S258 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 9, 2009 

2006, 35.5 million Americans did not 

have enough money or resources to get 

food for at least some period during the 

year. This figure was an increase of 

400,000 over 2005 and an increase of 2.3 

million since 2000. With the fragile 

State of our economy, it is extremely 

likely that these figures for 2007 and 

2008 will be even more devastating. The 

only recourse for these millions of families is to turn to federal food assistance programs and emergency food 

banks for their basic food needs. 

Unfortunately, as articles in national 

publications like the USA Today and 

the New York Times have highlighted, 

there is a critical lack of food inventories available in local food pantries 

across the country. Rising demand, 

sharp drops in federal supplies of excess 

commodities, and declining donations 

have forced food banks to cut back on 

rations, and in some cases, close their 

doors. In short, America’s food banks 

are facing critical shortages now. 

As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry, I was proud to help create 

last year’s farm bill. The bill helps food 

banks by providing additional annual 

funding to shore up food bank supplies. 

But there are additional measures that 

we can take to help ensure that food 

banks can continue to fulfill their mission. 

That’s why today I’m pleased introduce the Bonus TEFAP Assistance Act 

of 2009. This legislation provides the 

critical support needed to ensure food 

assistance agencies, already in desperate need of supplies, can take full 

advantage of the distributions of bonus 

food commodities supplied by USDA 

through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, TEFAP. By helping to 

offset the intrastate storage, transportation, and distribution costs the food 

assistance agencies incur to distribute 

these bonus food surpluses, the bill ensures that commodities reach the 

greatest number of needy individuals. 

The Emergency Food Assistance Program began in 1981 as a temporary program with dual purposes; it was intended to help reduce the Federal food 

inventories and storage costs while 

also assisting the needy. Because of the 

program’s success in helping distribute 

food to those in need, in 1988, after 

much of the federal inventory was depleted, the Hunger Prevention Act authorized funds to be appropriated to 

purchase food for TEFAP. 

Under current-day TEFAP, the USDA 

provides states and food assistance 

agencies with commodities bought specifically for the program and with 

funding to help cover distributing 

agencies’ intrastate storage, handling, 

and distribution costs. In addition, 

when available, USDA provides any excess food not needed to fulfill other 

program requirements to States for allocation to local food assistance agencies. This excess food is known as 

‘‘bonus TEFAP.’’ Unfortunately, while 

the USDA generously distributes these 

bonus TEFAP commodities to the 

States, many of the State and food assistance agencies are unable to accept 

the bonus TEFAP commodities because 

they do not have the resources to store, 

transport, or distribute them. 

The Bonus TEFAP Assistance Act of 

2009 that I am introducing today alleviates this problem by providing offsetting funds to recipient agencies to assist with the costs of storing, transporting, and distributing bonus TEFAP 

commodities. The funds provided 

through this legislation will help to 

provide more food to those in need 

through food banks, food pantries, 

emergency shelters, soup kitchens, and 

other organizations that directly provide these resources to the public. 

To solve the problem the inadequacy 

of local resources causes, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 

to use existing funds granted under 

Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935. Currently, Section 32 

funds are used to fund child nutrition 

programs and other programs to support the farm sector at the discretion 

of the Secretary. Through this legislation, a small portion of Section 32 

funds would be allocated to each eligible recipient agency in the lesser 

amount of $0.05 per pound or $0.05 per 

dollar value of bonus TEFAP commodities. With this modest increase in 

funding, the States and their food assistance agencies will be able to accept 

more food distributions from the USDA 

through TEFAP, benefitting the many 

low-income recipients who rely on the 

program for emergency food and nutrition assistance. 

I urge all of my colleagues to join 

Senator SNOWE, Senator VOINOVICH and 

me in ensuring that the States and 

food assistance agencies can accept the 

available excess commodity foods the 

USDA provides under the Emergency 

Assistance Food Program. Food assistance agencies are in dire need of funds, 

food, and supplies and we owe it to 

them to ensure that they can take full 

advantage of every opportunity to 

serve those in our nation who are in 

desperate need. 

