Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), my friend, and Chairman Grijalva for helping us on this.

I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 6427, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act. I urge my colleagues to support it, as well.

As has been explained here, it is a straightforward bill that addresses a very simple problem. For years, the Red River Wildlife Refuge in northwest Louisiana, my home turf, has been a boon for hunters and outdoorsmen and other recreationists. Just last year, it hosted over 209,000 visits. That is greater than the population of Shreveport, Louisiana, which is the largest city in my district.

Thousands of these visitors went to the refuge for the express purpose of hunting and fishing. The refuge truly has contributed to Louisiana's status as a sportsman's paradise. This is a sentiment that we in Louisiana hold so dear, we print it on every license plate.

The refuge's stated goal is to provide for the restoration and conservation of fish and wildlife habitat, including migratory birds, as has been explained here, that all come within the Red River Valley ecosystem. However, the refuge's current structure is insufficient to meet the goals set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, especially for migratory waterfowl.

As we stand here today, the refuge can only support about one-third of the birds it is intended to support. So my bill would help address this deficiency by modifying the refuge boundary to include a 3,300- acre tract of privately owned land for the purpose of eventually incorporating the tract into the refuge. This boundary modification would not alter the authorized acreage of the refuge, and it would still keep the refuge well within its current authorized use and size.

The Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates this tract would dramatically increase the number of migratory waterfowl the refuge is able to support. The bill will also benefit the local economy through partnerships with agricultural producers, greater access by the public to hunters and other recreationists, and greater waterfowl distribution throughout the region, as populations radiate from the refuge.

We spent a tremendous amount of time speaking with all the stakeholders on this issue and collecting their feedback. State and local support for this legislation includes all of the State senators and representatives who represent the area, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Louisiana Forestry Association, several members of the local Caddo Parish Commission and nearby landowners.

This bill is pro-conservation, pro-hunting, pro-agriculture, and pro- outdoor recreation, so we believe it truly is a win-win-win.

I thank the chairman, the ranking member, the gentleman from California, and all the Natural Resources Committee for working with me on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6427) to amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act to modify the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam 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 measure under consideration.

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

H.R. 6427, the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act will amend the Red River National Wildlife Refuge acquisition boundary, which is the area from which more land can be added to the refuge.

This amendment will allow for 3,300 acres of land to be conveyed to the refuge system.

The Red River National Wildlife Refuge runs through parts of the Red River Valley in northwestern Louisiana. Each year, approximately 80,000 waterfowl visit the 50,000-acre refuge for feeding and resting. Over 200 species of neotropical migratory songbirds also stop at the refuge.

The expansion will support migratory birds throughout their annual life cycle of breeding, wintering, and migrating. It will also provide additional economic benefits to the region through partnerships with local farmers and increased public access for outdoor recreationists.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work on this important legislation. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no requests for time. We are prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging adoption of this good legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act, a bill sponsored by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson).

H.R. 6427 would revise the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana and expand waterfowl conservation opportunities on a 3,300-acre tract. This parcel has been actively managed to provide increased habitat for migrating waterfowl in the Central Flyway of North America.

Although this legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire these lands from a willing seller, this bill would not increase the refuge's 50,000-acre statutory cap.

I thank Mr. Johnson for introducing this measure and also thank Ducks Unlimited for its work on this bill and for its longstanding advocacy for waterfowl conservation and hunting access.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), the sponsor of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills, which were received from the House, en bloc: H.R. 6427, H.R. 7735, H.R. 8260.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills, en bloc, be considered read a third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.