[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20158-20159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 50, THE MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUNDS 
   REAUTHORIZATION ACT AND H.R. 465, THE ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION 
                          REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2007

  Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 50, the 
Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act, which 
reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros 
and Tiger Conservation Act through 2012, and in support of H.R. 465, 
the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act. These conservation 
funds have a tremendous impact on the survival of threatened species.
  The ivory and bushmeat trades, as well as competition from humans for 
space and resources, continue to threaten the survival of the African 
Elephant. Rhinos and tigers similarly fall victim to these black market 
trades. In

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addition, deforestation and overworking have had devastating impacts on 
Asian Elephant populations. The grants awarded through the MSCF have 
proven to be effective in creating nature reserves, enhancing wildlife 
and ecosystem management, and developing antipoaching campaigns, 
helping to combat the practices that endanger these species the most.
  As of January, the Department of Interior had approved 280 
conservation grants in 23 African countries to assist African 
elephants, 321 grants for rhinos and tigers, and 171 grants for Asian 
elephants. By using $17 million in federal funding, the African 
elephant program has leveraged $72 million in private matching funds, 
and the rhino and tiger program has generated nearly $20 million in 
private funds to match its federally allocated $7.8 million. The Asian 
elephant program has been almost as successful, leveraging $10 million 
in private matching funds from $7.8 million in federal funding.
  H.R. 50 and H.R. 465 would reauthorize the Multinational Species 
Conservation Fund to support three important international conservation 
laws and help to protect these animals on a federal level. I strongly 
urge their support.

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