[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19959-19962]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          COASTAL AND ESTUARINE LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM ACT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1907) to authorize the acquisition of land and interests in 
land from willing sellers to improve the conservation of, and to 
enhance the ecological values and functions of, coastal and estuarine 
areas to benefit both the environment and the economies of coastal 
communities, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1907

       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 ``Coastal and Estuarine Land 
     Conservation Program Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF COASTAL AND ESTUARINE LAND 
                   CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

       The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et 
     seq.) is amended by inserting after section 307 the following 
     new section:


 ``authorization of the coastal and estuarine land conservation program

       ``Sec. 307A.  (a) In General.--The Secretary may conduct a 
     Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, in 
     cooperation with appropriate State, regional, and other units 
     of government, for the purposes of protecting important 
     coastal and estuarine areas that have significant 
     conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or 
     aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from 
     their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other 
     uses or could be managed or restored to effectively conserve, 
     enhance, or restore ecological function. The program shall be 
     administered by the National Ocean Service of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Office of 
     Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
       ``(b) Property Acquisition Grants.--The Secretary shall 
     make grants under the program to coastal states with approved 
     coastal zone management plans or National Estuarine Research 
     Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring property or 
     interests in property described in subsection (a) that will 
     further the goals of--
       ``(1) a Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program approved 
     under this title;
       ``(2) a National Estuarine Research Reserve management 
     plan;
       ``(3) a regional or State watershed protection or 
     management plan involving coastal states with approved 
     coastal zone management programs; or
       ``(4) a State coastal land acquisition plan that is 
     consistent with an approved coastal zone management program.
       ``(c) Grant Process.--The Secretary shall allocate funds to 
     coastal states or National Estuarine Research Reserves under 
     this section through a competitive grant process in 
     accordance with guidelines that meet the following 
     requirements:
       ``(1) The Secretary shall consult with the coastal state's 
     coastal zone management program, any National Estuarine 
     Research Reserve in that State, and the lead agency 
     designated by the Governor for coordinating the 
     implementation of this section (if different from the coastal 
     zone management program).
       ``(2) Each participating coastal state, after consultation 
     with local governmental entities and other interested 
     stakeholders, shall identify priority conservation needs 
     within the State, the values to be protected by inclusion of 
     lands in the program, and the threats to those values that 
     should be avoided.
       ``(3) Each participating coastal state shall to the extent 
     practicable ensure that the acquisition of property or 
     easements shall complement working waterfront needs.
       ``(4) The applicant shall identify the values to be 
     protected by inclusion of the lands in the program, 
     management activities that are planned and the manner in 
     which they may affect the values identified, and any other 
     information from the landowner relevant to administration and 
     management of the land.
       ``(5) Awards shall be based on demonstrated need for 
     protection and ability to successfully leverage funds among 
     participating entities, including Federal programs, regional 
     organizations, State and other governmental units, 
     landowners, corporations, or private organizations.
       ``(6) The governor, or the lead agency designated by the 
     governor for coordinating the implementation of this section, 
     where appropriate in consultation with the appropriate local 
     government, shall determine that the application is 
     consistent with the State's or territory's approved coastal 
     zone plan, program, and policies prior to submittal to the 
     Secretary.
       ``(7)(A) Priority shall be given to lands described in 
     subsection (a) that can be effectively managed and protected 
     and that have significant ecological value.
       ``(B) Of the projects that meet the standard in 
     subparagraph (A), priority shall be given to lands that--
       ``(i) are under an imminent threat of conversion to a use 
     that will degrade or otherwise diminish their natural, 
     undeveloped, or recreational state; and
       ``(ii) serve to mitigate the adverse impacts caused by 
     coastal population growth in the coastal environment.
       ``(8) In developing guidelines under this section, the 
     Secretary shall consult with coastal states, other Federal 
     agencies, and other interested stakeholders with expertise in 
     land acquisition and conservation procedures.
       ``(9) Eligible coastal states or National Estuarine 
     Research Reserves may allocate grants to local governments or 
     agencies eligible for assistance under section 306A(e).
       ``(10) The Secretary shall develop performance measures 
     that the Secretary shall use to evaluate and report on the 
     program's effectiveness in accomplishing its purposes, and 
     shall submit such evaluations to Congress triennially.
       ``(d) Limitations and Private Property Protections.--
       ``(1) A grant awarded under this section may be used to 
     purchase land or an interest in land, including an easement, 
     only from a willing seller. Any such purchase shall not be 
     the result of a forced taking under this section. Nothing in 
     this section requires a private property owner to participate 
     in the program under this section.
       ``(2) Any interest in land, including any easement, 
     acquired with a grant under this section shall not be 
     considered to create any new liability, or have any effect on 
     liability under any other law, of any private property owner 
     with respect to any person injured on the private property.
       ``(3) Nothing in this section requires a private property 
     owner to provide access (including Federal, State, or local 
     government access) to or use of private property unless such 
     property or an interest in such property (including a 
     conservation easement) has been purchased with funds made 
     available under this section.
       ``(e) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--
     Nothing in this title modifies the authority of Federal, 
     State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       ``(f) Matching Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may not make a grant under 
     the program unless the

