Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010

Madam Speaker, at the end of the 111th Congress, our distinguished colleague from Hanahan, South Carolina, the Honorable Henry E. Brown, Jr., will retire from this institution. Congressman Henry Brown has served the people of the 1st Congressional District, those living in South Carolina, and this nation with the highest distinction for the past twenty nine years.

His distinguished career in public service began on the Hanahan Planning Commission and City Council in 1981. Four years later, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and he became the first Republican Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In that capacity, just like President Ronald Reagan, he successfully led the fight for the largest tax cut in the history of the state. It has been his consistent view that the hardworking men and women of South Carolina deserve to keep more of their hard earned money and not the government.

After serving fifteen years in the South Carolina legislature, Henry Brown was overwhelmingly elected by the voters of the 1st Congressional District and for the past decade has served on the House Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure and Veterans' Affairs. He has also served as the Co-Chairman of the Coastal Caucus, Congressional Friends of Canada Caucus, Congressional Shellfish Caucus and the Port Security Caucus.

For the past two Congresses, he has served as the Ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife. By working in a bipartisan manner with the Chairwoman of that Subcommittee, the Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo of Guam, Henry Brown was successful in having at least two of his legislative proposals enacted into law. These include H.R. 3891, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act Amendments of 2008 and H.R. 1454, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010. Congressman Brown remains hopeful that prior to adjournment this year, the Senate will adopt his bill, H.R. 509, the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act which passed the House of Representatives last year.

While these represent just a few of the legislative proposals he has championed, his tireless dedication and leadership in sponsoring H.R. 1454 is an excellent example of why the people of the 1st Congressional District in South Carolina have come to know their Representative as a ``workhorse'' and not a ``show horse''.

Let me spend just a few minutes talking about H.R. 1454. This is a remarkable bill,

which I was pleased to co-sponsor. At a time of record federal deficits, this proposal will raise a significant amount of money to save some of the most beloved and endangered iconic wildlife species on this planet without spending a single dime of taxpayer money. In addition, while the 111th Congress will be remembered for its highly partisan environment, this bill was co-sponsored by 86 Democrats and 68 Republicans. Even more remarkable, it has been endorsed by more than 40 different organizations including the Humane Society of the United States and Safari Club International, two groups that do not agree on many issues.

Under this simple but innovative approach, the American people will be given the opportunity to voluntarily purchase U.S. postal stamps and certain proceeds from their sale will assist in saving African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, Great Apes and marine turtles for future generations. This legislation is a tribute to Congressman Brown's perseverance and leadership.

During his distinguished career in public service, the hard work of Congressman Henry Brown has not gone unnoticed. In fact, among the awards he has received are the College of Charleston's Founders Medal in 2005, the National Republican Legislator of the Year Award, the South Carolina Association of Realtors Legislator of the Year, the South Carolina Taxpayers Watchdog Award and the Order of the Palmetto in 2000. This award is the highest honor a civilian can receive from the State of South Carolina.

Madam Speaker, at the end of this year, this outstanding representative of the people of the 1st Congressional District will return to his beloved farm in Berkeley County, South Carolina. I wish him and his entire family the very best in the future.

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

As the sponsor of H.R. 1454, first I want to thank the chairwoman of our subcommittee, Ms. Bordallo, for her assistance in moving this bill forward.

Also, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Chairman Nick Rahall, Chairman Ed Towns, Ranking Republican Member Doc Hastings and Ranking Republican Member Darrell Issa for all of their efforts to facilitate today's consideration for the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a fiscally responsible method to assist endangered species without costing our taxpayers any money.

This bipartisan legislation has been cosponsored by 154 Members of this body and it has been endorsed by more than 40 conservation organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the

Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. These groups represent millions of Americans, and I agree with their assessment that allowing the U.S. Postal Service to sell a semipostal stamp that would generate funding for the Multinational Species Conservation Funds would give the general public the opportunity to contribute directly to the conservation of many keystone species around the world.

Under the terms of this measure, the U.S. Postal Service will be directed to design and distribute a semipostal stamp depicting various flagship species, like an African elephant, Bengal tiger, white rhinoceros, or loggerhead sea turtle. These stamps would be available to the public at a premium price. After the Postal Service has deducted all of its administrative costs, the remaining proceeds will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will then equally divide the monies into the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.

This is not a new idea. In fact, the Congress has already approved semipostal stamps for the 9/11 response heroes, the victims of domestic violence, and breast cancer research. These stamps have been remarkably successful. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 860 million breast cancer stamps have been sold, $381 million in revenue has been obtained, and $67.8 million has been dedicated for medical research to fight this terrible disease.

Let me be clear that under H.R. 1454, there is absolutely no cost to either our taxpayers or the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the Postal Service will realize a significant profit from the sale of these wildlife postal stamps because we know, based on previous experience, that a large number of people will buy semipostals but will never use them.

For the past 20 years, the U.S. Congress has generously allocated a small amount of taxpayers' money to save highly imperiled African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles. While we have authorized $400 million to assist these species, only $64 million has been appropriated, leaving over 1,500 worthwhile eligible conservation projects unfunded.

