[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6657-6659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 658) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter 
into cooperative agreements to protect natural resources of units of 
the National Park System through collaborative efforts on land inside 
and outside of units of the National Park System, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page 6658]]



                                H.R. 658

       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 ``Natural Resource Protection 
     Cooperative Agreement Act''.

     SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL 
                   RESOURCE PROTECTION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this Act as the ``Secretary'') may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with State, local, or tribal governments, other 
     Federal agencies, other public entities, educational 
     institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or 
     participating private landowners for the purpose of 
     protecting natural resources of units of the National Park 
     System through collaborative efforts on land inside and 
     outside of National Park System units.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--A cooperative agreement entered 
     into under subsection (a) shall provide clear and direct 
     benefits to park natural resources and--
       (1) provide for--
       (A) the preservation, conservation, and restoration of 
     coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and wetlands;
       (B) preventing, controlling, or eradicating invasive exotic 
     species that are within a unit of the National Park System or 
     adjacent to a unit of the National Park System; or
       (C) restoration of natural resources, including native 
     wildlife habitat or ecosystems;
       (2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the 
     agreement will--
       (A) enhance science-based natural resource stewardship at 
     the unit of the National Park System; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to 
     be provided by the Secretary or other parties to the 
     agreement in support of activities inside and outside the 
     unit of the National Park System that will--
       (A) protect natural resources of the unit of the National 
     Park System; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment and any 
     other resources that will be contributed by the parties to 
     the agreement or by other Federal agencies;
       (5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the 
     Secretary or the partners to implement the agreement;
       (6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant 
     to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to support 
     the purposes of natural resource stewardship at a unit of the 
     National Park System; and
       (7) include such other terms and conditions as are agreed 
     to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
       (c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any funds 
     associated with an agreement entered into under subsection 
     (a) for the purposes of land acquisition, regulatory 
     activity, or the development, maintenance, or operation of 
     infrastructure, except for ancillary support facilities that 
     the Secretary determines to be necessary for the completion 
     of projects or activities identified in the agreement.
       (d) Funding.--Funds available to carry out the provisions 
     of this Act shall be limited to programs and amounts 
     specified in the statute for such use in the annual 
     appropriation Act for the National Park Service.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) 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 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill 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. 658 is an administration proposal introduced by Representative 
Jon Porter of Nevada. The bill would authorize the National Park 
Service to enter into cooperative agreements to spend Park Service 
funds outside of existing Park boundaries.
  According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, the 
National Park Service is the only Federal land management agency that 
does not currently have that authority.
  While there are several areas in which such cooperative agreements 
would be useful, the ability to participate in coordinated plans to 
eradicate invasive species in and around national parks is the primary 
reason that the National Park Service is seeking this authority.
  Under the terms of this legislation, the National Park Service could 
enter into such agreements with State, local or tribal governments, 
with other public entities, educational institutions, private nonprofit 
organizations, or participating private landowners. The legislation 
requires that any such cooperative agreements provide clear benefits to 
park resources.
  Madam Speaker, I would note this legislation does not authorize any 
new funding.
  I thank my colleague from Nevada for his effort, and we support 
passage of H.R. 658 by the House today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 658, and 
I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 658 was introduced by the very effective Congressman from 
Nevada, Jon Porter, and would authorize the National Park Service to 
enter into a cooperative agreement with willing partners to protect 
park natural resources through collaborative efforts on land inside and 
outside of units of the National Park System. This was recommended by 
the Government Accountability Office, as the Park Service is still the 
only land management agency without this particular authority. So we 
expect this will help control the spread of invasive species and 
increase the protection of parks and wildlife.
  At this point, Madam Speaker, I would like to engage the majority 
bill manager, Mr. Grijalva, in a colloquy to clarify an issue related 
to this bill, if he would.
  I understand that the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies has brought to the committee's attention their concern that 
H.R. 658 not be interpreted to give the National Park Service authority 
to manage fish and wildlife outside park boundaries.
  Management authority for fish and wildlife resources within State 
boundaries has customarily been held in trust by the respective States. 
Congress has repeatedly affirmed this. This trust responsibility has 
been implemented primarily through State fish and wildlife agencies. In 
general, these principles are expressed in relevant fish and wildlife 
policies of the Department of the Interior found in volume 43 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 24.
  Can the chairman of the subcommittee please clarify that the States' 
existing authority to manage fish and wildlife is not affected by H.R. 
658?
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I thank the gentleman, and I agree with the gentleman 
from Utah on his description of Federal and State authorities to manage 
fish and wildlife resources.
  I also agree that we should promote better coordination and 
cooperation between the Federal Government and the States to enhance 
our fish and wildlife resources for future generations, especially for 
the control of invasive species. I assure my colleague that nothing in 
H.R. 658 diminishes or enlarges the authority of the Federal Government 
or any State for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his 
assurances, and with that, I urge adoption of the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), the author of 
this very good piece of legislation.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, invasive animal and plant species know no 
boundaries. That is why I introduced H.R. 658, the Natural Resource 
Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.
  The passage of this legislation today has significance to my 
district, given

[[Page 6659]]

the recent infestation at Lake Mead of quagga mussels. These are a 
species capable of causing massive destruction and billions of dollars 
in damages. The quagga mussel is a resilient species that multiplies at 
exponential rates and can cause enormous ecological, recreational, and 
economic damage. In recent years, the mussel has caused an estimated $5 
billion in damages to the Great Lakes region.
  As the law currently exists, the National Park Service does not have 
the legal authority to enter into cooperative agreements with 
neighboring States and local governments or private entities. Rather, 
the Park Service must wait until invasive species cross into their 
lands and waterways before they can be dealt with.
  Part of responsible stewardship of our local environment is being 
proactive and not merely responsive to new ecological challenges. H.R. 
658 enables the National Park Service to take preventative measures in 
order to preserve our lands and natural resources.
  By entering into cooperative agreements with State and local experts, 
we will be able to eradicate invasive species before they encroach onto 
Federal lands. We have an obligation to our children and to our 
community to be responsible stewards of our local environment.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working in a 
bipartisan manner on this very important issue.
  I also want to thank my constituent Ann Schreiber in Nevada who has 
worked so hard to eradicate invasive plant life in my district and 
recognizes the importance of meeting these challenges head-on.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our 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. 658.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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