The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTRODUCTION OF THE SIKES ACT AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2010” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E834-E835 on May 12, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE SIKES ACT AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2010
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HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
of guam
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to amend the Sikes Act to improve natural resources management planning for State-owned installations used for the national defense. I have introduced this bill after working with appropriate officials at the Department of Defense (DOD). The amendments proposed by DOD will improve coordination between DOD, the Department of the Interior and State, Territorial and local partners for the protection of fish and wildlife resources on DOD lands and State-owned installations used for the national defense.
As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, this bill that I have introduced today is appropriate as the 111th Congress moves forward with an agenda promoting responsible environmental stewardship. DOD controls nearly 25 million acres of valuable fish and wildlife habitat at approximately 400 military installations nationwide. These lands contain a wealth of plant and animal life, vital wetlands for migratory birds and habitat for nearly 300 federally listed threatened and endangered species. For 50 years, the Sikes Act has helped the commanders of these installations balance their use of air, land and water resources for military training and testing with the need to conserve and rehabilitate these important ecosystems. In past National Defense Authorization Acts, Congress has made improvements to the Sikes Act and my bill, the Sikes Act Amendments Act of 2010, continues this progress by proposing three significant improvements to the law.
First, my bill clarifies the scope of the Sikes Act by extending its provisions to State-owned National Guard installations, including the requirement to develop and implement Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans, INRMP, that are already required for federally owned military installations. Another provision in this bill would make permanent the successful invasive species management pilot program on Guam, authorized into law in 2004, and expand its score to all military installations. Finally, the bill makes several technical and clarifying changes to the U.S. Code to make it consistent with other subheadings and titles.
I want to thank Chairman Solomon Ortiz of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness for his leadership on issues affecting management of military installations and the readiness of our military forces. I also thank Chairman Nick Rahall of the House Natural Resources Committee for his leadership in providing for seamless protection for our fish and wildlife resources, a national treasure, across all public lands. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee in receiving testimony, support and views on the Sikes Act Amendments Act of 2010.
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