418 



Mr. MosHER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number 

 of words, and I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the 

 gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Kyi) . 



I think the gentleman from Iowa is mistaken when he suggests that 

 the Department of the Interior already has this authority to do en- 

 tirely what this section would provide for, and which he is tr^dng to 

 delete from the bill. 



I would like to call the attention of the House to a statement made 

 by the National Wildlife Federation before our committee in their 

 strong support for this provision which the gentleman from Iowa 

 (Mr. Kyi) would seek to delete. 



The National Wildlife Federation says that this provision "for the 

 establishment of estuarine sanctuaries for the purposes of creating 

 natural field laboratories to be used in further ecological studies is 

 viewed by the National Wildlife Federation as a wise move and one 

 that should help insure a continued high quality coastal and estuarine 

 environment for future generations." 



I would believe that the marine science world would not agree with 

 our friend, the gentleman from Iowa, that this authority, under the 

 Estuary Protection Act, in the Department of the Interior, is ade- 

 quate. And now that we already have transferred the authority of this 

 legislation to the Department of the Interior I would think that the 

 Department of the Interior would welcome this new, additional 

 authority. 



Mr. Kyl. Mr. Chairman, would the gentleman yield? 

 Mr. MosHEK. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa. 

 Mr. Kyl. Mr. Chairman, I would ask if the gentleman from Ohio 

 is familiar with 16 U.S.C. 1221, which is the empowering of the De- 

 partment of the Interior to purchase, administer, and develop estua- 

 rine areas, the act known as the Estuary Protection Act ? 



Mr. INIosHER. Mr. Chairman, it is my impression that the act just 

 quoted by the gentleman from Iowa does not contain any specific 

 authorization at all for the acquisition of estuarine sanctuaries. 

 IVIr. DiNGELL. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman from Ohio yield ? 

 ]Mr. MosHER, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). 

 i\Ir. DiMGELL. Mr. Chairaian, I might say that it was my subcom- 

 mittee that reported that bill to the House, and the purposes and the 

 functions of the legislaton now before us is different from the legisla- 

 tion referred to by the gentleman from Iowa, and additionally the 

 legislation sets up field laboratories. In addition to that, the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, although it has had some authority in this area, 

 has never chosen to act, and it is for this reason the Committee in its 

 wisdom, and frustration with the failure of the Department of 

 the Interior, in choosing to direct it through this legislation to take 

 some action. 



]\Ir. MosHER. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his state- 

 ment, and I believe that it reinforces my point that the Department 

 of the Interior has never in the past chosen to accomplish the purposes 

 of this legislation, it needs this new direction and incentive. 



The Chatrmax. The question is on the amendment offered by the 

 gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Kyl). 

 The amendment was rejected. 



