[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17675-17677]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ACT

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4318) to establish the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4318

       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 Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The area of Louisiana known as the Red River Valley, 
     located along the Red River Waterway in Caddo, Bossier, Red 
     River, Natchitoches, and De Soto Parishes, is of critical 
     importance to over 350 species of birds (including migratory 
     and resident waterfowl, shore birds, and neotropical 
     migratory birds), aquatic life, and a wide array of other 
     species associated with river basin ecosystems.
       (2) The bottomland hardwood forests of the Red River Valley 
     have been almost totally cleared. Reforestation and 
     restoration of native habitat will benefit a host of species.
       (3) The Red River Valley is part of a major continental 
     migration corridor for migratory birds funneling through the 
     mid continent from as far north as the Arctic Circle and as 
     far south as South America.
       (4) There are no significant public sanctuaries for over 
     300 river miles on this important migration corridor, and no 
     significant Federal, State, or private wildlife sanctuaries 
     along the Red River north of Alexandria, Louisiana.
       (5) Completion of the lock and dam system associated with 
     the Red River Waterway project up to Shreveport, Louisiana, 
     has enhanced opportunities for management of fish and 
     wildlife.
       (6) The Red River Valley offers extraordinary recreational, 
     research, and educational opportunities for students, 
     scientists, bird watchers, wildlife observers, hunters, 
     anglers, trappers, hikers, and nature photographers.
       (7) The Red River Valley is an internationally significant 
     environmental resource that has been neglected and requires 
     active restoration and management to protect and enhance the 
     value of the region as a habitat for fish and wildlife.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF REFUGE.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the Red 
     River National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately 
     50,000 acres of Federal lands, waters, and interests therein 
     within the boundaries depicted upon the map entitled ``Red 
     River National Wildlife Refuge--Selection Area'', dated 
     September 5, 2000.
       (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary shall make such 
     minor revisions of the boundaries of the Refuge as may be 
     appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to 
     facilitate the acquisition of property within the Refuge.
       (3) Availability of map.--The Secretary shall keep the map 
     referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection in 
     appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are the 
     following:
       (1) To provide for the restoration and conservation of 
     native plants and animal communities on suitable sites in the 
     Red River basin, including restoration of extirpated species.
       (2) To provide habitat for migratory birds.
       (3) To provide technical assistance to private land owners 
     in the restoration of their lands for the benefit of fish and 
     wildlife.
       (c) Effective Date.--The establishment of the Refuge under 
     paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall take effect on the date 
     the Secretary publishes, in the Federal Register and 
     publications of local circulation in the vicinity of the area 
     within the boundaries referred to in that paragraph, a notice 
     that sufficient property has been acquired by the United 
     States within those boundaries to constitute an area that can 
     be efficiently managed as a National Wildlife Refuge.

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF REFUGE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all lands, 
     waters, and interests therein acquired under section 5 in 
     accordance with--

[[Page 17676]]

       (1) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act 
     of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and the Act of September 
     28, 1962 (76 Stat. 653; 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.; commonly 
     known as the Refuge Recreation Act);
       (2) the purposes of the Refuge set forth in section 3(b); 
     and
       (3) the management plan issued under subsection (b).
       (b) Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the establishment of the Refuge, the Secretary shall issue a 
     management plan for the Refuge.
       (2) Contents.--The management plan shall include provisions 
     that provide for the following:
       (A) Planning and design of trails and access points.
       (B) Planning of wildlife and habitat restoration, including 
     reforestation.
       (C) Permanent exhibits and facilities and regular 
     educational programs throughout the Refuge.
       (D) Ensuring that compatible hunting, fishing, wildlife 
     observation and photography, and environmental education and 
     interpretation are the priority general public uses of the 
     Refuge, in accordance with section 4(a)(3) and (4) of the 
     National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 
     (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4)).
       (3) Public participation.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide an opportunity 
     for public participation in developing the management plan.
       (B) Local views.--The Secretary shall give special 
     consideration to views by local public and private entities 
     and individuals in developing the management plan.
       (c) Wildlife Interpretation and Education Center.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall construct, administer, 
     and maintain, at an appropriate site within the Refuge, a 
     wildlife interpretation and education center.
       (2) Purposes.--The center shall be designed and operated--
       (A) to promote environmental education; and
       (B) to provide an opportunity for the study and enjoyment 
     of wildlife in its natural habitat.
       (d) Assistance to Red River Waterway Commission.--The 
     Secretary shall provide to the Red River Waterway 
     Commission--
       (1) technical assistance in monitoring water quality, 
     noxious plants, and exotic organisms, and in preventing 
     siltation of prime fisheries habitat; and
       (2) where appropriate and available, fish for stocking.

     SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS, WATERS, AND INTERESTS THEREIN.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may acquire up to 50,000 
     acres of lands, waters, or interests therein within the 
     boundaries of the Refuge described in section 3(a)(1).
       (b) Inclusion in Refuge.--Any lands, waters, or interests 
     acquired by the Secretary under this section shall be part of 
     the Refuge.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Red River 
     National Wildlife Refuge established under section 3.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from American 
Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to exclude extraneous material therein on H.R. 4318, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4318 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery). It will establish the Red River National 
Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana.
  The Red River Valley is part of a historic migratory corridor that is 
used by over 350 different species of birds. These species include 
migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and neotropical migratory songbirds.
  It is part of the Mid-Continent Flyway region that stretches as far 
north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Tierra del Fuego, South 
America.
  Under the terms of the bill, the Secretary of Interior is provided 
with the authority to acquire up to 50,000 acres of land, water and 
other interests for inclusion in the refuge.
  I fully expect that all private land acquired by the Red River Refuge 
will be purchased from willing sellers.
  Mr. Speaker, I compliment the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery) 
for his tireless leadership on behalf of this legislation. The 
gentleman has worked extremely closely with local, State, and Federal 
officials to make the Red River National Wildlife Refuge a reality. I 
obviously urge an aye vote on 4318.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment and thank my good friend from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) for his management of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the cooperation and progress that has 
been made to improve the provisions of H.R. 4318 since it was ordered 
reported favorably by the Committee on Resources in July of this year.
  It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that the final maps depicting 
the proposed acquisition boundaries for this new refuge have been 
agreed to by the bill's sponsor, my good friend, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. McCrery), and by the Fish and Wildlife Service. I 
support these boundaries; and with this last remaining issue resolved, 
I am comfortable with moving this bill forward with passage today.
  This legislation, Mr. Speaker, will help restore and protect in 
perpetuity, valuable wetlands and wildlife habitats along the Red River 
in northern Louisiana. This bill is supported by the administration and 
has strong bipartisan support on both sides of the aisle on the 
Committee on Resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support 
for H.R. 4318, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act. This 
measure, which I introduced, establishes the Red River National 
Wildlife Refuge in Caddo, Bossier, Red River, Natchitoches, and DeSoto 
Parishes in the Fourth Congressional District of Louisiana.
  At present, there are 20 national wildlife refuges in the State of 
Louisiana which host over 1.4 million visitors annually. However, not a 
single national wildlife refuge exists in Northwest Louisiana to meet a 
demonstrated environmental need in the Red River Alluvial Valley.
  The Red River Alluvial Valley is an internationally significant 
environmental resource that has been neglected and requires active 
restoration and management to protect and enhance the value of the 
region as habitat for fish and wildlife.
  The Red River Valley is part of a major continental migration 
corridor for migratory birds funneling through North America from as 
far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Tierra del Fuego in 
South America. This valley is of critical environmental importance to 
over 350 species of birds (including migratory and resident waterfowl, 
shore birds, and neotropical migratory birds), aquatic life, and a wide 
array of other species associated with river basin ecosystems.
  However, since the 1820s, the Red River Valley has been almost 
totally cleared of its forest cover, primarily due to agricultural 
production. The recent completion of the Red River Waterway project in 
Louisiana and the land-use changes away from agricultural production in 
the area have enhanced opportunities for environmental restoration and 
management of fish and wildlife in the Red River Valley.
  H.R. 4318 authorizes the acquisition of up to 50,000 acres of land, 
waters, or interests therein in Caddo, Bossier, Red River, DeSoto, and 
Natchitoches Parishes for inclusion in the Red River National Wildlife 
Refuge. The refuge is envisioned to take the form of several large 
tracts of refuge lands comprising several thousand acres apiece, 
managed as a system to restore and preserve fish and wildlife habitat.
  The Red River National Wildlife Refuge, authorized in this Act, 
represents the federal share of a unique federal, state, local and 
private partnership being proposed by local conservationists, including 
Paul and Skipper Dickson and other members of the Friends of the Red 
River Refuges, to restore and manage approximately ten percent of the 
800,000-acre Red River Alluvial Valley in Louisiana. Funding for land 
acquisition would come from

[[Page 17677]]

the Migratory Bird Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
  H.R. 4318 calls for significant local public involvement in the 
delineation of refuge boundaries and the formulation of a refuge 
management plan. The bill also encourages public use of refuge lands 
and environmental outreach programs and facilities, including the 
authorization of wildlife interpretation and education center 
associated with the refuge.
  I would like to thank House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young, 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee Chairman Jim 
Saxton, and the other members of the Resources Committee for their 
support for this proposal. I urge members of the House to vote in favor 
of this legislation so we may undertake this important conservation and 
restoration project as soon as possible.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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 New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4318, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill H.R. 4318, as amended, 
was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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