[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 124 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1534-E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION CORPS ACT OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2012

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to join my colleague Ander 
Crenshaw in introducing the ``International Conservation Corps Act of 
2012'' (ICCA), legislation that will mobilize our large and growing 
community of retired conservation experts, in a voluntary capacity, to 
support the efforts of developing countries to sustainably manage their 
natural resources.
  There is a significant deficit in the capability of most developing 
countries to successfully manage their natural resources, which is 
fundamental to sustainable development, poverty alleviation, conflict 
avoidance, good governance, and regional security. Countries with a 
great wealth of natural resources are often cursed with devastating 
poverty, corruption and civil war arising from disputes over control 
and distribution of these resources.
  The International Conservation Corps Act will harness the vast 
experience of the United States in natural resource management and 
connect it with developing countries to help them operate and develop 
more sustainable programs. Modeled after the Peace Corps, the ICCA 
program would offer retired land managers, both public and private 
sector employees, geologists, biologists, and park rangers the 
opportunity to volunteer their services to the foreign country. The 
ICCA would cover the expenses necessary to deploy volunteers in other 
countries such as airfare, food, and lodging. The program will utilize 
volunteers who have long practical experience and are respected in 
their fields, and who are enthusiastic about opportunities to apply 
their knowledge and skills to assist other countries.
  Under this proposal, the State Department would screen foreign 
government requests for assistance. Cleared requests would be forwarded 
to the Interior Department which would craft a prospectus that awards 
competitive grants to the nonprofit that assembles the best volunteer 
team and most meritorious application. Federal administrative costs 
would be minimal, ensuring tax payer funds are spent almost exclusively 
on ``boots on the ground.'' No more than $10 million could be 
appropriated per year. The cost of this program

[[Page E1535]]

would be fully offset with savings from unexpended balances.
  This proposal will be both a modest commitment and highly effective 
way to stretch our foreign aid dollars in advancing our national 
security interests of environmental stewardship, conflict avoidance, 
sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Let's 
take advantage of this unique opportunity represented by the wave of 
highly qualified retiring U.S. professionals to help developing 
countries establish good governance.

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