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Coral Reef Conservation Ammendments Act of 2007

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 22, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Conservative


CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - October 22, 2007)

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Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1205, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007. We thank the gentleman from American Samoa and, once again, my friend from Guam and also the gentleman from Puerto Rico for their work on this legislation.

Coral reefs are truly a treasure, but they mean the world to the aquatic life in those areas. This legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to undertake coral reef conservation activities. It does involve matching grants, and it provides it in areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior.

At this time, though, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to my friend from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).

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Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It does a good thing and preserves something that is so vital to our Nation as a resource. We do need to be careful about the unintended consequences of the expansion of the term ``wildlife'' in other statutes just to give the Secretary authority over coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems, even in limited circumstances.

But with that aside, I would encourage support for the bill, and yield back the balance of my time.

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