S.Amdt. 324

SA 324. Mr. LEAHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 600, to authorize appropriations for the Department of State and international broadcasting activities for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, for the Peace Corps for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, for foreign assistance programs for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:

PROTECTION OF THE GALAPAGOS

Sec. . (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings--

(1) The Galapagos Islands are a global treasure and World Heritage Site, and the future of the Galapagos is in the hands of the Government of Ecuador;

(2) The world depends on the Government of Ecuador to implement the necessary policies and programs to ensure the long term protection of the biodiversity of the Galapagos, including enforcing the Galapagos Special Law;

(3) There are concerns with the leadership of the Galapagos National Park Service and that the biodiversity of the Galapagos and the Marine Reserve are not being properly managed or adequately protected; and

(4) The Government of Ecuador has reportedly given preliminary approval for commercial airplane flights to the Island of Isabela, which may cause irreparable harm to the biodiversity of the Galapagos, and has allowed the export of fins from sharks caught accidentally in the Marine Reserve, which may encourage illegal fishing.

(b) Whereas, now therefore, be it

Resolved, that--

(1) the Senate strongly encourages the Government of Ecuador to--

(A) refrain from taking any action that could cause harm to the biodiversity of the Galapagos or encourage illegal fishing in the Marine Reserve;

(B) abide by the agreement to select the Directorship of the Galapagos National Park Service though a transparent process based on merit as previously agreed by the Government of Ecuador, international donors, and nongovernmental organizations; and

(C) enforce the Galapagos Special Law in its entirety, including the governance structure defined by the law to ensure effective control of migration to the Galapagos and sustainable fishing practices, and prohibit long-line fishing which threatens the survival of shark and marine turtle populations.

(2) The Department of State should--

(A) emphasize to the Government of Ecuador the importance the United States gives to these issues; and

(B) offer assistance to implement the necessary policies and programs to ensure the long term protection of the biodiversity of the Galapagos and the Marine Reserve and to sustain the livelihoods of the Galapagos population who depend on the marine ecosystem for survival.