Thomas Daschle: “it is my pleasure today to join with my colleagues to introduce the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. First…”

“it is my pleasure today to join with my colleagues to introduce the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. First, let me commend my colleague, Senator Abraham, for all of his work to develop this legislation. This bill addresses some of the critical threats to wildlife habitat and species diversity and demonstrates his commitment, which I strongly share, to solving the many challenges we face in this regard. The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act will help to ensure that some of our most valuable and beautiful species of birds--those that most of us take for granted, including bluebirds, goldfinches, robins and orioles--may overcome the challenges posed by habitat destruction and thrive for generations to come. It is not widely recognized that many North American bird species once considered common are in decline. In fact, a total of 90 species of migratory birds are listed as endangered or threatened in the United States, and another 124 species are considered to be of high conservation concern. The main cause of this decline is the loss of critical habitat throughout our hemisphere. Because these birds range across international borders, it is essential that we work with nations in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish protected stopover areas during their emigrations.”