[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.

                          ____________________