Ed Royce: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2264 authorizes the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. This legislation is authored by the gentleman from…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2264 authorizes the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. This legislation is authored by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) and by myself. There are several additional cochairmen present here. There are four of us as Members of this House who launched the Bipartisan International Conservation Caucus late last year: myself, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Turner). This bill passed the House unanimously last October. It was amended over in the Senate, and the Senate cut authorization from 2 years to 1 year. Although that is unfortunate, the bill is back from the Senate, and it is time to send this bill to the President's desk. Let me give Members some observations on this measure. The tropical forests of Central Africa's Congo Basin are a key resource to an estimated 20 million people. These forests play a critical role in sustaining the environment of Africa. The Congo Basin contains the most diverse grouping of plants and animals in all of Africa, including rare and endangered species. These plants and animals are invaluable for many reasons, including their genetic and biochemical information. This information from these species could spark technical advances in medicine, in agriculture, and in industry that would benefit people throughout the world.”