North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2006

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5539) to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present H.R. 5539 introduced by the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Resources, Congressman Richard Pombo. First enacted in 1989, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act has become one of our Nation's most effective conservation programs. Since the first wetlands grant was awarded, more than 1,500 conservation projects have been funded involving more than 3,200 partners. As a direct result, more than 23 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat have been protected, restored, or enhanced in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Wetlands are among the world's most productive environments. They are critical to the survival of not only thousands of wildlife species but also to the people who live along our coasts. Without these wetlands, the impact of the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico would have been far worse in terms of loss of human life and destruction of private property.

Since the inception of this program, the amount of private nongovernmental matching money has been remarkable. It now stands in excess of $2.1 billion. It is, therefore, not surprising that this legislation has been enthusiastically supported by more than 40 major conservation organizations.

For the past 5 years, Congress has appropriated about $40 million each year for this program. Under H.R. 5539, existing funding levels would be extended for an additional 5 years. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has been remarkably effective in conserving wetlands. I want to thank Chairman Pombo for his extraordinary leadership on this most important conservation issue.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, this week will mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, a joint conservation strategy implemented by both the United States and Canada to protect and restore wetland habitat stretching across North America.

Soon after the establishment of this comprehensive strategy in 1986, the Congress, led by the Dean of the House, John Dingell, authorized the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to establish a matching- grant program to take the goals of the North American plan off the drawing board and

into the landscape of the North American continent.

As many Members know, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act has demonstrated time and time again that it is one of our greatest wetlands conservation success stories.

Grants under the act have not only generated hundreds of millions of non-Federal matching funds; these contributions have been converted into acquisition, conservation, protection and restoration of millions of acres of wetlands across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Few Federal programs deliver such a bang for the buck.

Although the current authorization of appropriations does not expire until next year, there is no reason why we should not reauthorize this highly popular and effective conservation program to ensure its future success.

I commend the sponsors of this legislation, most notably Resources Chairman Pombo, ranking Resource Committee Democrat Member Nick Rahall and Congressman John Dingell, for their steadfast interest in this act and for their leadership in wetlands conservation.

I urge every Member to support this reauthorization.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5539, the North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2006. I would also like to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for all their hard work and for ensuring swift consideration of this important legislation.

As a wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, and member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, I am a strong supporter of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). For that reason, I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 5539.

As this body knows, NAWCA is a unique public-private, partnership- based program that leverage non-federal funds to protect, restore and manage wetland habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Since it was signed into law in 1989, NAWCA grants have spurred more than 2,000 partners to work on more than 1,100 projects, restoring nearly 23 million acres of wetlands in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In addition, NAWCA provides an excellent return on a relatively modest federal investment. Over the years, the act has provided approximately $720 million in grant funds which have been matched by approximately $2.1 billion in partner funds.

Again, I thank the distinguished chairman of the Resources Committee for introducing this important legislation and look forward to continuing to work with him, Ranking Member Rahall, members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus on this extremely successful program.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. In my home State of Louisiana, we certainly understand the vital role that our wetlands serve for wildlife. Over five million waterfowl utilize the Louisiana wetlands during migration, while there are 79 individual endangered species that reside there. Louisiana's wetlands also provide our country with substantial economic benefits. Over 30 percent of the Nation's seafood is harvested from our wetlands, and the network of interconnected waterways provides ample routes for waterborne commerce.

I would also like to highlight the importance of Louisiana's coastal wetlands as our first line of defense against hurricanes. As we lose 25 square miles of wetlands per year, we lose the buffer that these wetlands provide against storm surge. The destructive effects of hurricanes were made abundantly clear last year with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A healthy wetland system, combined with improved levees and other flood control projects, will help minimize the damage to south Louisiana when future storms arrive. With about two million people-- over half the State's population--living in Louisiana's coastal parishes, we cannot afford to underestimate the importance of our wetlands. Had I I been present for the vote, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of five bills received from the House: H.R. 5539, H.R. 138, H.R. 479, H.R. 5094, and H.R. 5381.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read the third time and passed, a motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bills be printed in the Record, all en bloc.