[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 57 (Monday, May 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E779-E780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SIKES ACT AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2011

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 2, 2011

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce a bill to amend the 
Sikes Act to improve natural resources management planning for State-
owned installations used for the national defense. I reintroduce this 
bill, with minor technical changes, at the request of 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.
  In the 111th Congress, as then Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on 
Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and as a member of the Committee 
on Armed Services, I held an oversight hearing on this legislation. 
During testimony, the DOD and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
highlighted the significance of codifying this language as an important 
step forward with an agenda of 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

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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 2011, continues this progress by proposing two 
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 
several technical and clarifying changes to the U.S. Code to make it 
consistent with other subheadings and titles.
  As the NDAA and this legislation advance through the legislative 
process, I will continue to work with the DOD, and my colleagues in 
Congress, to modify this language to make permanent the successful 
invasive species management pilot program on Guam, authorized into law 
in 2004, and appropriately expand its scope to all military 
installations. The Department of Defense has supported this initiative 
and it is an important part of the ecosystem approach of the Sikes Act.
  I want to thank Chairman Buck McKeon of the House Armed Services 
Committee for his leadership on issues affecting management of military 
installations and the readiness of our military forces. I also thank 
Chairman Doc Hastings of the House Natural Resources Committee for his 
working with me to provide additional hearings and input on the effect 
of this legislation. 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 2011.

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