Jon L. Christensen: “this coming Saturday on May 11, bird conservationists across much of the Western hemisphere will celebrate International…”

“this coming Saturday on May 11, bird conservationists across much of the Western hemisphere will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. Established in 1993, this second Saturday in May has been set aside this year to appreciate the nearly 350 species of migratory birds that travel between nesting habitats in North America and nonbreeding grounds in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, including my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this respect, I find it fitting for the House to consider today legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, or perhaps better known by its acronym, NAWCA. Madam Speaker, wetlands are among the world's most productive environments and remain essential habitat for many migratory birds, including waterfowl. In 1986, the United States, Canada and Mexico developed the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, which established a cooperative international management effort to reverse the declines in waterfowl populations and their habitats. Congress subsequently enacted NAWCA in 1989 to implement the habitat conservation elements of that plan. In the intervening years, NAWCA has proven itself to be an effective funding mechanism to support a wide range of public/private conservation activities that preserve or protect wetland habitats on the landscape.”