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed 

in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the text of 

the bill was ordered to be printed in 

the RECORD, as follows: 

S. 194 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bonus 

TEFAP Assistance Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR COSTS OF DISTRIBUTING BONUS COMMODITIES. 

(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section 

are— 

(1) to encourage States and food assistance 

agencies to accept commodities acquired by 

the Secretary of Agriculture for farm support and surplus removal activities; and 

(2) to offset the costs of the States and 

food assistance agencies for the intrastate 

transportation, storage, and distribution of 

the commodities. 

(b) COSTS OF DISTRIBUTING BONUS COMMODITIES.—Section 202 of the Emergency Food 

Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7502) is 

amended by inserting after subsection (a) the 

following: 

‘‘(b) COSTS OF DISTRIBUTING BONUS COMMODITIES.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use 

funds made available under section 32 of the 

Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide funding described in paragraph (2) to eligible recipient agencies to offset the costs 

of the agencies for intrastate transportation, 

storage, and distribution of commodities described in subsection (a). 

‘‘(2) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide 

funding described in paragraph (1) to an eligible recipient agency at a rate equal to the 

lower of $0.05 per pound or $0.05 per dollar 

value of commodities described in subsection 

(a) that are made available under this Act 

to, and accepted by, the eligible recipient 

agency.’’. 

By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, 

Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. 

KERRY, Mr. KOHL, and Ms. 

LANDRIEU): 

S. 197. A bill to assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and 

providing, through projects of persons 

and organizations with expertise in 

crane conservation, financial resources 

for the conservation programs of countries the activities of which directly or 

indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystem of cranes; to the Committee on 

Environment and Public Works. 

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am 

introducing the Crane Conservation 

Act of 2009. I am very pleased that Senator CRAPO has once again agreed to 

lead on this legislation with me. I am 

always glad to work with my colleagues from across the aisle. We are 

pleased to be joined by Senators 

BOXER, BROWNBACK, CARDIN, KERRY, 

KOHL, LANDRIEU, and MARTINEZ, who 

are cosponsors of this legislation. 

The Crane Conservation Act will ensure we do our part to protect the existence of these birds, whose cultural 

significance and popular appeal can be 

seen worldwide. This legislation is particularly important to the people of 

Wisconsin, as our state provides habitat and refuge to several crane species. 

But this legislation, which authorizes 

the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service to distribute funds and grants 

to crane conservation efforts both domestically and in developing countries, 

promises to have a larger environmental and cultural impact that will 

go far beyond the boundaries of my 

home State. 

Congress’ efforts to help protect and 

recover species throughout the world 

began in earnest in 1994 when Congress 

passed and the President signed the 

Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation 

Act. The passage of this act provided 

support for multinational rhino and 

tiger conservation by authorizing the 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service 

to distribute up to $10 million in grants 

every year to support projects in developing countries. Since 1994, Congress 

has established the ‘‘multinational species conservation fund’’ to cover other 


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January 9, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S259 

species, such as elephants and great 

apes. 

Today, with the legislation I am introducing, I am asking Congress to add 

cranes to this list. Cranes are the most 

endangered family of birds in the 

world, with 11 of the world’s 15 species 

at risk of extinction. Specifically, this 

legislation would authorize up to $5 

million of funds per year for fiscal 

years 2008 through 2012 to be distributed as conservation project grants to 

protect cranes and their habitat in 

Asia, Africa, and North America. In 

keeping with my belief that we should 

balance the budget, this bill proposes 

that the $25 million in authorized 

spending over 5 years for the Crane 

Conservation Act should be offset 

through the Secretary of Interior’s administrative budget. This bill is similar to legislation I have introduced 

since the 107th Congress and I was very 

pleased that last Congress the bill 

passed the House of Representatives 

and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and was positioned to pass the Senate before stalling late in the last Congress. 

