To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1300) to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation that I have, H.R. 1300, which would reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships at National Wildlife Refuges from FY15 to FY17.

Volunteers are the backbone of our National Wildlife Refuge system. In

fact, in FY12, volunteers contributed 1,594,246 hours of work at the wildlife refuges across the country. The value of this work, estimated at $21.79 per hour, has an overall value contribution to FY12 estimated to be over $34 million.

With this annual authorized appropriation of just $2 million, we have received a value of return on investment of over 17 times. This kind of return on investment sets an example of how to effectively leverage a limited government investment.

The simple fact of the matter is that refuges cannot remain open without the contribution of volunteers and community groups. Volunteers currently contribute more than 20 percent of all refuge work, an equivalent to 766 full-time employees.

Volunteers have also allowed visitors centers to remain open during sequestration. As a result of volunteer work, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recently stated, ``There are no immediate plans to close volunteer and education centers for sustained periods of time because of sequestration.''

My home district in New Jersey is home to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, which benefits from one of the best community volunteer programs in the country, The Friends of Forsythe. I have seen firsthand the invaluable contribution these volunteers make at Forsythe, and know that the refuge cannot continue to operate without the contributions of these volunteers.

I urge passage of H.R. 1300.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Mr. Runyan in support of H.R. 1300, a bill that will reauthorize volunteer and community partnerships for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The National Wildlife Refuge System is an incredible asset to our country. In addition to protecting habitat that is essential to the survival of many bird and mammal and fish species, the system provides recreational opportunities that translate into jobs for Americans.

The 45 million people who visit a wildlife refuge each year to hunt and to fish and paddle, or simply watch wildlife, generate $1.7 billion in sales for local economies. They support more than 34,000 jobs and contribute $185 million in much-needed tax revenue.

My State of North Carolina has 10 National Wildlife Refuges, and there are 516 of them across the country.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1300 would reauthorize valuable volunteer and community partnership programs that benefit the refuge system.

Sequestration has tightened even more the scarce resources we have to keep the National Wildlife Refuge System open and operational. The system depends on refuge volunteers, and we thank those volunteers, 56,000 of them, in fact, who contributed more than 2.15 million hours, valued at almost $47 million in just 2012 alone. Generations of Americans would not be able to enjoy these national treasures if not for gracious volunteers.

Therefore, I commend my colleague, Mr. Runyan of New Jersey, for his work on this bill. I thank him for his work on the Natural Resources Committee, even thank him for his work on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and for all that he does in introducing H.R. 1300, along with Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Sablan.

I strongly support this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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