H.R. 1454 offers us a unique opportunity to establish a new creative funding mechanism, for a limited period of time and at no cost, to provide a small amount of additional money to help save some of the most iconic species on this planet.

Finally, I would like to again thank the leadership of House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Natural Resources for allowing the House to vote on this important bipartisan wildlife conservation legislation. I would also like to again thank all the cosponsors of this bill and recognize my distinguished colleague and friend from Columbia, South Carolina, the Honorable Jim Clyburn, for assisting me in this effort.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1454, and let's work together to stamp out extinction.

I appreciate the gentleman from the State of Washington's yielding, my good friend Doc Hastings; and also Dr. Christensen for her leadership on the other side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1454, a bill I was pleased to introduce along with the subcommittee chairlady, Madeleine Bordallo and 153 other Members of the House of Representatives.

This legislation was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives on December 7, 2009, and it was approved by the Senate on July 29 of this year. Prior to its passage, the Senate made several modifications to H.R. 1454. These included a reduction in the duration of time that the semipostal stamp will be available to the public and a stipulation that only one flagship species may be depicted on the stamps.

I reviewed these changes and believe they do not undermine the fundamental goal of this measure, which is to create an alternative funding source for highly endangered African and Asian elephants, rhinoceroses and tigers, great apes and marine turtles at no cost to U.S. taxpayers.

While it is true that the U.S. Postal Service has had statutory authority to issue semipostal stamps for over a decade, it has been the Congress that has directed that they be issued for breast cancer research, 9/11 responders, and victims of domestic violence.

Under H.R. 1454, the American public would have the opportunity to support these six multinational species by purchasing these semipostal stamps. They would be sold at a premium price, and after the Postal Service has deducted all of its administrative costs, the remaining proceeds will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It will be the Service's responsibility to select those conservation projects that best achieve the goal of protecting the remaining populations of these highly imperiled animals.

I am confident that once these stamps are available, they will be extremely popular with the American people. I have been assured that they will be widely sold at aquariums, post offices, and zoos throughout this country. Based on previous experience, we know that a large number of people will buy these semipostals and will never use them. As a result, the Postal Service will realize a significant profit from their sale.

This legislation offers us a unique opportunity to establish a new creative funding mechanism, for a limited period of time, at no cost to the American taxpayer, to help save some of the most iconic and endangered species on this planet.

Finally, I want to thank those Members who co-sponsored this legislation, and also Chairman Rahall and ranking Republican Doc Hastings, Chairman Ed Towns, and ranking Republican Darrell Issa, Chairman Joe Lieberman and Senators Sam Brownback and Lindsey Graham, as well as my friend from Columbia, South Carolina, the Honorable Jim Clyburn, for his assisting in this effort.

I would also like to express my appreciation to the more than 40 conservation organizations that have assisted in this effort, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the World Wildlife Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Feld Entertainment, and Safari Club International.

These groups worked tirelessly for the passage of this bill. I thank them.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1454. There is no question it will help stamp out extinction.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1454) to provide for the issuance of a Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp.

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 rise in support of H.R. 1454, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2009, that was introduced by our colleague from South Carolina, Henry Brown.

The Multinational Species Conservation Funds promote wildlife conservation around the world for keystone species, including great apes, tigers, and elephants. These programs consistently generate high- quality conservation projects and leverage $3 or $4 from non-Federal contributors for every Federal dollar spent.

Mr. Speaker, revenues generated from the sale of a wildlife semipostal stamp, as authorized under this legislation, would fund these important grant programs. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1454 and supported its original passage by the House nearly a year ago. I urge my colleagues to support the amended version and send it on to the President so it may become law.

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

Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention our colleague the gentlewoman from Guam's strong support for this bill. Though Ms. Bordallo could not be here today to speak in support of H.R. 1454 as she is on Guam conducting official business, she asked that I relay her thanks to the gentleman from South Carolina for his efforts with this legislation, and for the bipartisan manner in which he has worked with her and all of our Members on the Democratic side of the aisle as the ranking member of the subcommittee.

I too am among the over 150 cosponsors of H.R. 1454, and recognize its value as a longtime member of the International Conservation Caucus. I continue to urge a ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of H.R. 1454, legislation to create a postal stamp to benefit the Multinational Species Conservation Fund. I appreciate the leadership of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in crafting this bill and am pleased to support this effort to improve global wildlife conservation efforts.

The bill before the House today, H.R. 1454, would establish a Multinational Species Conservation Fund stamp through the United States Post Office in order to provide the public with a convenient opportunity to contribute to important international conservation efforts.

Like many of my constituents in the west and northwest suburbs of Chicago, I believe that we are called to be good stewards of our environment and natural resources. This means exercising a healthy respect for animals, both domestically as pets, and in the wild. As the parent of four children, I want to pass along to them an appreciation of the beauty of God's creation.

The proceeds of the stamps sold under this legislation will benefit the research and protection of at-risk species including African elephants, Asian elephants, great apes and marine turtles. This legislation provides a great avenue for animal welfare supporters to make a financial difference in international conservation efforts on a daily basis, one stamp at a time.

Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I encourage supportive members of the public to select these new stamps when they become available to help show their commitment to safeguarding our precious natural resources and wildlife.

I urge Members to support this bill.

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