[[Page 19960]]

     Federal funds are matched by non-Federal funds in accordance 
     with this subsection.
       ``(2) Cost share requirement.--
       ``(A) In general.--Grant funds under the program shall 
     require a 100 percent match from other non-Federal sources.
       ``(B) Waiver of requirement.--The Secretary may grant a 
     waiver of subparagraph (A) for underserved communities, 
     communities that have an inability to draw on other sources 
     of funding because of the small population or low income of 
     the community, or for other reasons the Secretary deems 
     appropriate and consistent with the purposes of the program.
       ``(3) Other federal funds.--Where financial assistance 
     awarded under this section represents only a portion of the 
     total cost of a project, funding from other Federal sources 
     may be applied to the cost of the project. Each portion shall 
     be subject to match requirements under the applicable 
     provision of law.
       ``(4) Source of matching cost share.--For purposes of 
     paragraph (2)(A), the non-Federal cost share for a project 
     may be determined by taking into account the following:
       ``(A) The value of land or a conservation easement may be 
     used by a project applicant as non-Federal match, if the 
     Secretary determines that--
       ``(i) the land meets the criteria set forth in section 2(b) 
     and is acquired in the period beginning 3 years before the 
     date of the submission of the grant application and ending 3 
     years after the date of the award of the grant;
       ``(ii) the value of the land or easement is held by a non-
     governmental organization included in the grant application 
     in perpetuity for conservation purposes of the program; and
       ``(iii) the land or easement is connected either physically 
     or through a conservation planning process to the land or 
     easement that would be acquired.
       ``(B) The appraised value of the land or conservation 
     easement at the time of the grant closing will be considered 
     and applied as the non-Federal cost share.
       ``(C) Costs associated with land acquisition, land 
     management planning, remediation, restoration, and 
     enhancement may be used as non- Federal match if the 
     activities are identified in the plan and expenses are 
     incurred within the period of the grant award, or, for lands 
     described in (A), within the same time limits described 
     therein. These costs may include either cash or in-kind 
     contributions.
       ``(g) Reservation of Funds for National Estuarine Research 
     Reserve Sites.--No less than 15 percent of funds made 
     available under this section shall be available for 
     acquisitions benefitting National Estuarine Research 
     Reserves.
       ``(h) Limit on Administrative Costs.--No more than 5 
     percent of the funds made available to the Secretary under 
     this section shall be used by the Secretary for planning or 
     administration of the program. The Secretary shall provide a 
     report to Congress with an account of all expenditures under 
     this section for fiscal year 2009 and triennially thereafter.
       ``(i) Title and Management of Acquired Property.--If any 
     property is acquired in whole or in part with funds made 
     available through a grant under this section, the grant 
     recipient shall provide--
       ``(1) such assurances as the Secretary may require that--
       ``(A) the title to the property will be held by the grant 
     recipient or another appropriate public agency designated by 
     the recipient in perpetuity;
       ``(B) the property will be managed in a manner that is 
     consistent with the purposes for which the land entered into 
     the program and shall not convert such property to other 
     uses; and
       ``(C) if the property or interest in land is sold, 
     exchanged, or divested, funds equal to the current value will 
     be returned to the Secretary in accordance with applicable 
     Federal law for redistribution in the grant process; and
       ``(2) certification that the property (including any 
     interest in land) will be acquired from a willing seller.
       ``(j) Requirement for Property Used for Non-Federal 