I am offering this legislation due to 

the serious and significant decline that 

can be expected in crane populations 

worldwide without further conservation efforts. Those efforts have 

achieved some success in the case of 

the North American whooping crane, 

the rarest crane on earth. By 1890, the 

whooping crane disappeared from its 

main migratory route from Idaho 

through Wyoming and Colorado to New 

Mexico. In 1944, only 21 birds remained 

along the migratory route between 

Montana and Texas’ Aransas National 

Wildlife Refuge, via the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Unfortunately, the breeding grounds for this 

remaining flock were unknown, but 

since they were discovered in Canada 

in 1955, cooperative efforts between the 

United States and Canada have been 

under way to recover the species. 

Today, this flock remains the only wild 

flock of North American whooping 

cranes that breeds in northwest Canada, and spends its winters in coastal 

Texas. 

In 1980, a new course was chartered 

for recovering the species, and captive 

breeding efforts began at Patuxent 

Wildlife Research Center in Maryland 

in hopes of rearing chicks for release in 

the wild—today, captive breeding centers are also located at New Orleans’ 

Audubon Species Survival Center and 

Canada’s Calgary Zoo. 

These breeding efforts blossomed into 

efforts to reintroduce a migratory 

flock of whooping cranes into their historic range in the Eastern United 

States. In 2001 this became a reality 

when the first class of whooping cranes 

followed their ‘‘mother’’ (actually an 

ultra light aircraft) over 1,300 miles to 

their wintering grounds. 

The movement of this flock of birds 

shows how any effort by Congress to 

regulate crane conservation needs to 

cross both national and international 

lines. As this flock of birds makes its 

journey from Wisconsin’s Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to Florida’s 

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and back, the birds rely on the ecosystems of a multitude of states in this 

country. Along the journey which traverses through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia the 

birds face threats from pollution of traditional watering grounds, collision 

with utility lines, human disturbance, 

disease, predation, loss of genetic diversity within the population, and vulnerability to catastrophes, both natural and man-made. 

However, the birds can also rely on 

private landowners, the vast majority 

of whom have enthusiastically welcomed the birds to their rest on their 

land. Through its extensive outreach 

and education program, the Whooping 

Crane Eastern Partnership has obtained the consistent support of farmers and other private landowners to 

make this important recovery program 

a success. On every front, this partnership is unique. This ongoing recovery 

effort would not be possible without 

the cooperative efforts of federal and 

state governments, landowners, volunteers, and non-governmental organizations. Seven years later, these partnerships support an ever-growing eastern 

crane population, now numbering over 

sixty. 

While over the course of the last halfcentury, North American whooping 

cranes have begun to make a slow recovery, many species of crane in Africa 

and Asia have declined, including the 

sarus crane of Asia and the wattled 

crane of Africa. 

The sarus crane stands four feet tall 

and can be found in the wetlands of 

northern India and south Asia. These 

birds require large, open, well watered 

plains or marshes to breed and survive. 

Due to agricultural expansion, industrial development, river basin development, pollution, warfare, and heavy 

use of pesticides prevalent in India and 

southeast Asia, the sarus crane population has been in decline. Furthermore, in many areas, a high human 

population concentration compounds 

these factors. On the Mekong River, 

which runs through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China, 

human population growth and planned 

development projects threaten the 

sarus crane. Reports from India, Cambodia, and Thailand have also cited 

incidences of the trading of adult birds 

and chicks, as well as hunting and egg 

stealing in the drop in population of 

the sarus crane. 

Only three subspecies of the sarus 

crane exist today. One resides in northern India and Nepal, one resides in 

southeast Asia, and one resides in 

northern Australia. Their population is 

about 8,000 in the main Indian population, with recent numbers showing a 

rapid decline. In Southeast Asia, only 

1,000 birds remain. 

