[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24597-24598]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     PERMITTING ACCEPTANCE OF NON-U.S. FUNDS FOR CANADIAN WETLAND 
                         CONSERVATION PROJECTS

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3433) to amend the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 
to establish requirements regarding payment of the non-Federal share of 
the costs of wetlands conservation projects in Canada that are funded 
under that Act, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3433

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PAYMENT OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECTS IN MEXICO 
                   AND CANADA UNDER NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS 
                   CONSERVATION ACT.

       (a) In General.--Section 8(b)(3) of the North American 
     Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4407(b)(3)) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(3) The non-Federal share of the United States 
     contribution to the costs of such projects may not be derived 
     from Federal grant programs. In the case of a project carried 
     out in Canada or Mexico, the non-Federal share of the costs 
     of the project may include cash contributions from non-United 
     States sources that are used to pay costs of the project. In 
     the case of a project carried out in Canada, funds from 
     Canadian sources may comprise up to 50 percent of the non-
     Federal share of the costs of the project.''.

[[Page 24598]]

       (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to any approved and active wetlands 
     conservation project (as that term is used in section 8(b)(1) 
     of such Act) carried out with assistance provided under such 
     Act, including such a project approved before the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from Alaska 
(Mr. Young) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. 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 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  In combating the dramatic loss of wetland ecosystems, Congress 
enacted the North American Wetlands Conservation Act in 1989 providing 
a funding mechanism to support cooperative, public-private wetlands 
conservation efforts throughout North America. These projects have 
protected, restored, or enhanced approximately 23 million acres of 
wetlands in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
  However, the recent economic recession and the matching requirements 
under the act have made it difficult to generate non-Federal matching 
contributions for some critical wetland habitat conservation projects. 
The pending measure would amend the act to increase flexibility for 
grant recipients to meet matching fund requirements and ensure that the 
highest priority projects are funded throughout North America.
  I commend Congressman Wittman of Virginia for his leadership in 
wetland conservation. I urge the passage of the legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Since 1989, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act has required 
that each Federal dollar spent on the conservation project be matched 
by private, non-governmental money. However, due to the irreplaceable 
nature of the breeding waterfowl habitat in Canada, a decision was made 
not to require matching funds for Canadian projects from private 
Canadian sources.
  As a result of the economic downturn, however, it has become 
increasingly difficult to meet the 100 percent matching requirement 
here in the United States. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, 
there will be some $70 million worth of projects in Canada during the 
current 5-year funding cycle which began in 2007. Under the current 
law, this means that $70 million in private matching money must be 
provided.
  Under H.R. 3433, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would 
be amended to require at least 50 percent of non-Federal share of 
projects in Canada be paid for by Canadian non-governmental entities. 
There was unanimous support for this measure during our committee 
markup, and this is an appropriate change in our Federal law.
  I would also like to compliment the author of this bill, Congressman 
Wittman of Virginia, for his outstanding leadership and for his service 
on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3433.
  I introduced H.R. 3433 to provide for a simple, timely and essential 
change to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
  Under current law, Congress appropriates money each year to be spent 
on projects to acquire, enhance, protect and restore wetlands in 
Canada, Mexico and the United States.
  In fact, this remarkable program, which is now celebrating its 20th 
anniversary, has funded over 1,600 projects to conserve more than 20 
million acres of wetlands and associated uplands across North America. 
This conservation has helped ensure improved waterfowl hunting across 
North America.
  Since 1989, this landmark law has required that each Federal dollar 
spent on a conservation project be matched by non-federal money.
  However, due to the irreplaceable nature of the breeding waterfowl 
habitat in Canada, a decision was made not to require matching funds 
from Canadian sources. Therefore, projects in Canada have been matched 
by conservation dollars from the United States.
  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the North American 
Wetlands Council has approved conservation projects in Canada worth 
nearly $70 million during its current 5-year funding cycle which began 
in 2007. Under law, this means that $70 million in private matching 
funds must be provided.
  Under my legislation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 
would be amended to allow up to 50 percent of the non-federal share of 
projects in Canada to be paid for by Canadian conservation supporters. 
My legislation will allow and encourage our Canadian conservation 
partners to fund a greater number of important wetland preservation 
projects north of the border.
  The authorization of appropriations for the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act does not expire until September 30, 2012. We simply 
cannot wait to make this change because the nonmatching share imbalance 
will continue to grow and must be paid before the authorization 
expires.
  The language of this legislation has been fully vetted and been 
endorsed by all interested parties including the Fish and Wildlife 
Service, the member of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council 
which includes Ducks Unlimited, as well as the National Audubon Society 
and the American Bird Conservancy.
  I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3433.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I again urge support of the bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3433.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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