[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9681-H9682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BOUNDARY MODIFICATION ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6427) to amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act to 
modify the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6427

       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 ``Red River National Wildlife 
     Refuge Boundary Modification Act''.

     SEC. 2. RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BOUNDARY 
                   MODIFICATION.

       Section 3(a)(1) of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge 
     Act (Public Law 106-300; 114 Stat. 1055) is amended by 
     striking ``map entitled `Red River National Wildlife Refuge--
     Selection Area', dated September 5, 2000'' and inserting 
     ``map entitled `Red River National Wildlife Refuge 
     Acquisition Boundary' and dated March 21, 2022''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Obernolte) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 6427, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary 
Modification Act will amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge 
acquisition boundary, which is the area from which more land can be 
added to the refuge.
  This amendment will allow for 3,300 acres of land to be conveyed to 
the refuge system.
  The Red River National Wildlife Refuge runs through parts of the Red 
River Valley in northwestern Louisiana. Each year, approximately 80,000 
waterfowl visit the 50,000-acre refuge for feeding and resting. Over 
200 species of neotropical migratory songbirds also stop at the refuge.
  The expansion will support migratory birds throughout their annual 
life cycle of breeding, wintering, and migrating. It will also provide 
additional economic benefits to the region through partnerships with 
local farmers and increased public access for outdoor recreationists.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
their work on this important legislation. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Red River National Wildlife 
Refuge Boundary Modification Act, a bill sponsored by the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson).

[[Page H9682]]

  H.R. 6427 would revise the boundary of the Red River National 
Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana and expand waterfowl conservation 
opportunities on a 3,300-acre tract. This parcel has been actively 
managed to provide increased habitat for migrating waterfowl in the 
Central Flyway of North America.
  Although this legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service to acquire these lands from a willing seller, this bill would 
not increase the refuge's 50,000-acre statutory cap.
  I thank Mr. Johnson for introducing this measure and also thank Ducks 
Unlimited for its work on this bill and for its longstanding advocacy 
for waterfowl conservation and hunting access.
  Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill and reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I have no requests for time. We are 
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Obernolte), my friend, and Chairman Grijalva for 
helping us on this.
  I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 6427, the Red River National 
Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act. I urge my colleagues to 
support it, as well.
  As has been explained here, it is a straightforward bill that 
addresses a very simple problem. For years, the Red River Wildlife 
Refuge in northwest Louisiana, my home turf, has been a boon for 
hunters and outdoorsmen and other recreationists. Just last year, it 
hosted over 209,000 visits. That is greater than the population of 
Shreveport, Louisiana, which is the largest city in my district.
  Thousands of these visitors went to the refuge for the express 
purpose of hunting and fishing. The refuge truly has contributed to 
Louisiana's status as a sportsman's paradise. This is a sentiment that 
we in Louisiana hold so dear, we print it on every license plate.
  The refuge's stated goal is to provide for the restoration and 
conservation of fish and wildlife habitat, including migratory birds, 
as has been explained here, that all come within the Red River Valley 
ecosystem. However, the refuge's current structure is insufficient to 
meet the goals set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, especially 
for migratory waterfowl.
  As we stand here today, the refuge can only support about one-third 
of the birds it is intended to support. So my bill would help address 
this deficiency by modifying the refuge boundary to include a 3,300-
acre tract of privately owned land for the purpose of eventually 
incorporating the tract into the refuge. This boundary modification 
would not alter the authorized acreage of the refuge, and it would 
still keep the refuge well within its current authorized use and size.

  The Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates this tract would 
dramatically increase the number of migratory waterfowl the refuge is 
able to support. The bill will also benefit the local economy through 
partnerships with agricultural producers, greater access by the public 
to hunters and other recreationists, and greater waterfowl distribution 
throughout the region, as populations radiate from the refuge.
  We spent a tremendous amount of time speaking with all the 
stakeholders on this issue and collecting their feedback. State and 
local support for this legislation includes all of the State senators 
and representatives who represent the area, the Louisiana Department of 
Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and 
Forestry, the Louisiana Forestry Association, several members of the 
local Caddo Parish Commission and nearby landowners.
  This bill is pro-conservation, pro-hunting, pro-agriculture, and pro-
outdoor recreation, so we believe it truly is a win-win-win.
  I thank the chairman, the ranking member, the gentleman from 
California, and all the Natural Resources Committee for working with me 
on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging 
adoption of this good legislation. 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. 6427, 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.

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