Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3537, the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

I had the privilege of sponsoring the original legislation to authorize this program in 1994. As the chairman of the Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico, and Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, I was asked to help pass authorizing legislation for the Junior Duck Stamp Program.

I was familiar with the successful Duck Stamp Program but had never heard of the Junior Duck Stamp, JDS, Program.

Now, 15 years later, this is the third reauthorization of this program.

I am very happy to say that it is one of this country's oldest and most successful youth-focused conservation programs in the federal government, and over the years, JDS has expanded to all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.

For those of you who don't know about the JDS Program, it is a conservation-focused science and arts curriculum for grade-school and high-school students. It is an art contest centered around studies that teach the fundamentals of waterfowl anatomy and environmental science.

Students submit their artwork depicting waterfowl in natural habitat settings to a state or territory contest. Winners from these contests are submitted for the national contest. Just as in Duck Stamps, the winning artwork at the national JDS contest is used to create a Junior Duck Stamp for the following year.

The stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service and consignees for $5 per stamp. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conservation education and are used for awards and scholarships for the students, teachers, and schools that participate in the program.

I must commend the JDS administrators and coordinators at the national, state, and local levels; the teachers and schools that support the JDS program; and the students who participate each year in the contest for the success of the Junior Duck Stamp Program.

Your dedication and hard work have made this program a premier wildlife conservation education tool, and I am proud to be associated with it.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this very worthy program.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3537) to amend and reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994.

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.

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

Mr. Speaker, Congress passed the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act in 1994 to connect

children with nature through science and art. This act promotes the education of students from kindergarten through high school about migratory waterfowl and the habitats through the distribution of educational materials and the promotion of a wildlife art competition.

Today, more than 27,000 students participate in the Nationwide Junior Duck Stamp art contest, and the winning design is reproduced as the Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The pending measure will simply reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Program.

I commend my good friend, Congressman Solomon Ortiz from Texas, for his leadership in reauthorizing the Junior Duck Stamp Program, and we urge our colleagues to support passage of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

The Junior Duck Stamp Program was developed 20 years ago and first authorized by Congress in 1994. Today, more than 28,000 students participate in the conservation curriculum and annual nationwide wildlife art contest.

During hearings of this legislation, one of the witnesses was a teacher from an elementary school in Frederick, Maryland. In her statement, she noted: ``As a teacher, I believe that the Junior Duck Stamp Program is an excellent learning opportunity for students at all grade levels. What is difficult for me to put into words is the looks on the curious faces of my students as they research to learn about various waterfowl and their habitat; the looks of determination as they work hard to capture the likeness of the birds; and the smiles when their entries are finally completed.''

This is an excellent program, Mr. Speaker, and a sound investment of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The Junior Duck Stamp Program should be extended for an additional 5 years.

I would also like to compliment the authors of this bill, Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Henry E. Brown, Jr., for their leadership on behalf of wildlife conservation of this Nation.

This is a good piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 3537.

I yield back the balance of my time.