Keep America's Refuges Operational Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3979) to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services, community partnership, and refuge education programs of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes, 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, H.R. 3979, the Keep America's Refuges Operational Act, reauthorizes the National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer, community partnership, and education programs for fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

I am proud to have joined with my good friend from New York (Mr. Jeffries) to support conservation efforts at our Nation's wildlife refuges in a way that is also fiscally responsible.

Each year the refuge system's volunteer, community partnership, and education programs facilitate more than 1.4 million hours of service from more than 40,000 volunteers in support of our Nation's wildlife refuge system. The valuable contributions of these volunteers help maintain our Nation's 566 refuges, 14 of which I am proud to say are in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

These programs help ensure that Americans can visit, explore, fish, hunt, and study wildlife for generations to come. As a kid, I spent most of my time outdoors, and today, I still frequently visit the Rappahannock River Wildlife Refuge in my district. I have long appreciated the value of nature and wildlife in our society as well as the importance of environmental stewardship.

Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks to assist with our refuge operations. Examples of these tasks include habitat improvement projects, laboratory research assistance, leading refuge tours, conducting fish and wildlife population surveys, and much more. All of these tasks help the Fish and Wildlife Service more efficiently fulfill its mission while also providing an opportunity for individuals and groups to contribute to the preservation and protection of our Nation's wildlife and public lands.

H.R. 3979 reauthorizes the cost-efficient resource that helps the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service fulfill its mission to protect and preserve the Nation's fish and wildlife. These volunteer programs are very popular with folks throughout the country, with more applicants than available volunteer slots.

This legislation has broad support from several recreational and conservation organizations, as well as bipartisan support across the Congress.

I thank Chairman Bishop for moving this legislation and, again, extend my great appreciation to Mr. Jeffries for sponsoring this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I echo the sentiment of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This truly is what makes our Nation great: individuals willing to give of their time to work on these refuges.

Many times, the ability to access those refuges is dependent upon those volunteers. We take a few resources and stretch them across the Nation on many of these refuge lands, and it is our volunteers who, many times, help in maintaining these lands and making sure that there is access and making sure that people who come to visit understand the true value and nature of the resources that are there.

It is, truly, I think, a great example of what makes our country great: people willing to put their time and effort into these refuges and making sure they, indeed, can be enjoyed by all. This is why I think this bill enjoys the support of folks on both sides of the aisle. This truly is, I think, an issue that should bring us all together.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) for yielding, as well as for her leadership. I also thank Chairman Bishop for his leadership in helping to move this legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3979, the Keep America's Refuges Operational Act, a bipartisan bill that will reauthorize the volunteer, community partnership, and education program for our National Wildlife Refuge System.

Let me begin by thanking my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Wittman), who has partnered with me on this legislation and is a strong champion for our country's refuges.

This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will support conservation efforts at our Nation's refuges in a way that saves taxpayers dollars and stimulates jobs and economic opportunity.

Our National Wildlife Refuge System is comprised of 566 refuges located in every U.S. State and territory. Refuges make up over 800 million acres of habitat dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife.

Each year, 47 million Americans visit refuges, which help to support local economies by generating over $2 billion in revenue and more than 35,000 local jobs. People visit refuges from all over the country to explore, hunt, fish, and experience America's natural beauty.

Refuges also help to mold the next generation of conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts by providing learning experiences and cherished memories for America's families. Refuges have a tremendous impact for communities all over America, even in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York.

But this wouldn't be possible without help from dedicated volunteers, who donate 20 percent of the total service work at our refuges. They support full-time staff by helping to operate visitor centers; conduct fish and wildlife population surveys; maintain visitor structures, roads, and paths; fight invasive species; and protect native plants and animals.

While volunteers may vary in age, background, and skill set, what they all have in common is their dedication to preserving our country's natural beauty so that we can all enjoy it for years to come.

Advancing this legislation has been a collaborative process, and I greatly appreciate the hard work of Mr. Wittman and Members on both sides of the aisle. Through this bipartisan legislation, we will demonstrate the economic benefits to be gained from protecting America's natural beauty and being good stewards of the environment God has given to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3979.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries).

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

Mr. Speaker, the passage of H.R. 3979 extends the authorization of volunteer and educational programs on the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

This bill highlights the importance of community partnerships and volunteers and the value they bring to our public lands. In 2016, refuge volunteers donated 1.3 million hours, which equals $30.6 million of labor value.

Volunteers are critical for the daily operation of the National Wildlife Refuge System and other Federal lands. I know, in many cases, visitors would not have access to these unique places without the participation of volunteers and other partners.

I serve as ranking member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, where we held a hearing on this bill in November and heard testimony from the National Wildlife Refuge Association about the importance of sustaining the volunteer program. I am pleased we can work in a bipartisan fashion to move this important message through the House.

I commend the sponsor, Representative Jeffries of New York, for his hard work and dedication to this issue. This is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

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

Mr. Speaker, each year, millions of Americans visit wildlife refuges throughout the country. They generate over $2 billion in economic activity and create 35,000 jobs. This wouldn't be possible without help from dedicated and hardworking volunteers.

That is why we have introduced H.R. 3979, bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes the National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer, Community Partnership, and Education Program. This program ensures public access to refuges for exploring, hunting, fishing, and studying wildlife.

Refuges have a tremendous impact, even in Brooklyn, where Fish and Wildlife Service staff and volunteers work with local public schools to cultivate the next generation of conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts through hands-on learning.

Carmen Wheeler, a second grade student in Brooklyn, recently wrote to me and said: ``I think we should keep the wildlife refugees safe, even if they are far away, because they will always keep our world healthier.''

We are with you, Carmen.

Mr. Speaker, on December 18, 2017, I missed three Roll Call votes because I was detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted:

NO on the Motion to Fix the Convening Times--House GOP Leadership has offered a motion to change tomorrow's convening time to 10:00 a.m. (Roll Call No. 685);

YES on H.R. 4375, the STEM Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act (Roll Call No. 686); and

YES on H.R. 3979, the Keep America's Refuges Operational Act (Roll Call No. 687).