[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5515-H5516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1500
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE VOLUNTEER IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2010
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4973) to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to
reauthorize volunteer programs and community partnerships for national
wildlife refuges, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4973
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 ``National Wildlife Refuge
Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO IMPLEMENT
VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS UNDER FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956.
(a) Reauthorization.--Section 7(f) of the Fish and Wildlife
Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(f)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry
out subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.''.
(b) Technical Corrections.--Section 7 of the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f) is amended in
subsections (b)(2)(B)(ii) and (d)(2)(C)(i) by striking
``National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966'' each
place it appears and inserting ``National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966''.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM
VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT
ACT OF 1998.
Section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998
(16 U.S.C. 742f-1) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading by striking ``Projects'' and
inserting ``National Volunteer Coordination Program'';
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, and in conformance with the
[[Page H5516]]
strategy developed under paragraph (2) and consistent with
the authorities regarding gifts, volunteer services,
community partnerships, and refuge education enhancement
under section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16
U.S.C. 741f), the Secretary of the Interior, through the
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
shall carry out a National Volunteer Coordination Program
within the National Wildlife Refuge System to--
``(A) augment and support the capabilities and efforts of
Federal employees to implement resource management,
conservation, and public education programs and activities
across the National Wildlife Refuge System;
``(B) provide meaningful opportunities for volunteers to
support the resource management, conservation, and public
education programs and activities of national wildlife
refuges or complexes of geographically related national
wildlife refuges in each United States Fish and Wildlife
Service region; and
``(C) fulfill the purpose and mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System under the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).'';
(3) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows
``(2) Volunteer coordination strategy.--
``(A) In general.--No later than one year after date of
enactment of this paragraph, the Director shall publish in
the Federal Register a national strategy for the coordination
and utilization of volunteers within the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
``(B) Consultation required.--The strategy shall be
developed in consultation with State fish and wildlife
agencies, Indian tribes, refuge friends groups or similar
volunteer organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
``(C) Volunteer coordinators.--The Director shall provide,
subject to the availability of appropriations, no less than
one regional volunteer coordinator for each United States
Fish and Wildlife Service region to implement the strategy
published under this paragraph. Such coordinators may be
responsible for assisting partner organizations in developing
and implementing volunteer projects and activities under
cooperative agreements under section 7(d) of the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(d)).''; and
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for for each fiscal
year through fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``for each
fiscal year through fiscal year 2014''.
SEC. 4. VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS REPORT.
(a) In General.--Section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(e)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) (as amended by this
Act) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new
subsection:
``(f) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection and every 5 years thereafter,
the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate--
``(1) evaluating the accomplishments of the volunteer
program, the community partnerships program, and the refuge
education programs authorized under this section, and of the
National Volunteer Coordination Program and volunteer
coordination strategy under section 4(a) of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership
Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f-1); and
``(2) making recommendations to improve the effectiveness
of such programs, including regarding implementing
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) of
subsection (e).''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(a) of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership
Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f-1) is further amended
by striking paragraph (3), and by redesignating paragraph (4)
(as amended by this Act) as paragraph (3).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.
General Leave
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within 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
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4973, the National Wildlife Refuge
Volunteer Improvement Act, was introduced by our colleague from
Maryland, Representative Frank Kratovil.
The National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses a national network of
public lands and waters set aside to conserve habitat and protect
natural resources and, consequently, plays an integral role in our
national network of Federal public lands.
During these difficult economic times, the government has looked for
efficient and practical solutions to lower costs while maintaining
critical refuge systems services. The National Wildlife Refuge
Volunteer Program serves this purpose. Last year, volunteers
contributed to more than 1.5 million hours of support, the equivalent
of nearly 750 full-time employees. This is better than $7 returned on
each dollar invested.
The pending measure would make the volunteer program permanent,
establish a volunteer coordination strategy, and formalize a reporting
schedule to ensure oversight and accountability.
I commend Mr. Kratovil for his important work on behalf of this
initiative, and I ask Members on both sides to support passage of this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4973. While individuals have
been volunteering their time and talents to the National Wildlife
Refuge System for nearly 30 years, the value of their work has
significantly increased from $1.1 million to $30.3 million. Volunteers
now perform about 20 percent of the work done on refuges, and for each
refuge employee, there are nine volunteers. Without these dedicated men
and women, many visitor centers would be open less frequently, fewer
recreational opportunities would be available, many hunting programs
would not occur, and important fish and wildlife population surveys
would not be completed.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R.
4973, the National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010. I
would like to thank Congressman Kratovil for introducing this important
bill and acknowledging the importance of the preservation of wildlife
to our nation.
This bill would reauthorize volunteer programs and community
partnerships for national wildlife refuges. Volunteers are essential to
the operation of these refuges and the preservation of our environment.
Wildlife Refuge volunteers assist with laboratory research,
photographing natural resources, conducting population services, and
leading tours for visitors. Volunteers help provide important services
to the public at no cost to taxpayers. Their service improves the
quality of the visitor experience at our National Wildlife Refuges.
This bill would also require the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service to publish a national strategy for the use and
coordination of volunteers.
The National Wildlife Refuge system is the premier system of public
lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and
plants. The mission of the Refuge System is to manage a national
network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where
appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and
their habitat. It is the volunteers that help make this mission
possible and this bill will make sure that these volunteers have the
resources they need. I strongly support our National Wildlife Refuge
system and am heartened that so many Americans choose to volunteer
their time on National Wildlife Refuges.
I feel strongly about the importance of protecting our natural world.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill in efforts to preserve
our environment, one small step at a time.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. 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
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4973, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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