     Match.--If the grant recipient elects to use any land or 
     interest in land held by a non-governmental organization as a 
     non-Federal match under subsection (g), the grant recipient 
     must to the Secretary's satisfaction demonstrate in the grant 
     application that such land or interest will satisfy the same 
     requirements as the lands or interests in lands acquired 
     under the program.
       ``(k) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Conservation easement.--The term `conservation 
     easement' includes an easement or restriction, recorded deed, 
     or a reserve interest deed where the grantee acquires all 
     rights, title, and interest in a property, that do not 
     conflict with the goals of this section except those rights, 
     title, and interests that may run with the land that are 
     expressly reserved by a grantor and are agreed to at the time 
     of purchase.
       ``(2) Interest in property.--The term `interest in 
     property' includes a conservation easement.
       ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
     this section $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
     through 2013.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. 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 bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1907 would authorize the existing 
Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which is administered 
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  This very popular program was first established under the fiscal year 
2002 Appropriations Act for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, 
State, and Related Agencies.
  Since its inception, the CELCP program has awarded more than $176 
million in matching grants to eligible coastal States and territories 
to acquire properties or conservation easements from willing sellers to 
protect fish and wildlife habitat from future development and to 
preserve scarce coastal open space.
  This bill was introduced by Congressman James Saxton and was 
subsequently reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. This 
legislation would formally authorize the program consistent with past 
appropriations acts and with NOAA's own program guidelines.
  Madam Speaker, the existing CELCP program is both targeted and 
effective, and it addresses a critical habitat conservation need in 
many coastal States and territories. The bill is strongly supported by 
the administration, by the Coastal States Organization and by several 
respected conservation organizations, including the Nature Conservancy 
and the Trust for Public Land.
  I commend Congressman Saxton for his steadfast efforts to authorize 
this program and to protect and to conserve the coastal zone of the 
United States. I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this 
important legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Congressman Jim 
Saxton, who has worked tirelessly on this legislation and to have it 
scheduled for floor debate today. He cannot be here because he is en 
route.
  He has had a long and distinguished career championing ocean and 
coastal causes in the House of Representatives. He will be missed as he 
retires at the end of this Congress. I thank him for his service and 
for his leadership on the Natural Resources Committee as well as for 
his being a former Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee member. I 
wish him good winds and fair seas in his next voyage in life.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to my 
friend, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1907, which 
formally codifies NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation 
Program, informally known as the CELCP program.
  First, I want to thank the chairman of the Natural Resources 
Committee, Mr. Rahall, and the chairwoman of the subcommittee, Ms. 
Bordallo, for bringing H.R. 1907 before us today. I also want to join 
with the ranking member, Mr. Young, in recognizing the author of this 
legislation, Mr. Saxton, for his leadership in all of the areas that he 
has worked on, especially in this area. Those comments of my colleague 
from Alaska were very well said. For years, Mr. Saxton has been a 
champion for the marine environment, and his passion for our oceans 
will be missed.

