Permitting Acceptance Of Non-U.S. Funds For Canadian Wetland Conservation Projects

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3433.

I introduced H.R. 3433 to provide for a simple, timely and essential change to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Under current law, Congress appropriates money each year to be spent on projects to acquire, enhance, protect and restore wetlands in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

In fact, this remarkable program, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has funded over 1,600 projects to conserve more than 20 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands across North America. This conservation has helped ensure improved waterfowl hunting across North America.

Since 1989, this landmark law has required that each Federal dollar spent on a conservation project be matched by non-federal money.

However, due to the irreplaceable nature of the breeding waterfowl habitat in Canada, a decision was made not to require matching funds from Canadian sources. Therefore, projects in Canada have been matched by conservation dollars from the United States.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the North American Wetlands Council has approved conservation projects in Canada worth nearly $70 million during its current 5-year funding cycle which began in 2007. Under law, this means that $70 million in private matching funds must be provided.

Under my legislation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would be amended to allow up to 50 percent of the non-federal share of projects in Canada to be paid for by Canadian conservation supporters. My legislation will allow and encourage our Canadian conservation partners to fund a greater number of important wetland preservation projects north of the border.

The authorization of appropriations for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act does not expire until September 30, 2012. We simply cannot wait to make this change because the nonmatching share imbalance will continue to grow and must be paid before the authorization expires.

The language of this legislation has been fully vetted and been endorsed by all interested parties including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the member of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council which includes Ducks Unlimited, as well as the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy.

I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3433.

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