Barbara Cubin: “I am pleased to present the House of Representatives H.R. 3113, to extend the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of…”

“I am pleased to present the House of Representatives H.R. 3113, to extend the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 until September 30, 2004. The fundamental purposes of this landmark law were to establish a conservation fund and to authorize the Congress to appropriate up to $10 million per year to finance worthwhile projects to assist highly endangered species of rhinos and tigers. Since its enactment, the Congress has appropriated $1 million over the last three fiscal years. While this is much less than the $30 million that was authorized, this money has funded 31 conservation projects at a cost of $585,000. The sponsors of these projects will match these funds, and I am confident that these grants will help stop the destruction of these animals. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 16 rhino projects, 7 tiger projects, and 8 projects to benefit both species have been funded. These have included an adopt-a-warden program in Indonesia, aerial monitoring of rhinos in Zaire, investigation of poaching and illegal trade of wild tigers in India, and the training of wildlife rangers in Tanzania. Without this fund, I am convinced that rhinos and tigers would continue to slide toward extinction. After all, there are only 11,000 rhinos and fewer than 5,000 tigers living in the wild.”