Christopher Shays: “I am in awe of what the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) and the ranking member, the gentleman from…”

“I am in awe of what the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), have done in this legislation. This is landmark legislation that Members seek for years and years to accomplish. Its impact is monumental. To think that in the next 6 years there will be $12 billion for land acquisition, $2.4 of that for coastal management, is extraordinary. There will be unbelievable benefit for years because of this legislation. I want to specifically thank both the chairman, and the ranking member, for honoring and recognizing my predecessor Stewart McKinney for what he attempted to do before he passed away--establish the McKinney Wildlife Refuge, off the coast of Connecticut. Ninety-seven percent of the Connecticut shoreline has been developed, and 10 percent of the population of the United States lives in the immediate vicinity of Long Island Sound. We need to protect our islands and coastal wetlands. I thank my colleagues for setting aside $1.5 million in appropriations for the acquisition of Calves Island for the McKinney Refuge.”