[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6312-H6315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DEFENDING ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS AND THREATENED ANIMALS ACT

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4819) to promote inclusive economic growth through 
conservation and biodiversity programs that facilitate transboundary 
cooperation, improve natural resource management, and build local 
capacity to protect and preserve threatened wildlife species in the 
greater Okavango River Basin of southern Africa, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4819

       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 ``Defending Economic 
     Livelihoods and Threatened Animals Act'' or the ``DELTA 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The greater Okavango River Basin, which ranges from the 
     highland plateau of Angola to northeastern Namibia and 
     northern Botswana, and also provides critical natural 
     resources that sustain wildlife in Zambia and Zimbabwe, is 
     the largest freshwater watershed in southern Africa.
       (2) The greater Okavango River Basin is the main source of 
     water and livelihoods for over 1,000,000 people, and the 
     effective management and protection of this critical 
     watershed will help advance important conservation and 
     economic growth objectives for Angola, Botswana, Namibia, 
     local communities, and the broader region.
       (3) The greater Okavango River Basin is home to the largest 
     remaining elephant population in the world, as well as other 
     threatened wildlife species.
       (4) Poaching and trafficking of threatened wildlife species 
     in the greater Okavango River Basin has increased in recent 
     years, and has the potential to undermine regional stability 
     by disrupting local governance and management of resources, 
     and supplanting key economic opportunities for community 
     members.
       (5) Governments in the region have taken important steps to 
     coordinate through existing conservation frameworks to combat 
     trafficking, ensure responsible resource management, support 
     local livelihoods, and protect threatened wildlife species.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that it is in the interest of 
     the United States to engage, as

[[Page H6313]]

     appropriate, with the Governments of Angola, Botswana, 
     Namibia, and neighboring countries, and in partnership with 
     donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental 
     organizations, local communities, and the private sector, to 
     advance conservation efforts and promote economic growth and 
     stability in the greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring 
     watersheds and conservation areas.

     SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to promote inclusive 
     economic growth through conservation and biodiversity 
     programs that facilitate transboundary cooperation, improve 
     water and natural resource management, and build local 
     capacity to protect and preserve threatened wildlife species 
     in the greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring 
     watersheds and conservation areas.

     SEC. 5. STRATEGY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary and the Administrator, in 
     coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
     agencies, shall seek, as appropriate, to work with the 
     Governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring 
     countries, and in partnership with donors, regional 
     organizations, nongovernmental organizations, local 
     communities, and the private sector, to develop a strategy 
     to--
       (1) create and advance a cooperative framework to promote 
     responsible natural resource, water, and wildlife management 
     practices in the greater Okavango River Basin;
       (2) protect traditional migration routes of elephants and 
     other threatened wildlife species;
       (3) combat wildlife poaching and trafficking;
       (4) address human health and development needs of local 
     communities; and
       (5) catalyze economic growth in such countries and across 
     the broader region.
       (b) Elements.--The strategy established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) promote cooperative and responsible water, natural 
     resource, and wildlife management policies and practices 
     within and among the countries of Angola, Botswana, and 
     Namibia, with a particular focus on the greater Okavango 
     River Basin and the critical headwaters located in Angola;
       (2) protect and restore wildlife habitats and traditional 
     migratory patterns of elephants and other threatened species;
       (3) combat wildlife poaching and trafficking in Angola, 
     Botswana, Namibia, and those areas of Zambia and Zimbabwe 
     that border Angola, Botswana, or Namibia, including within 
     regional and national parks and reserves, by building the 
     capacity of the governments of such countries, local law 
     enforcement, community leaders, and park rangers to detect, 
     disrupt, and prosecute poachers and traffickers;
       (4) promote conservation as a foundation for inclusive 
     economic growth and development within a comprehensive 
     assistance strategy that places Angola, Botswana, and Namibia 
     on a trajectory toward graduation from the need for United 
     States foreign assistance;
       (5) identify opportunities and mechanisms to leverage 
     regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and 
     public-private partnerships to contribute to support the 
     implementation of the strategy;
       (6) establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, 
     including measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks of 
     success, that are included in grants, contracts, and 
     cooperative agreements to ensure the effective use of United 
     States foreign assistance; and
       (7) coordinate with and build the capacity of regional 
     conservation frameworks in order to advance regional 
     conservation objectives.

