Reauthorization of Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1098 would reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, a small but mighty initiative that has inspired young conservationists for over three decades.
As the Fish and Wildlife Service puts it, this dynamic art and science curriculum reaches students from kindergarten through high school, teaching them about wetland and waterfowl conservation through hands-on learning and artistic expression. It is education at its finest, combining creativity with conservation, art with action.
What makes this program truly special is how it is funded. One hundred percent--every single penny--of revenue from Junior Duck Stamp sales goes directly back into supporting environmental education activities for students and recognizing students for their conservation efforts.
This isn't government waste or bureaucratic overhead. This is a program that pays for itself while delivering real results. At a time when we are seeing declining connections between young people and nature, when screen time often outweighs green time, programs like this are more important than ever. It is exactly the kind of targeted, effective investment we should be making.
I commend Representatives Scholten and Yakym for their bipartisan leadership on this issue. The Junior Duck Stamp program represents the best of what government can do: inspiring young people, supporting education, and protecting our natural heritage, all while operating efficiently and transparently.
Our children deserve the chance to connect with nature, to understand their role as stewards of the environment, and to express that connection through art and learning. This program gives them that chance.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1098.
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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Scholten), the sponsor of the bill.
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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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