[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4482-H4483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5973) to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5973
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 ``Great Lakes Fish and
Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE
RESTORATION ACT OF 1990.
(a) Reports.--Section 1008 of the Great Lakes Fish and
Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941f) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)--
(A) by inserting ``and not later than December 31, 2027,''
after ``2021,'';
(B) by striking ``Committee on Resources'' and inserting
``Committee on Natural Resources''; and
(C) by inserting ``, with respect to the period covered by
the report'' after ``describes''; and
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2016 through 2020'' and inserting ``2023
through 2028''.
(b) Reauthorization.--Section 1009(a) of the Great Lakes
Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941g(a))
is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``2016 through 2021'' and inserting ``2023 through
2028''.
(c) Administrative Costs.--Section 1009(a)(1)(B) of the
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 941g(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``5'' and
inserting ``3''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration
today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 5973, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Reauthorization Act, is
sponsored by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), my friend
and colleague from the Natural Resources Committee.
{time} 1545
This bill reauthorizes funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
to combat pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss in the Great
Lakes region.
The Great Lakes Basin is the largest body of fresh water on the
planet, holding 18 percent of the world's freshwater supply. Some 35
million people across 8 States and Canada depend on the basin for
drinking water, jobs, and recreation.
The Great Lakes are also a habitat to more than 500 migratory bird
species, more than 140 species of fish, and many endangered and
threatened species.
However, agricultural and industrial waste pose a threat to the water
quality in the basin. There are extensive populations of harmful
invasive species. And wildlife species are at risk due to habitat loss.
Fortunately, since 1990, the Fish and Wildlife Service has worked
with local communities and NGOs to restore the Great Lakes Basin by
tackling pollution, removing invasive species, and restoring essential
habitats.
Congress has reauthorized funding for this important program three
times, and I urge them to do so again today so that the Fish and
Wildlife Service can continue the excellent work that they are doing in
protecting that extraordinary and necessary ecosystem.
I commend my colleague, Representative Dingell, for her work on this
important bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5973, a bill sponsored by our
colleague, Representative Debbie Dingell from Michigan, to reauthorize
the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.
Under the authorities provided by this law, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service developed six common Great Lakes fish and wildlife
restoration goals in collaboration with State and local partners. To
date, 81 fish and wildlife restoration grant projects have been funded
through this cooperative effort.
This law has been reauthorized three times, most recently in 2016.
The bill we are considering today would extend these authorities until
2027 without increasing funding authorization.
We appreciate Congresswoman Dingell's commitment not to move this
bill until the Fish and Wildlife Service provided a mandatory report to
Congress. In late March, we finally received this report, which allowed
us to evaluate the current program and its progress toward meeting its
goals.
I commend Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this
legislation, and I urge adoption of the measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his incredible
support, and I thank my Republican colleague for his kind words and how
we work together.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I
am leading with my other colleagues, Congressman Darin LaHood,
Congressman Paul Tonko, and Congressman David Joyce, supports fish
and wildlife conservation efforts in the Great Lakes.
Since 1998, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has
provided critical resources for coordinating conservation efforts
across the Great Lakes ecosystem. This longstanding bipartisan backing
underscores the efficacy of the proven conservation mechanisms in this
legislation, including collaborative, private-public partnerships that
maximize the impact of Federal funding to make landscape-level
improvements to our fish and wildlife habitats.
A recently released report on the program by the Department of the
Interior, found that as a result of the fish and wildlife grant program
authorized by the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, that
significant progress has been made in addressing the six Great Lakes'
restoration goals specified in the legislation.
This includes control of sea lamprey populations across the Great
Lakes, progress on the restoration of lake trout in Lake Huron leading
to reducing stocking targets, and other species recovery efforts vital
to sustaining the very unique ecosystem of the Great Lakes Basin.
However, continued work is required to protect the Great Lakes for
future generations given the environmental pressures that this region
faces.
To this end, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act would
authorize funding for the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
for 5 years, from fiscal years 2022 through 2027, at the current
funding levels.
This legislation has broad bipartisan support, as well as the backing
of a variety of groups dedicated to safeguarding the Great Lakes,
including Ducks Unlimited and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
These Great Lakes are 90 percent of the freshwater in the United
States. We must protect them.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important
legislation, which will ensure our Great Lakes are protected for many
generations to come.
Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time
[[Page H4483]]
Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5973, 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.
____________________