     SEC. 6. UNITED STATES SUPPORT.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary and the Administrator, in 
     coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
     agencies, are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing 
     efforts to--
       (1) promote inclusive economic growth and development 
     through responsible water and natural resource management and 
     wildlife protection activities in the greater Okavango River 
     Basin;
       (2) provide technical assistance to governments and local 
     communities in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia to create a 
     policy-enabling environment for such responsible water and 
     natural resource management and wildlife protection 
     activities; and
       (3) build the capacity of local law enforcement, park 
     rangers, and community leaders to combat wildlife poaching 
     and trafficking.
       (b) Coordination and Integration With Regional Conservation 
     Frameworks.--The Secretary and the Administrator, in 
     coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
     agencies, shall coordinate assistance provided by Department 
     of State, the United States Agency for International 
     Development, and such other relevant Federal agencies with 
     existing regional conservation frameworks in order to ensure 
     regional integration of conservation, wildlife trafficking, 
     and water management initiatives, to prevent duplication of 
     efforts, and to advance regional conservation objectives.
       (c) Coordination With Private Sector.--The Secretary and 
     the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other 
     relevant Federal agencies, are authorized to work with the 
     private sector and nongovernmental organizations to leverage 
     public and private capital to promote responsible resource 
     management, combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, and 
     support inclusive economic growth and local livelihoods in 
     the greater Okavango River Basin.
       (d) Monitoring and Evaluation.--The Secretary and the 
     Administrator shall establish monitoring and evaluation 
     mechanisms, to include measurable goals, objectives, and 
     benchmarks, to ensure the effective use of United States 
     foreign assistance to achieve the objectives of this section.

     SEC. 7. REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the 
     Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other 
     relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on the implementation of 
     this Act.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required under 
     subsection (a) shall include a description of the strategy 
     required by section 5, including--
       (1) the monitoring and evaluation plans and indicators used 
     to measure performance under the strategy;
       (2) any legislative impediments to meeting the objectives 
     of such strategy;
       (3) the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia have 
     demonstrated a commitment and willingness to cooperate to 
     advance efforts described in section 5(b);
       (4) progress made to date in meeting the objectives of such 
     strategy;
       (5) efforts to coordinate, deconflict, and streamline 
     conservation programs in order to maximize resource 
     effectiveness;
       (6) the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia and 
     other government in the region are investing resources to 
     advance conservation initiatives; and
       (7) the extent to which other funding sources, including 
     through private sector investment and other investment by 
     Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, have been identified to 
     advance conservation initiatives.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of State.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Okavango Delta supports the economic livelihood of a 
million people in that region. It is in a desert, but the Okavango 
River flows into that desert and makes a home to the largest remaining 
population of elephants in the world.
  This ecosystem spans three countries. It starts in the highlands of 
Angola, and it flows through Namibia and Botswana. Like other regions 
across Africa, there is a challenge here in the poaching and 
trafficking of threatened species in the delta. That poaching of 
elephant, black rhino, and hippo is increasing.
  I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of poachers and 
organized criminal networks across the continent. Wildlife trafficking 
and profits from poaching provide a key funding source for 
international criminal networks and for terrorists.
  These deadly groups undermine regional stability. They spread 
violence. They disrupt local governance. They have a devastating impact 
on the economic opportunities for members of the community.
  This legislation provided by our good friend here, Mr. Fortenberry, 
H.R. 4819, is the Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals 
Act of 2018. This DELTA Act is an opportunity to be proactive and 
protect this part of the world before it is too late. It strengthens 
coordination among the Governments of the United States and Angola, 
Botswana, and Namibia to address these poaching threats and to support 
local communities in this greater Okavango River Basin.