[[Page 19961]]

  Mr. Speaker, it's well-known that more and more people are moving to 
the coast to enjoy its beauty and its recreational opportunities. An 
estimated 60 percent of Americans will live along our coasts during the 
next 2 years. More than ever, the pressures of urbanization and of 
coastal pollution threaten to impair watersheds, to impact wildlife 
habitat and to cause irreparable damage to our fragile coastal ecology.
  We see strong signals of what continuing down this path could bring 
us: beach closings, fish kills, human health impacts, and a lack of 
public access to beaches and to coastal waters. That's why we need 
initiatives like the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, 
the CELCP program.
  This existing program pairs willing sellers through community-based 
initiatives with sources of Federal funds in order to enhance 
environmental protection. Lands can be acquired in full or through 
easements, and none of the lands purchased through this program would 
be held by the Federal Government. It puts land conservation 
initiatives in the hands of State and local communities. That's why 
it's supported by the Coastal States Organization.
  In my congressional district, we've worked collaboratively with 
coastal communities, with environmental groups, with willing sellers, 
and with the State to conserve lands around the Morro Bay National 
Estuary, on the nationally significant Gaviota Coast and near the 
Piedras Blancas Outstanding Natural Area.
  These lands are home to a wide variety of plants and animal species 
that are particularly threatened by encroaching development and 
pollution. By working with local communities to purchase lands and 
easements, California has been able to successfully preserve the 
natural and scenic heritage of some of its last undeveloped stretches 
of coastline.
  Mr. Speaker, programs like CELCP will help other coastal States to 
participate in these community-based conservation efforts. Given the 
importance of healthy, productive and accessible coastal areas, it's 
time to formally authorize CELCP. This legislation makes important 
improvements in the program. It provides a better framework for its 
administration, and it will ensure the consistent implementation 
throughout the country.
  I know that we all would like to do something like this in honor and 
in the memory of our good friend in his days in Congress, Mr. Saxton. 
So I want to thank the chairwoman and Mr. Saxton for their leadership 
on this legislation. I look forward to working with them in the coming 
days to ensure its passage so that we can fill this vital need for 
coastal protection. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1907.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I will recognize Mrs. 
Musgrave from Colorado for as much time as she may consume.
  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, due to a traffic problem, I am a little 
bit late in getting into this Chamber to make comment on H.R. 3299, and 
I so much appreciate the opportunity.
  That bill under consideration today provides for a boundary 
adjustment to the Roosevelt National Forest to correct an erroneous 
survey.
  In May of 2006, a number of my constituents who live in the Crystal 
Lakes Subdivision in Larimer County, Colorado contacted my office after 
they received notice from the Forest Service that they were encroaching 
upon Federal property. You can imagine what a surprise this was to 
those folks. Many of those people who had purchased the land in the 
1970s, improved it, built homes on it and had literally lived there for 
decades.
  However, the Forest Service informed these homeowners that a survey 
that had been conducted in 2003 and in 2004 had found that the earlier 
survey that was conducted in 1975 was, indeed, inaccurate. This 1975 
survey was privately commissioned and was used in the development of 
the Crystal Lakes Subdivision.
  Thirty years after the property was originally developed, landowners 
have now been informed that the portions of the land they paid for and 
that they improved may actually be on Federal property. Even more, a 
number of these landowners were faced with the reality that their homes 
might be on Federal land.

