WILD BIRD CONSERVATION ACT 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1995 



House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Fish- 

 eries, Wildlife and Oceans, Committee on Re- 

 sources 



Washington, DC. 



The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:07 a.m., in room 

 1334, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Jim Saxton presid- 

 ing. 



STATEMENT OF HON. JIM SAXTON, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 

 FROM NEW JERSEY, AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

 FISHERIES, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS 



Mr. Saxton. Good morning. Before we start, we are rather infor- 

 mal and I see that all you folks don't have seats. If you would like 

 to come up and join us at this lower podium, that would be fine. 

 It is better than standing up. 



Today's oversight hearing is on the Wild Bird Conservation Act 

 of 1992. Lately the subcommittee has been receiving numerous let- 

 ters from around the country regarding this law. While a fair num- 

 ber have reflected strong support for the Act as is, many more have 

 written in opposition. I am hoping that this hearing today will clar- 

 ify the Congressional intent of the Act and its implementation by 

 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 



My home state of New Jersey has a strong wild bird protection 

 statute which will be discussed later today. It is my understanding 

 that the Federal law is loosely modeled on the New Jersey law and 

 laws of other states that have been put in place. 



I am concerned that the Clinton Administration did not ask for 

 funding for the Wild Bird Conservation Act and look forward to dis- 

 cussing this with the Administration's witnesses. I remain support- 

 ive of the Act and hope that this lack of fiscal enthusiasm for the 

 law on the Administration's part does not mean overall support is 

 lacking. 



I now recognize the ranking member, who is not here. We will 

 bypass the ranking member, and I ask unanimous consent that all 

 subcommittee members be permitted to include their opening re- 

 marks in the record. Mr. Torkildsen was here, but he just left. 



[The statements follow:] 



Statement of Hon. Don Young, a U.S. Representative from Alaska, and 

 Chairman, Committee on Resources 



Mr. Chairman, it is appropriate that the Subcommittee is today conducting this 

 oversight hearing on the Wilo Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) of 1992. 



(1) 