[[Page H6314]]

  A few months ago, I led a bipartisan delegation to the region, and I 
saw the critical need for these countries to work together to preserve 
and protect this magnificent landscape. I had not been in Angola since 
the beginning of that war, and to go back to see Angola today and have 
an opportunity to meet with the chairman of the committee responsible 
for conservation there--she is, in fact, herself a park ranger--and to 
see how Angola has emerged from years of civil war and unrest and is 
now looking to the international community for partnership and for 
support is heartening.
  With Angola's immense natural resources, we are already seeing, 
unfortunately, foreign governments--for example, Beijing--pushing 
unwise development that threatens to siphon off this critical water 
source. Obviously, to siphon off this water source, it would devastate 
the river basin. This is why we must act now to protect the animals and 
communities that call the region home.
  Animals and poachers, of course, know no boundaries. The water 
doesn't know any boundaries. In order for conservation efforts to be 
successful, we must take a transboundary approach.
  I was proud to be the author of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership 
Act some years ago. I think it was in 2004 that it was passed. We saw 
how increased coordination across national borders can be successful in 
protecting critical landscapes and combating poaching threats.
  This DELTA Act looks to build on these proven successes, which have 
set up national parks now in seven landscapes across Africa. This 
legislation strengthens the coordination among the Governments, as I 
said, of the United States, Angola, Botswana, and Namibia. It does that 
by leveraging partnerships with the private sector, with nongovernment 
organizations, and with regional bodies. It prioritizes wildlife 
trafficking and anti-poaching programs in this greater Okavango River 
Basin. And it promotes responsible economic growth for local 
communities through responsible natural resource management.
  Again, I thank the bill's author, Representative Fortenberry, and our 
fellow co-chairs of the House International Conservation Caucus, 
Representatives McCollum and Cuellar, for their leadership and 
steadfast efforts to keep conservation and anti-poaching efforts alive 
here in Congress and to help us drive these efforts.
  I want to thank Ranking Member Engel and, of course, from New York, 
Joe Crowley, for their work on this legislation. It is deeply 
appreciated, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4819, the 
DELTA Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Fortenberry) for his initiative in putting forward this legislation to 
help protect one of Africa's most important ecosystems. I am pleased to 
cosponsor this measure. I also want to commend Chairman Royce and 
Ranking Member Engel for their leadership on international conservation 
issues, particularly the fight against wildlife trafficking.
  The Okavango River Basin in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia supports an 
amazing array of wildlife, including the largest remaining 
concentration of elephants in Africa. It is also home to more than a 
million people.
  The DELTA Act requires the development of a strategy to encourage 
sustainable management of natural resources in the river basin, 
including the protection of wildlife. This strategy will require input 
from a wide range of stakeholders, including national governments, 
local communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the private 
sector.
  The goal is to support economic development for the residents of the 
region while preserving unique ecosystems and protecting wildlife.
  The DELTA Act has the support of key conservation organizations, 
including the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation 
Society.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this bipartisan legislation, 
which passed our committee by unanimous voice vote, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), a member of the Committee on 
Appropriations and the author of this landmark legislation.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, let me thank 
Chairman Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for 
his extraordinary leadership, not only on this bill, but on a whole 
array of conservation and security initiatives. I thank the gentleman 
for his chairmanship and for his long service in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, let me thank Ranking Member Engel for his support of 
this legislation and Congressman Sherman for his kind and generous 
remarks. They are very much appreciated.
  Mr. Speaker, the greater Okavango River Basin is the largest 
freshwater wetland in southern Africa. Not only is it the main source 
of water and livelihood for more than 1 million people, as we have 
heard, it is home to the largest remaining elephant population in the 
entire world.
  The pathway for habitat along the three-country waterway is essential 
for sustaining this majestic animal and other species. As a creative 
approach to conservation, to foster an ecosystem of well-being for 
communities and for the purpose of international stability and 
security, as so well stated by Chairman Royce, given the scourge of 
wildlife trafficking and the nexus that it creates to terrorist network 
financing, we introduced this bipartisan bill, a transnational 
conservation initiative linking the natural habitat of the three 
nations, Angola, Namibia, and Botswana, to ensure the survival of this 
pristine ecosystem that is essential for the future of conservation, 
species, as well as the communities and people who live there.
  When we consider past conflicts that existed in parts of this region, 
it is truly heartwarming to work with the leaders of these countries to 
support their vision for the flourishing of animals and people, for the 
sake of the environment, and for the sake of their economies.
  This is imaginative foreign policy. It moves us from a singular, 
traditional type of solution to addressing challenges in a 
comprehensive, multinational, multisectoral strategy that mirrors the 
complexity of nature itself, beyond human-defined borders. This bill is 
a unique opportunity to help save and enhance one of the most beautiful 
and delicate ecosystems in the entire world before other international 
actors ruin it.
  As a co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus with Chairman 
Royce and with my good friends Congressman Cuellar from Texas and 
Congresswoman McCollum from Minnesota, I am very grateful for their 
hard work to help ensure the proper stewardship of natural resources in 
our own great country, as well as around the world.
  This bill offers the opportunity to continue to build authentic 
relations with the countries of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, as well 
as local communities and the private sector, to develop effective 
strategies to promote sustainable resource management, combat wildlife 
trafficking, and stimulate economic regeneration in this part of the 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I greatly appreciate Chairman Royce's 
cosponsorship, active support, and leadership in moving the DELTA Act 
through the committee, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
innovative, imaginative, and important initiative.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Cuellar).
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Sherman for yielding 
and for the leadership that he has provided on this issue. Certainly, I 
want to thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from 
California, Mr. Ed Royce, who has been working on this issue for so 
many years. I want to thank him and the ranking member of the 
committee, Mr. Engel, for all of the work that they have done.
  In particular, I want to thank my co-chair, Mr. Fortenberry, for his 
leadership. I remember talking about this particular bill at the very 
beginning, and here we are about to pass very important legislation. 
Certainly, I want