                              {time}  1400

  The property owners bought this land and made the improvements all in 
good faith, and are now faced with an undue burden to deal with this 
mistake.
  The only recourse for individuals whose homes are within the area of 
dispute is the Small Tracts Act. However, this requires homeowners to 
pay for this land a second time at current fair market value. 
Obviously, the land prices in this beautiful area have increased 
dramatically over the past three decades and this purchase would place 
an enormous financial burden on these homeowners. The uncertainty 
associated with this dispute has made it difficult for impacted 
property owners to sell their property. H.R. 3299 would remedy these 
problems by conveying without consideration the disputed areas to the 
impacted homeowners.
  The 7 acres involved in this boundary dispute are a miniscule 
fraction of the 1.3 million acres of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National 
Forest. Because this land has been cleared and it has been occupied, 
obviously, for a number of years, transferring it back to the Forest 
Service would not enhance the environment or the scenic attributes of 
the area. Additionally, H.R. 3299 would not in any way impact the 
integrity or affect the operation of the forest.
  The landowners impacted by this boundary dispute need resolution and 
certainty. H.R. 3299 did that by allowing them to keep the land they 
purchased and improved.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Rahall 
and Congressman Young, as well as Chairman Grijalva and Mr. Bishop for 
moving this legislation through the Natural Resources Committee. I am 
grateful for the support of my colleagues of H.R. 3299.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to go on record as 
commending Mr. Saxton for his long and distinguished career as a 
champion for the oceans. We will all miss him and his passion for 
protecting the marine environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill before us today. 
In closing, I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska, the 
distinguished ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. 
Young, for managing the bills with me today.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting authorization of the Coastal and Estuarine Land 
Conservation Program. H.R. 1907--the Coastal and Estuarine Land 
Conservation Program Act authorizes a voluntary partnership program to 
provide badly needed Federal funds for the purchase and protection of 
sensitive coastal ecosystems with the goal of better ensuring the 
ecological and economic health of our coastal communities.
  It is well known that more and more people are moving to the coast to 
enjoy its beauty and recreational opportunities. An estimated 60 
percent of Americans will live along our coasts by 2010. Fourteen of 
our Nation's 20 largest cities are located on the coast. More than 
ever, the pressures of urbanization and pollution along our Nation's 
shores threaten to impair watersheds, impact wildlife habitat and cause 
irreparable damage to the fragile coastal ecology.
  Created by Congress in fiscal year 2002, the Coastal and Estuarine 
Land Conservation Program--also known as CELP--was modeled after the 
successful Forest Legacy Program. To date, this program has invested 
nearly $200 million towards 150 conservation projects in 26 of the 
Nation's 35 coastal and Great Lakes States and territories. This 
Federal investment has leveraged more than an equal amount of State, 
local and private funding, demonstrating the importance of coastal 
protection throughout the Nation and the critical role of Federal 
funding to its success.
  More importantly, the program has helped to conserve lands and waters 
that will offer numerous benefits to local communities by preserving 
water quality, natural areas for wildlife and birds, and outdoor 
recreational opportunities--thereby protecting for the future the very

[[Page 19962]]

