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.
“HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the in the House of Representatives section section on pages H4477-H4479 on April 26.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2793) to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds from that Act for administrative purposes, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2793
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION ACT.
The Highlands Conservation Act (Public Law 108-421; 118 Stat. 2375) is amended--
(1) in section 3--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Highlands region.--The term `Highlands region' means--
``(A) the area depicted on the map entitled `The Highlands Region', dated June 2004, updated after the date of enactment of the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022 to comprise each municipality included on the list of municipalities included in the Highlands region as of that date of enactment, and maintained in the headquarters of the Forest Service in Washington, District of Columbia; and
``(B) a municipality approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under section 4(e).'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
``(B) identified by a Highlands State as having high conservation value using the best available science and geographic information systems; and'';
(C) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
``, including a political subdivision thereof; or''; and
(D) by striking paragraphs (5) through (7);
(2) in section 4--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``in the Study'' and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting ``using the best available science and geographic information systems; and'';
(B) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) provides that land conservation partnership projects will be consistent with areas identified as having high conservation value in accordance with the purposes described in section 2 in the Highlands region.'';
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ``fiscal years 2005 through 2021'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 2029'';
(D) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(E) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Request for Inclusion of Additional Municipality.-- The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service may, at the request of a Highlands State, with the concurrence of the municipality, approve the inclusion of a municipality within the State as part of the Highlands region.
``(f) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--
``(1) Federal administration.--The Secretary of the Interior may not expend more than $300,000 for the administration of this Act in each fiscal year.
``(2) State administration.--A State that receives funds under this section for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5 percent of the funds to administer the land conservation partnership project.'';
(3) in section 5--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``the Study, Update, and any future study that the Forest Service may undertake in'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, including a Pennsylvania and Connecticut Update''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the findings'' and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting
``with stakeholders regarding implementation of the program; and''; and
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ``2005 through 2014'' and inserting ``2023 through 2029''; and
(4) in section 6, by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Appraisal Methodology.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to an appraisal related to a land acquisition carried out under this Act, a Highlands State shall use an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
``(2) Alternative appraisal methodology.--A Highlands State may petition the Secretary of the Interior to consider an alternative appraisal methodology when there is a conflict, in any Highlands State, between--
``(A) an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior under paragraph (1); and
``(B) applicable State law.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2793, the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, is led by my colleague, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney. The bill reauthorizes funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service to protect and conserve the Highlands region.
The beautiful Highlands region spans 3.4 million acres across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
This area has retained its splendor due in part to the passage of the Highlands Conservation Act of 2004, which authorized the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service to work with State and local governments and NGOs to conserve this ecosystem.
Since 2004, $28 million in Federal funds, matched by $53 million in non-Federal funds, have permanently protected almost 13,000 acres of land. These lands protect clean, safe drinking water; sustain healthy forests and wildlife populations; encourage productive agriculture; and provide quality recreation opportunities for the public.
I commend my colleague for his leadership on this bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act and ensure the continued success of this program.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2793, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act.
The stated purpose of the Highlands Conservation Act, which was signed into law in 2004, is ``to recognize the importance of the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational, and cultural resources of the Highlands region,'' which, as was indicated, spans some 3.4 million acres across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, ``and the national significance of the Highlands region to the United States.''
Under the current authorization, the Governors of these States identify conservation partnership projects in the region and submit a list annually to the Secretary of the Interior, who is tasked with working with the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a final list to Congress for approval and funding.
H.R. 2793 would reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act and allow municipalities to enter into conservation agreements with the Department of the Interior. This bill is the product of bipartisan negotiations with the Committee on Natural Resources.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney) and thank him for being the driving force in bringing this legislation to this point.
Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for all of his work.
I rise, Mr. Speaker, to support my bill, the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, which would extend the Highlands Conservation Program for an additional 7 years, through 2029.
If you have hiked through any of the public lands in the Hudson Valley, chances are you have enjoyed the experience and benefited from the land conserved and protected by the Highlands Conservation Program. Even if you have looked upon the extraordinary works of art in the Hudson River School of painting, the most famous American school of painting, you will see these lands in the Hudson Highlands and wonder, as we who are lucky enough to live there do, at their beauty.
For nearly two decades, the Highlands Conservation Act has been a critical resource for the protection of these lands throughout a 5,500-
square-mile area of the Highlands region covering New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
It includes many of our great State parks in my district, including Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain State Park, Schunemunk Mountain State Park, Storm King State Park, Hudson Highlands State Park, and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, to name a few.
The bill funds vital projects to safeguard our water supplies, conserve our forests, protect wildlife, expand outdoor public recreation opportunities, and save agricultural resources.
Over the past 18 years, the Highlands Conservation Act has delivered on its promise. It facilitated the permanent protection of nearly 13,000 acres of land, land that contributes to clean drinking water, protection of wildlife, expansion of recreation opportunities, and, of course, the sustainable economic growth that we all want.
Since 2007, New York has received over $14 million through the Highlands Conservation Act, funding that supported 18 specific projects conserving 4,000 acres throughout my district in the Hudson Valley.
For example, in 2015, the act helped incorporate over 230 acres of land into the Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Putnam County, right down the street from where I live. I spend a lot of time there. It is absolutely beautiful.
In 2016, funds from the Highlands Conservation Act helped conserve nearly 700 acres of land linking the western Hudson Highlands to Schunemunk Mountain State Park in Orange County, and so much more.
It is also responsible for the addition of 1,200 acres that make up the Fishkill Ridge portion of the Hudson Highlands State Park.
More than 25 million Americans live within just an hour's drive of the Highlands region. By passing this bill today, we can ensure that the Highlands are protected and remain a beautiful natural resource for them and for our entire country for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, the Highlands Conservation Program has been an extremely effective program not just for my district but for the entire region and our country. The entire conservation community should congratulate itself today.
I want to mention a few local people: Mark Zakutansky with the Appalachian Mountain Club; Ned Sullivan and Andy Bicking with Scenic Hudson; Katrina Shindledecker and Michelle Smith with the Hudson Highlands Land Trust; and Tim Abbott with the Housatonic Valley Association. I thank them all for their extraordinary work.
Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2793, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
