[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2793, 
the ``Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022.'' The 
Highlands Conservation Act, a bipartisan land conservation program 
funded through the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), 
protects critical conservation areas in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands of 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. The Highlands is a 
nationally significant landscape that yields benefits and resources to 
more than 11 million Americans.
  A boon to our agriculture and tourism economy, the bill authorizes 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Forest Service to 
work together to help the Highland states, local governments, 
nonprofits and private forest and farm landowners to conserve the land 
and natural resources of the Highlands region, helping to lower costs 
for local farmers and preserve open spaces.
  Since 2007, $70 million in funding has been awarded through the 
Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program to the four States, including 
$20 million to New York. The program has helped preserve nearly 11,000 
acres in the Highlands region, including over 4,000 in the state of New 
York alone.
  This bill will improve upon the already popular land conservation 
partnership projects made possible by the Highlands Conservation Act 
Grant Program. In consultation with conservation groups and the FWS, 
the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act:
  Reauthorizes this important program through 2028 with $20 million in 
annual funding.
  Authorizes set-aside funding for the FWS to administer the program in 
a manner consistent with appropriations and other administered FWS 
programs.
  Includes a process in which states can petition for new areas to be 
included in the Highlands region, thus allowing for expansion of the 
eligible areas.
  Provides states with more complete information of what areas are 
ecologically connected.
  Allows the petition process to be administered on a rolling basis to 
eliminate possible bottlenecks.
  Gives FWS approval authority in the petition process, to remain 
consistent with how the program is currently administered.
  Allows the FWS to modernize the science of conservation resource 
values in the region.
  Responsible conservation is important for maintaining this country's 
beautiful lands. Mr. Speaker, the Highlands Conservation 
Reauthorization Act of 2022 achieves such ends, so I am proud to 
support this significant piece of legislation and urge my colleagues to 
as well.

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