Jim Saxton: “as the author of this legislation, I am pleased the House is now considering H.R. 465. This simple non-controversial…”

“as the author of this legislation, I am pleased the House is now considering H.R. 465. This simple non-controversial legislation will extend the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund at existing authorization levels of up to $5 million each year until September 30, 2012. During our public hearing on H.R. 465, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers this Fund, testified that: ``The Asian Elephant Conservation Act has greatly enhanced the conservation status of the Asian elephant''. There are currently only about 40,000 wild Asian elephants living in south and southeastern Asia. As a result, this species is listed on our Endangered Species Act, on Appendix I of CITES and on the World Conservation Union's Red List. In response to the ongoing slaughter of this keystone species, Congress adopted the Asian Elephant Conservation Act which I was pleased to sponsor in 1997. In the decade since its enactment, the Secretary of the Interior has carefully reviewed over 300 conservation projects designed to save Asian elephants for future generations. The Secretary has approved 183 of these grant proposals which have received $9 million in Federal funds and $11.3 million in private matching funds. As every witness testified, there is an overwhelming need to extend this important conservation program and there is no question that these conservation funds have had a profound impact on protecting this irreplaceable species.”