[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13] [House] [Pages 17839-17841] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY SYSTEM VOLUNTEER ACT OF 2006 Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5381) to establish a volunteer program and promote community partnerships for the benefit of national fish hatcheries and fisheries program offices, as amended. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 5381 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 ``National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) The National Fish Hatchery System (in this Act referred to as the ``System'')-- (A) consists of more than 60 hatcheries, seven fish technology centers, 9 fish health centers, and other fisheries program offices; (B) plays an integral role in the recovery of more than 50 threatened species and endangered species and the restoration of over 100 native species; (C) provides healthy fish populations that support recreational fishing opportunities, many of which are related to Federal water control structures; and (D) works with over 250 partners to help mitigate the impacts of aquatic habitat loss and invasive species. (2) The System faces many challenges, including aging facilities, some of which date back to the late 1800s, and maintenance of intensive infrastructures such as wells, pumps, valves, pipes, filters, heaters, chillers, and treatment systems that must keep clean water moving 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (3) By encouraging volunteer programs and donations and fostering non-Federal partnerships with hatchery facilities, Federal funding for the hatcheries can be supplemented. (4) By encouraging hatchery educational programs, public awareness of the resources of the System and public participation in the conservation of aquatic resources can be promoted. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following: (1) To encourage the use of volunteers to assist the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the management of hatcheries within the System. (2) To facilitate partnerships between the System and non- Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the System and public participation in the conservation of those resources. (3) To encourage donations and other contributions by individuals and organizations to the System. SEC. 3. GIFTS TO SYSTEM AND PARTICULAR NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES. (a) Authorization of Gifts, Devises, and Bequests for System.--In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may accept any gifts, devises, or bequests of real and personal property, or proceeds therefrom, or interests therein, for the benefit of the National Fish Hatchery System. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude, if such terms are deemed by the Secretary to be in accordance with law and compatible with the purpose for which acceptance is sought. (b) Use of Gifts, Devises, and Bequests.-- (1) In general.--Any gifts and bequests of money and proceeds from the sales of other property received as gifts or bequests pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in a separate account in the Treasury and may be expended without further appropriation by the Secretary for the benefit of the System programs administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (2) Gifts, devises, and bequests for particular facilities.-- (A) Disbursal.--Any gift, devise, or bequest made for the benefit of a facility of the System shall be disbursed only for the benefit of that facility and without further appropriations. (B) Matching.--Subject to the availability of appropriations and the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C 661 et seq.) and other applicable law, the Secretary may provide funds to match gifts, devises, and bequests made for the benefit of a facility of the System. With respect to each gift, devise, or bequest, the amount of Federal funds may not exceed the amount (or, in the case of property or in-kind services, the fair market value) of the gift, devise, or bequest. SEC. 4. VOLUNTEER ENHANCEMENT PILOT PROJECTS. (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior shall carry out a pilot project at 1 or more facilities of the System. Each pilot project shall provide for a volunteer coordinator for the hatchery facility. The volunteer coordinator shall be responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers. The volunteer coordinator may be responsible for assisting partner organizations in developing projects and programs under cooperative agreements under section 7(d) of [[Page 17840]] the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(d)) and coordinating volunteer activities with partner organizations to carry out the projects and programs. (b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate evaluating and making recommendations regarding the pilot projects. SEC. 5. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT. (a) Projects and Programs.--Subject to the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) and other applicable law, and such terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior determines to be appropriate, the Secretary may approve projects and programs for a facility of the System that-- (1) promote the stewardship of resources of the hatchery through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement, biological monitoring, or research; (2) support the operation and maintenance of the hatchery through constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving the facilities and services of the hatchery; (3) increase the awareness and understanding of the hatchery and the System, through the development, publication, or distribution of educational materials and products; (4) advance education concerning the purposes of the hatchery and the mission of the System, through the use of the hatchery as an outdoor classroom and development of other educational programs; or (5) contribute financial resources to the hatchery, under the terms that require that the net revenues be used exclusively for the benefit of the hatchery, through donation of net revenues from the sale of educational materials and products and through encouragement of gifts, devises, and bequests. (b) Treasury Account.