    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [December 2, 2002]
    [Pages 2144-2145]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the North American Wetlands Conservation
    Reauthorization Act
    December 2, 2002

        The President. Please be seated. Thank you. Glad you're here.
    Welcome to the White House.
        Today we're taking important action to conserve North America's
    wetlands, which will help keep our water clean and help provide habitat
    for hundreds of species of wildlife. Through this legislation, the
    Federal Government will continue its partnership with landowners,
    conservation groups, and States to save and improve millions of acres of
    wetlands. The North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act
    shows our concern for the environment and our respect for future
    generations of Americans.
        I appreciate two members of my Cabinet who are here today. I'm
    honored the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, is with us, the Secretary of Agriculture, Ann
    Veneman. Thank you both for coming.
        I appreciate the Ambassador, Ambassador Kergin from Canada, for being here as well. Mr. Ambassador,
    glad you're here. Thanks for coming.
        I want to thank Bob Smith, Senator from New
    Hampshire, for being here and for his work on this bill. I want to thank
    Wayne Gilchrest from Maryland--he's got a
    big interest in wetlands as well as the Chesapeake Bay--for coming here.
    I appreciate so very much Robert Underwood, ranking

    [[Page 2145]]

    member from Guam, for coming. I'm sorry that Jim Hansen is not with us today. He was the chairman of the House
    Committee on Resources, who helped write and sponsor and get this
    legislation passed through the Congress.
        I appreciate Steve Williams, who is
    the director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, for coming today. Where
    are you, Steve? There you are. Thanks for coming.
        And I want to thank the president of Ducks Unlimited, John
    Tomke; thanks for coming, John. I'm glad you all
    are here. And I want to thank you all for coming as well.
        With this signature today, the North American Wetlands Conservation
    Act will be reauthorized for 5 years. The law authorizes Federal money
    to match donations from sportsmen, State wildlife agencies,
    conservationists, and landowners. Since 1991, more than $462 million in
    Federal grants have helped to encourage $1.3 billion in contributions
    from others. Together these funds have restored streams and rivers,
    reestablished native plants and trees, acquired land that is home to
    more than a third of America's threatened and endangered species.
        Because about 75 percent of the wetlands are held privately, we need
    to encourage cooperation with our landowners. This legislation shows
    that when Government and landowners and conservationists and others work
    together, we can make dramatic progress in preserving the beauty and the
    quality of our environment.
        I want to thank the Congress for supporting this legislation. And I
    ask the Members of the Congress and the two Cabinet members who are here
    today to join me as I sign this important piece of legislation.

    [At this point, the President signed the bill.]

        The President. Thank you. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:30 a.m. in Room 450 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Kergin. H.R. 3908, approved
    December 2, was assigned Public Law No. 107-308.