other factors such as habitat loss, are 
capable of bringing some species close to extinction.
  Between 1979 and 1989 more than 600,000 African elephants were killed 
for their ivory, cutting the continent's population in half. 
Nevertheless, poaching has continued with an estimated 38,000 elephants 
killed annually and 23.2 tons of poached ivory seized since 2007. As 
sea ice declines, polar bears will not be able to adapt to a 
terrestrial-based life resulting in increased mortality, reduced 
reproduction, increased human-bear conflicts, and overall drastic 
decline of populations. Bobcats keep being poached for their skins. 
Several sharks are been severely depleted with declines as high as 99 
percent in some areas as a result of the high demand for their fins and 
meat. Overfishing, increased consumer demand and inadequate enforcement 
of infractions have led to historically low populations of bluefin 
tuna.
  This month, CITES' signatory nations will meet for the 15th 
Conference of the Parties to review the status of species in danger of 
extinction and establish trade restrictions. The

[[Page E372]]

conference will consider proposals offered by several countries to 
either enhance protections of endangered species or to remove or 
downlist some animals from the endangered species listings and 
reauthorize international trade. Several countries which benefit from 
trade of animals' derived products, such as elephants' ivory, sharks' 
fins or bluefin tunas' meat, are putting economic interests before wild 
animals' survival, risking to bring species close to extinction. This 
is unacceptable.
  My resolution will help preserve many endangered animals by urging 
CITES to accept proposals that protect these species and oppose those 
proposals that put them in greater danger.
  Madam Speaker, the United States has a moral obligation to protect 
endangered species and their natural habitat. Wild animals are a very 
important part of our commonly held natural resources and contribute to 
the diversity and stability of our environment. We must continue to 
maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem that allows for the 
coexistence of both human beings and the world's most incredible 
species.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting wildlife and 
environmental conservation across the globe by supporting this 
important resolution.

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