harbor porpoise are being considered for threatened status under 

 the Endangered Species Act. 



We have just removed gray whales from the endangered list, but 

 the North Atlantic right whale continues in its infamous position 

 as the most endangered of the great whales in the world. 



I, for one, do not want to be here hashing out solutions again in 

 five years. In 1998, those of us who remain should be holding over- 

 sight hearings on how well the 1993 amendments have fulfilled the 

 goals of the MMPA. In this spirit, I intend to reserve my support 

 for a management regime that will work for both fishermen and 

 marine mammals for years to come. 



Last year, NMFS proposed a new management approach. There 

 were a number of objections. In June, a coalition of 31 fishing orga- 

 nizations and seven environmental groups presented us with their 

 proposal. It doesn't resolve everyone's concerns either. 



In an effort to focus discussion, Mr. Young, Mr. Fields, Mr. 

 Saxton, Mr. Manton and I introduced H.R. 2760 two weeks ago. 

 Many of you objected to our proposal to bring the bill to markup 

 tomorrow, and we have decided not to do so. 



But time is growing short. The September 30 deadline will be 

 upon us before we know it. In the intervening month, Congress will 

 be in recess, this Committee is holding field hearings and many 

 Members will be spending time in their districts. 



But regardless of the looming deadline, what this Committee will 

 not do is pass a management regime that doesn't work and brings 

 us all back here again five years from now. So we have work to do. 



Mr. Studds. The gentleman from New Jersey. 



STATEMENT OF THE HON. JAMES SAXTON, A U.S. REPRESENTA- 

 TIVE FROM NEW JERSEY, AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, 

 SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a statement 

 which I would like to submit for the record. 



I know this is a contentious issue and I know that emotions run 

 high among those who are concerned about it. I know that there 

 are those who have an economic stake in this issue, and I also 

 know that there are people who have legitimate environmental 

 concerns, so it is, in the very least, contentious and emotional. 



Yet it falls upon the shoulders of this Committee and it is clearly 

 our responsibility to come up with some kind of a solution which 

 addresses the problems of pollution, habitat destruction, predator- 

 prey relationships, international influences and natural cycles 

 which we do not yet fully understand. These are all challenges 

 which have to receive our attention, and I believe they will. 



I would just conclude by asking everyone to make an extra effort 

 to cooperate with the Committee Chairman and with me, the 

 Ranking Member, as we try to arrive at some conclusions and 

 make some decisions that will work to everyone's interest, hopeful- 

 ly, in the future. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[The statement of Mr. Saxton follows:] 