--Amounts received by the Secretary of the Interior as a result of projects and programs under subsection (a) shall be deposited in a separate account in the Treasury. Amounts in the account that are attributable to activities at a particular facility of the System shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation, to pay the costs of incidental expenses related to volunteer activities, and to carry out cooperative agreements for the hatchery facility. SEC. 6. HATCHERY EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. (a) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall develop guidance for the hatchery education programs to further the mission of the System and the purposes of individual hatcheries through-- (1) providing outdoor classroom opportunities for students on fish hatcheries that combine educational curricula with the personal experiences of students relating to fish, aquatic species, and their habitat, and to the cultural and historical resources of the hatcheries; (2) promoting understanding and conservation of fish, aquatic species, and the cultural and historical resources of the hatcheries; and (3) improving scientific literacy in conjunction with both formal and nonformal education programs. (b) Hatchery Programs.--Based on the guidance developed under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior may, with assistance from the Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Program, develop or enhance hatchery educational programs as appropriate, based on the resources of individual hatcheries and the opportunities available for such programs in State, local, and private schools. In developing and implementing each program, the Secretary should cooperate with State and local education authorities, and may cooperate with partner organizations in accordance with subsection (d). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina. General Leave Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from North Carolina? There was no objection. Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present H.R. 5381 introduced by a distinguished colleague, Jim Saxton of New Jersey, to enhance the existing volunteer program within the National Fish Hatchery System. The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act is modeled after the highly successful Refuge Volunteer Act. This legislation will allow the national fish hatcheries to replicate the success of the refuge volunteer program. In 1982, about 4,000 volunteers worked at one or more of our refuges. Today, that figure is 37,000 and growing each year. Based on testimony, we know that there are 18 Friends of the Hatchery organizations out of the 150 eligible facilities throughout the system. While the National Fish Hatchery System has an existing volunteer policy, its limited statutory authority is inadequate. At the same time, the need for volunteers is critical because the vast majority of our hatcheries are more than 50 years old, they require constant attention and maintenance, and the number of full-time hatchery employees has declined by more than 12 percent over the past decade. There is no question that during these difficult budgetary times the National Fish Hatchery System could utilize the talents, experience, and expertise of thousands of volunteers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1530 Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is always important to provide opportunities for the public to participate in conservation activity, yet in the case of our Federal fish hatcheries, the development of an enthused and motivated cadre of volunteers will help to partially address the chronic operations budget shortfall that severely limits existing visitor service programs. One shining example of how a volunteer effort can enable a hatchery to become part of the fabric of its surrounding community is found at the White Sulphur Springs Natural Fish Hatchery in West Virginia. This hatchery, which is located in the district of the ranking Democrat member of the Resources Committee, Nick Rahall, has partnered for years with civic organizations such as the Rotary Club, its local friends group to coordinate widely popular recreational events such as annual fishing derbies, the hatchery's Centennial Celebration, and annual Freshwater Folk Festivals. Clearly, as the volunteer program at White Sulphur Springs Natural Fish Hatchery demonstrates, our natural fish hatcheries could benefit from enhanced opportunities for volunteer participation, and I urge Members to support this legislation which seeks to make that goal a reality. Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5381--The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 will enhance a volunteer program and promote community partnerships for the benefit of our Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) fish hatcheries and fisheries program offices across the nation. H.R. 5381 is modeled on the successful partnership and volunteer laws for the National Wildlife Refuges. I was proud to sponsor the legislation that established the partnership and volunteer laws for the refuges and am equally proud to be the sponsor of the bill under consideration today. The FWS National Fish Hatchery System consists of more than 60 hatcheries, 7 fish technology centers, 9 fish health centers and other fisheries program offices. The system plays an integral role in the recovery of more than 50 threatened and endangered species and the restoration of more than 100 native species. It helps to provide healthy fish populations that support recreational fishing opportunities, working with over 250 partners to help mitigate the impacts of aquatic habitat loss and invasive species. Currently, the system faces many challenges, including aging facilities and infrastructure. In 1998 and 2004, Congress passed legislation that enhanced the ability of the National Wildlife Refuge System to use volunteers and work with partner groups. These acts gave authority for the refuge system to: accept gifts and bequests from individuals to specific refuges; carry out volunteer enhancement programs; enter into cooperative agreements with partner organizations; and develop guidance for refuge education programs. The purpose of this legislation is to provide the National Fisheries Program the same authorities that were given to the National Wildlife Refuge System. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. [[Page 17841]] Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5381, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to enhance an existing volunteer program of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and promote community partnerships for the benefit of national fish hatcheries and fisheries program offices''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________