Patsy T. Mink: “This bill is a very important component in Hawaii's battle against the endangered species crisis, and I think most…”

“This bill is a very important component in Hawaii's battle against the endangered species crisis, and I think most people in the House recognize that Hawaii represents the State with the most endangered and threatened species. So it is not simply a matter of pleasure in having this one bill reported today, but the recognition of the total devastation of our unique species that really is in the forefront today through the passage of this bill. The decline in the critical habitat in my State has escalated over the last 100 years, during massive development and other kinds of activity. So currently we have 222 endangered and threatened species, birds, mammals, plants, and so forth, which represent 23.2 percent of the total national list of all endangered species. So I think that gives Members an idea that this small place on this Earth has suffered this tragedy of the loss of so many unique species. Today, through the passage of this bill, we hope that one small acreage of only 36 acres in an important area of the Island of Oahu can be preserved and set aside as a wetland for a number of important reasons.”