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[House Report 110-516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

110th Congress                                            Rept. 110-516
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                      Part 1

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      RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

                                _______
                                

                January 28, 2008.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 845]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 845) recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of Everglades National Park, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon with an amendment to the 
preamble and recommend that the resolution as amended be agreed 
to.
      The amendment is as follows:
    Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas Everglades National Park celebrated its 60th anniversary on 
December 6, 2007;

Whereas when President Harry S. Truman dedicated Everglades National Park 
on December 6, 1947, he stated: ``Here is land, tranquil in its quiet 
beauty, serving not as the source of water, but as the last receiver of it. 
To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that 
distinguishes this place from all others in our country'';

Whereas Marjory Stoneman Douglas gave the Everglades the name ``River of 
Grass'' stating, ``There are no other Everglades in the world'';

Whereas Everglades National Park has been designated an International 
Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International 
Importance, in recognition of its significance to all the people of the 
world;

Whereas the Everglades ecosystem encompasses 3,000,000 acres of wetlands 
and is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States featuring 
slow-moving freshwater that flows south from Lake Okeechobee through 
sawgrass and tree islands to the mangroves and seagrasses of Florida Bay;

Whereas Everglades National Park is home to rare and endangered species, 
such as the American crocodile, the Florida panther, and the West Indian 
manatee, and more than 350 species of birds, including the Great Egret, 
Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, and Roseate Spoonbill;

Whereas the Central and South Florida region is an international center for 
business, agriculture, and tourism, with a rapidly growing population of 
varied ethnic, economic, and social values, all of which are dependent on a 
sustainable framework for the water resources of the region to restore the 
Everglades ecosystem, provide adequate freshwater supplies, and promote a 
healthy and sustainable economy and overall quality of life;

Whereas Everglades National Park is an essential component of a larger 
ecosystem restoration effort, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration 
Plan, which has been described as the world's largest ecosystem restoration 
project; and

Whereas this restoration effort must succeed in order to restore the 
natural Everglades ecosystem and ensure that the treasures of Everglades 
National Park can be passed on to our children and grandchildren: Now, 
therefore, be it

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 845, as amended, recognizes the 60th anniversary of 
Everglades National Park.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Everglades National Park is a nationally and 
internationally significant natural resource. The Park, which 
was established on December 6, 1947, and is managed by the 
National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The 
Park area is home to rare and endangered species, such as the 
American crocodile, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. 
It has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a 
World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance, 
in recognition of its significance to all the people of the 
world.
    In December 2000, Congress enacted the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-541). Section 601 of this 
Act authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out 
the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (``Plan''). The 
primary and overarching purpose of the Plan is to restore the 
greater Everglades ecosystem, which includes the Everglades 
National Park. The Plan provides a framework and guide to 
restore, protect, and preserve the water resources of the 
greater Everglades ecosystem, and has been described as the 
world's largest ecosystem restoration effort. The Plan proposes 
to restore the natural flows of water to and through the 
Everglades, as well as the water quality and more natural 
hydro-periods within the remaining natural areas of the Florida 
Everglades. The Plan is intended to result in a sustainable 
south Florida by restoring the ecosystem, ensuring clean and 
reliable water supplies, and providing flood protection for the 
region.
    H. Res. 845, as amended, recognizes the 60th anniversary of 
the Everglades National Park and acknowledges the importance of 
restoring the greater Everglades ecosystem.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 845, as amended, recognizes the 60th anniversary of 
the Everglades National Park, which occurred on December 6, 
2007, and resolves that the House of Representatives dedicate 
itself to the success of the Comprehensive Everglades 
Restoration Plan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On December 5, 2007, Representative Alcee L. Hastings 
introduced H. Res. 845.
    On January 16, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 845. The 
Committee adopted by voice vote an amendment that made 
technical changes to the introduced resolution. The Committee 
ordered H. Res. 845, as amended, reported favorably to the 
House by voice vote with a quorum present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with the amendment 
offered to H. Res. 845 or with ordering the resolution. A 
motion to order H. Res. 845, as amended, reported favorably to 
the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 845 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee advises 
that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for any measure 
that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 845 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H. Res. 845 is a resolution of the 
House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force 
of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 845 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 845 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 845 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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