[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E834-E835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE SIKES ACT AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to amend 
the Sikes Act to improve natural resources management planning for 
State-owned installations used for the national defense. I have 
introduced this bill after working with appropriate officials at the 
Department of Defense (DOD). The amendments proposed by DOD will 
improve coordination between DOD, the Department of the Interior and 
State, Territorial and local partners for the protection of fish and 
wildlife resources on DOD lands and State-owned installations used for 
the national defense.
  As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and 
Wildlife and as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, this bill 
that I have introduced today is appropriate as the 111th Congress moves 
forward with an agenda promoting responsible environmental stewardship. 
DOD controls nearly 25 million acres of valuable fish and wildlife 
habitat at approximately 400 military installations nationwide. These 
lands contain a wealth of plant and animal life, vital wetlands for 
migratory birds and habitat for nearly 300 federally listed threatened 
and endangered species. For 50 years, the Sikes Act has helped the 
commanders of these installations balance their use of air, land and 
water resources for military training and testing with the need to 
conserve and rehabilitate these important ecosystems. In past National 
Defense Authorization Acts, Congress has made improvements to the Sikes 
Act and my bill, the Sikes Act Amendments Act of 2010, continues this 
progress by proposing three significant improvements to the law.
  First, my bill clarifies the scope of the Sikes Act by extending its 
provisions to State-owned National Guard installations, including the 
requirement to develop and implement Integrated Natural Resources 
Management Plans, INRMP, that are already required for federally owned 
military installations. Another provision in this bill would make 
permanent the successful invasive species management pilot program on 
Guam, authorized into law in 2004, and expand its score to all military 
installations. Finally, the bill makes several technical and clarifying 
changes to the U.S. Code to make it consistent with other subheadings 
and titles.
  I want to thank Chairman Solomon Ortiz of the House Armed Services 
Subcommittee on Readiness for his leadership on issues affecting 
management of military installations and the readiness of our military 
forces. I also thank Chairman Nick Rahall of the House Natural 
Resources Committee for his leadership in providing for seamless 
protection for our fish and wildlife resources, a national treasure, 
across all public lands. I look forward to working with my colleagues 
in both the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services 
Committee in receiving testimony, support and views on the Sikes Act 
Amendments Act of 2010.
    

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