Neil Abercrombie: “I am pleased to note, for whatever pleasant irony there might be, that literally the last provision of this bill is the…”

“I am pleased to note, for whatever pleasant irony there might be, that literally the last provision of this bill is the naming of the sanctuary after the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds]. So I trust that all Members will recognize and abide by the request of the chairman. As indicated, we are asking the House to sign compromise language reauthorizing the National Marine Sanctuaries bill back from the other body in the hope that it will send the bill to the President before adjournment. This bill contains all that the bill we passed previously does. It embodies the House-Senate compromise, as had been indicated, that has bipartisan support. And I want to state that for the record. It most certainly is acceptable to the administration. I want to emphasize that it provides a generous 3-year reauthorization for the program and contains many of the miscellaneous provisions, some of which the chairman pointed out, principally, to enhance the management of individual marine sanctuaries and to give NOAA the authority to raise private funds for sanctuary activities.”