[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 91 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5113-S5114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself and Mr. Brownback):
  S. 3508. A bill to strengthen the capacity of the United States to 
lead the international community in reversing renewable natural 
resource degradation trends around the world that threaten to undermine 
global prosperity and security and eliminate the diversity of life on 
Earth, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I rise today to introduce the bipartisan 
Global Conservation Act of 2010 with my colleague and fellow advocate 
on international conservation issues, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas.
  As our world grows increasingly intertwined through commerce, 
communication, and culture, we must also work together to protect the 
earth's natural resources through conservation. This bill acknowledges 
the important role our natural resources play in global economics, 
global health, and global security, and takes steps to strengthen the 
United States' involvement and productivity in conservation on a global 
scale.
  As described in the legislation being introduced today, competing 
needs around the world are taxing natural resources that are vital to 
human survival. For example, 500 million people in developing countries 
depend on fresh water from natural areas that are under threat of 
degradation, and two billion people depend on rapidly diminishing fish 
stocks for a significant source of their daily protein. In contrast, 
wild species provide more than $300 billion in protection and benefits 
to world agriculture, including natural pest control and the 
pollination of two thirds of the crop species that feed the world. 
Forests prevent catastrophic flooding and severe drought, and coral 
reefs and mangroves reduce the impact of large storms on coastal 
populations, saving $9 billion in damages each year and reducing 
outlays for disaster assistance.
  As natural resources continue to be polluted and depleted throughout 
the world, economies are threatened and conflicts begin to emerge. The 
United States National Intelligence Council expects demographic trends 
and natural resource scarcities relating to water, food, arable land, 
and energy sources to lead to instabilities and conflict in the years 
ahead.
  With such threats looming, it is with urgency that we introduce this 
legislation that recognizes the intrinsic link between communities, 
conflict, and natural resources, and which looks to a future of local 
involvement in the preservation of natural resources for the benefit of 
international communities. The bill establishes conservation as a 
fundamental element in economic development, conflict mitigation, and 
adaptation to climate change.

[[Page S5114]]

  To meet the conservation challenges of the 21st century, the Global 
Conservation Act reduces the duplication of Federal programs by 
bringing all U.S. agencies involved in conservation together to 
establish a national strategy for global conservation. Several 
executive branch agencies are engaged in some aspect of international 
conservation, yet their efforts are not coordinated in a manner that 
maximizes the effectiveness of the overall international conservation 
efforts of the United States.
  By establishing an interagency working group, a special coordinator, 
and a presidential advisory committee on global conservation, this bill 
sets up the infrastructure to coordinate the efforts of the various 
federal agencies under a national strategy for international 
conservation. The bill identifies measurable goals, benchmarks, and 
timeframes for long-term action in the area of global conservation.
  As our nation continues to strengthen its participation in the global 
community through conflict mitigation, foreign aid, and economic 
interaction, it is essential that we promote strong international 
conservation initiatives focused on the involvement and support of 
local communities. Such initiatives will only strengthen global 
security, health, and economies. This bill establishes a clear and 
unified direction for our international conservation efforts, and I 
look forward to working with my colleagues to move it through the 
legislative process.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr.  
        Bingaman):
  S. 3509. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to promote the 
research and development of technologies and best practices for the 
safe development and extraction of natural gas and other petroleum 
resources, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I am joined by Senator 
Shaheen and Chairman Bingaman in introducing a bill to help prevent 
future disasters like the one we are seeing unfold in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Our bill focuses Federal oil and gas research and development 
funds on well safety and accident prevention. There are many lessons to 
be learned from this tragedy, but one of the most important is that we 
need more advanced technology to prevent future accidents and ensure 
the safety of our oil and gas workers.
  This oil spill has highlighted many problems with the operation of 
the oil and gas industry and the threat that accidents have to our 
families, economy and environment. While the industry has opened up new 
areas to oil and gas production, developments in safety and well 
control technology have not always kept pace. That is unacceptable. 
Eleven people lost their lives during this tragedy, and we do not yet 
know the full extent of the economic, health and environmental damage 
that will be caused by the spill.
  Unfortunately, out of control wells are not a unique circumstance. 
Over the last month, two major onshore incidents occurred as well. 
First, a gas well explosion in West Virginia injured seven workers and 
then another occurred in Pennsylvania where it appears that a blowout 
preventer did not work properly.
  It is clear that oil is and will continue to be an important energy 
source for us for many years to come, especially for our transportation 
sector. But, while we will continue to drill for oil and gas, we cannot 
repeat the mistakes, negligence or recklessness that led to this 
disaster. We must learn from this accident and aggressively develop 
better technology to stop these spills from happening in the first 
place, both onshore and offshore.
  That is why I am introducing the Safer Oil and Gas Production 
Research and Development Act. This bill would change an existing oil 
and gas research and development program within the Department of 
Energy, DOE, to re-focus it specifically on technologies to improve the 
safety of exploration and production activities, including well 
integrity, well control, blowout prevention, and well plugging and 
abandonment.
  In addition, the legislation would also require DOE to publish an 
annual update of the program's work and outline recommendations for the 
implementation of its research findings. This oversight is important so 
that we can ensure this information is public, transparent, and readily 
available to entrepreneurs and others who could further develop these 
technologies.
  I should emphasize that my bill is only one of the many steps we must 
take to respond to this accident. Not only do we need to work to 
prevent future accidents, we need to make sure we are better prepared 
to respond when they occur.
  It is unacceptable that the spill prevention and response technology 
we are using today is the same as was used in the last disaster--the 
Exxon Valdez spill in 1989, over 20 years ago. That is why I am a proud 
co-sponsor of Senator Shaheen's bill to create a new program at the 
Department of the Interior to research and develop spill response and 
mitigation technology. Her bill, which also is being introduced today, 
is a perfect complement to mine--both programs are needed to move our 
oil drilling technology forward.
  Our two bills will take common-sense steps to improve drilling 
safety, prevent accidents and help ensure that if an accident does 
occur, we are better prepared to respond. This tragedy is a wake-up 
call that proves that we need to begin changing the way we generate and 
consume energy.

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