[[Page H6315]]

to join Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Ed Royce, Mr. Engel, myself, Ms. McCollum, 
and the rest of the cosponsors on this bipartisan bill that promotes 
sustainable economic development, combats wildlife trafficking in 
Africa's critical Okavango River Basin, which supports more than a 
million people in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and which is home to 
several threatened wildlife species, including the largest remaining 
elephant population in the world.

                              {time}  1630

  Today, that region is at a near breaking point due to the not very 
well thought of development activities, and we have got to make sure 
that we act together.
  Specifically, this bill will protect the vital Okavango River Basin 
by strengthening coordination between the United States, Angola, 
Botswana, and Namibia, and leveraging partnerships with the private 
sector, nongovernmental organizations, and regional bodies; 
prioritizing wildlife trafficking to make sure that we stop these 
poaching programs that have really affected this particular area; 
promoting sustainable economic growth for local communities through 
responsible natural resource management; and, more importantly, helping 
to stop the extinction of these majestic animals, these elephants and 
other endangered species.
  So it is important that we all work together as lawmakers in a 
bipartisan way and also partner with nations to build international 
political support for sustainable development while protecting the 
world's most sensitive ecosystems. In today's global community, it is 
crucial that we assist our international partners and make sure that we 
find a better way to protect our world.
  In conclusion, I would say that we only have one world to live in. It 
is up to us to ensure that we promote sustainable development so our 
children and grandchildren have a better world to live in.
  I want to thank the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, my 
colleagues, our co-chairs, and all of the Members on both sides that 
have worked so hard for this bipartisan support of this particular 
bill. So I thank my Members and colleagues for bringing this important 
matter to the U.S. Congress' attention, and I urge the support of this 
bill.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to reiterate the 
importance of conservation in combating the scourge of wildlife 
trafficking around the world. This bill reaffirms our commitment to 
these goals and will result in a strategy to encourage sustainable 
management of natural resources in the Okavango River Basin located in 
Angola, Botswana, and Namibia.
  I thank Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Cuellar, and, of course, Chairman Royce 
and Ranking Member Engel for their work. This bill passed our committee 
by unanimous, bipartisan voice vote. I strongly support it, and I urge 
my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the greater Okavango River Basin is home to the largest 
remaining elephant population on this planet, but like other regions 
across Africa, we know that poaching and trafficking of threatened 
species is increasing. We know that greater transboundary cooperation 
is essential to protect the basin in order to combat poaching threats 
and, obviously, to encourage the responsible management of water 
resources.
  The U.S. currently supports programs in Africa to combat poaching 
threats and promote economic growth, but greater coordination and 
diplomatic engagement with these governments, these governments working 
together to streamline these programs and galvanize support from 
partner countries also in the region, is essential.
  We do this not only to protect these threatened species, but also 
because it is in our national security interest to do so. I urge all of 
my colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4819, 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.

                          ____________________