things we love about the coasts. Although the program has been in 
existence for six years, it has yet to be formally authorized. This 
legislation seeks to do just that.
  This bill will formally authorize this Federal/State partnership 
program explicitly for conservation of coastal lands. CELP will award 
grants on a competitive basis to the 35 coastal and Great Lakes States 
and territories or National Estuarine Research Reserves for the purpose 
of protecting lands that are critical to the health of our coasts and 
estuaries. This legislation will allow coastal States to compete for 1 
to 1 matching funds to acquire land or easements from willing sellers 
to protect coastal areas that have considerable conservation, 
recreation, ecological, historical or aesthetic values threatened by 
development or conversion.
  By establishing a plan for the preservation of our coastal areas, the 
Act will build on the foundation laid down by the Coastal Zone 
Management Act, and will encourage voluntary land conservation 
partnerships among the Federal Government, State agencies, local 
governments, private landowners and nonprofits. It will not only 
improve the quality of coastal areas and the marine life they support, 
but also sustain surrounding communities and their way of life.
  I thank Representative Capps and all of our cosponsors for their 
support of H.R. 1907 and I ask my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1907 the Coastal and 
Estuarine Land Conservation and Protection Act authored by my friend 
and fellow co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus from New Jersey, Mr. Jim 
Saxton.
  I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all 
that Mr. Saxton has done during his distinguished career in this House 
to help protect and promote the oceans. He has been a great ally in the 
fight to keep our oceans from harm and make sure that they will be 
healthy and productive for our grandchildren's grandchildren. Mr. 
Saxton joined me in coauthoring a comprehensive ocean management bill, 
H.R. 21, known as Oceans-21, that would create a national ocean policy 
and create coordinated State and Federal management of our oceans. I 
will continue the fight for the oceans but I will miss having the 
leadership, friendship, and vision of Jim Saxton next year.
  The conservation of coastal habitat a necessary action identified in 
the final reports of both the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. 
Commission on Ocean Policy. Coastal areas are vitally important to our 
ocean health, since most of our use of the oceans, both recreational 
and commercial take place in the coastal zone. Estuaries provide even-
more important services such as mitigating the impacts from runoff and 
are known to be the nurseries that support our country's fisheries.
  This bill is necessary to authorize a coastal land conservation 
program and extend the utility of one of our best ocean management 
laws: the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Coastal Zone Management Act 
allows States and the Federal Government to cooperate in the management 
of the resources and environment of the coasts. States which have 
approved coastal management plans and National Estuarine Research 
Reserves will be eligible for grants to conserve coastal lands and 
estuaries that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, 
historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion 
from their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses or 
could be managed or restored to effectively conserve, enhance, or 
restore ecological function.
  I also lend my support to this bill because I have seen the good that 
this program can do. The Elkhorn Slough, covering 1,330 acres in my 
district, is one of the relatively few coastal wetlands remaining in 
California. It became a part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System in 1979. The main channel of the slough, which winds inland 
nearly seven miles, is flanked by a broad salt marsh second in size in 
California only to San Francisco Bay.
  Elkhorn Slough is home to more than 400 species of invertebrates, 80 
species of fish and 200 species of birds. The channels and tidal creeks 
of the slough are nurseries for many species of fish and help support 
fishing off of the West Coast. At least six threatened or endangered 
species utilize the slough or its surrounding uplands, including 
peregrine falcons, Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders, California red-
legged frogs, brown pelicans, least terns and Southern Sea Otters. The 
slough is also an important stop on the Pacific Flyway, providing 
feeding and resting ground for many types of migrating waterfowl and 
shorebirds.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes a program that is necessary for the 
protection of our coasts and our oceans for future generations. I 
cannot emphasize enough the need for this Congress to provide for ocean 
stewardship now. I support the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation 
and Protection Act and I urge my colleagues to join me.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the 
Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) Act, H.R. 1907.
  CELCP is a wonderful example of a public/private partnership. I 
believe strongly in protecting lands currently threatened by the rapid 
development across the country and I am so pleased that CELCP is able 
to make such a valuable contribution to the protection of coastal and 
estuarine lands, which are considered important for their ecological, 
conservation, recreational, historical and aesthetic value.
  This program provides badly needed federal funds for the purchase and 
protection of sensitive coastal ecosystems with the goal of better 
ensuring the ecological and economic health of our coastal 
communities--this is critical in light of the fact that 60 percent of 
Americans will live along the coast by 2010.
  I have been privileged to work with Representative Saxton and applaud 
his dedication to formally authorizing this program that Congress has 
funded since 2003. By establishing a plan for the preservation of our 
coastal areas, authorizing CELCP will build on the successful Coastal 
Zone Management Act, and it will continue to encourage partnership 
programs among federal government, state agencies, local governments, 
private landowners and non-profits.
  CELCP has certainly provided the backbone for strong partnerships in 
Delaware, through the Nature Conservancy, and DNREC, and NOAA--and I 
look forward to the continued success of the program.
  As we all know too well, protecting open space is particularly 
important in Delaware, where rapid development is underway. Delaware's 
CELCP funding totals around $10 million; most recently it has helped 
ensure that Blackbird Creek, with wetlands, forest, and important 
species, remains ecologically valuable today and in the future.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in 
supporting H.R. 1907.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ellison). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1907, as amended.
  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. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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