[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Carper, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Booker, 
        Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Whitehouse):
  S. 826. A bill to reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife 
Program and certain wildlife conservation funds, to establish prize 
competitions relating to the prevention of wildlife poaching and 
trafficking, wildlife conservation, the manaement of invasive species, 
and the protection of endangered species, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise to speak about bipartisan 
legislation that I have introduced to promote innovative solutions to 
better manage invasive species, conserve wildlife, and eliminate 
poaching. I have introduced this in a bipartisan way as the chairman of 
the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with Senator Tom 
Carper, who is the ranking member of that committee, and along with 
Senator Jim Inhofe, who is a former chairman of that committee.
  This legislation is called the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity 
Driver Act, WILD for short. I am a supporter of both conserving 
wildlife and technological innovation that we have before us.
  My home State of Wyoming is truly one of the most beautiful places in 
the world. The people of Wyoming have an incredible appreciation for 
our wildlife. We applaud the efforts of innovators to help us conserve 
and manage species much more effectively and at a lower cost. Our State 
wildlife managers grapple with many challenges that innovators can help 
us solve.
  For example, poaching has been a major issue in Wyoming. Hundreds of 
animals are taken illegally in the State. That is what I hear from the 
Wyoming Game & Fish Department. Poaching is a problem across the 
country. It is not just the case in Wyoming; it has become pandemic 
overseas. International poachers seeking to cash in on the ivory trade 
have reduced the population of African elephants by 75 percent over the 
last 10 years. It is tragic.
  Invasive species also present a threat to native wildlife, to water 
resources, and to our landscape. Invasive species clog pipes and fuel 
catastrophic fires. In fact, invasive species have a role in 42 percent 
of the listings under the Endangered Species Act. It is invasive 
species that are causing other species to become endangered.
  We need creative solutions to these threats to our wildlife. Our 
Nation's innovators are developing cutting-edge technologies to help us 
more effectively fight poaching, manage wildlife, and control invasive 
species.
  A 2015 National Geographic article outlined a number of innovative 
technologies that are being used today to promote conservation of many 
of the world's most endangered species. That includes DNA analysis to 
identify the origin of illicit ivory supplies, using thermal imaging 
around protected areas to notify authorities of poachers, and using 
apps to assist wildlife enforcement in carrying out their duties.
  In December, the National Invasive Species Council cohosted a summit, 
which highlighted innovations that combat invasive species. A few 
examples are a fish passage that automatically extracts invasive fish 
from streams, DNA technologies to provide early detection of invasive 
species, and the use of drones to gain spatially accurate, high 
resolution images that could be used to detect and monitor specific 
invasive species. Innovations like these are why we have introduced in 
a bipartisan way the WILD Act.
  This act provides technological and financial assistance to private 
landowners to improve fish and wildlife habitats. The legislation does 
this by reauthorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The 
WILD Act requires Federal agencies to implement strategic programs to 
control invasive species. It also reauthorizes important laws to 
protect endangered and valuable species around the world, such as the 
African elephant, the Asian elephant, the rhinoceros, the great ape, 
and the marine turtle.
  Finally, this act creates incentives for new conservation innovation. 
The legislation establishes four separate cash prizes for technological 
innovation in the prevention of wildlife poaching and trafficking, in 
the promotion of wildlife conservation, in the management of invasive 
species, and in the protection of endangered species. The Department of 
the Interior will administer the prizes, and a panel of relevant 
experts will award each prize.
  Innovation is one of the best tools in conserving endangered species 
and keeping invasive species under control. The WILD Act will help 
stimulate that innovation.
  I thank Senator Carper and Senator Inhofe for cosponsoring this 
important piece of legislation.
  Thank you.

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