The situation of the sarus crane in 

Asia is mirrored by the situation of the 

wattled crane in Africa. In Africa, the 

wattled crane is found in the southern 

and eastern regions, with an isolated 

population in the mountains of Ethiopia. Current population estimates 

range between 6,000 to 8,000 and are declining rapidly, due to loss and degradation of wetland habitats, as well as 

intensified agriculture, dam construction, and industrialization. In other 

parts of the range, the creation of dams 

has changed the dynamics of the flood 

plains, thus further endangering these 

cranes and their habitats. Human disturbance at or near breeding sites also 

continues to be a major threat. Lack of 

oversight and education over the actions of people, industry, and agriculture is leading to reduced preservation for the lands on which cranes live, 

thereby threatening the ability of 

cranes to survive in these regions. 

If we do not act now, not only will 

cranes face extinction, but the ecosystems that depend on their contributions will suffer. With the decline of 

the crane population, the wetlands and 

marshes they inhabit can potentially 

be thrown off balance. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting legislation that can provide funding to the 

local farming, education, and enforcement projects that can have the greatest positive effect on the preservation 

of both cranes and fragile habitats. 

This modest investment can secure the 

future of these exemplary birds and the 

beautiful areas in which they live. 

Therefore, I ask my colleagues to support the Crane Conservation Act of 

2009. 

This legislation is endorsed by African Wildlife Foundation, American 

Bird Conservancy, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association 

of Zoos and Aquariums, Audubon Nature Institute, Born Free USA, Conservation International, Defenders of 

Wildlife, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund 

International, Fauna & Flora International, Humane Society of the 

United States, Humane Society International, International Crane Foundation, International Fund for Animal 

Welfare, International Rhino Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Refuge Association, The 

Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. 

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed 

in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the text of 

the bill was ordered to be printed in 

the RECORD, as follows: 

S. 197 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Crane Conservation Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 

The purposes of this Act are— 

(1) to perpetuate healthy populations of 

cranes; 

(2) to assist in the conservation and protection of cranes by supporting— 


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S260 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 9, 2009 

(A) conservation programs in countries in 

which endangered and threatened cranes 

occur; and 

(B) the efforts of private organizations 

committed to helping cranes; and 

(3) to provide financial resources for those 

programs and efforts. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) CONSERVATION.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 

means the use of any method or procedure to 

improve the viability of crane populations 

and the quality of the ecosystems and habitats on which the crane populations depend 

to help the species achieve sufficient populations in the wild to ensure the long-term 

viability of the species. 

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 

includes the carrying out of any activity associated with scientific resource management, such as— 

(i) protection, restoration, and management of habitat; 

(ii) research and monitoring of known populations; 

(iii) the provision of assistance in the development of management plans for managed crane ranges; 

(iv) enforcement of the Convention; 

(v) law enforcement and habitat protection 

through community participation; 

(vi) reintroduction of cranes to the wild; 

(vii) conflict resolution initiatives; and 

(viii) community outreach and education. 

(2) CONVENTION.—The term ‘‘Convention’’ 

has the meaning given the term in section 3 

of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 

U.S.C. 1532). 

(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the 

Crane Conservation Fund established by section 5(a). 

(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

means the Secretary of the Interior. 

SEC. 4. CRANE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appropriations and in consultation 

with other appropriate Federal officials, the 

Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to 

provide financial assistance for projects relating to the conservation of cranes for 

which project proposals are approved by the 

Secretary in accordance with this section. 

(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.— 

(1) APPLICANTS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—An applicant described in 

subparagraph (B) that seeks to receive assistance under this section to carry out a 

project relating to the conservation of 

cranes shall submit to the Secretary a 

project proposal that meets the requirements of this section. 

(B) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—An applicant described in this subparagraph is— 

(i) any relevant wildlife management authority of a country that— 

(I) is located within the African, Asian, European, or North American range of a species 

of crane; and 

(II) carries out 1 or more activities that directly or indirectly affect crane populations; 

(ii) the Secretariat of the Convention; and 

(iii) any person or organization with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of 

cranes. 

(2) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—A project proposal submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall 

include— 

(A) a concise statement of the purpose of 

the project; 

(B)(i) the name of each individual responsible for conducting the project; and 

(ii) a description of the qualifications of 

each of those individuals; 

(C) a concise description of— 

(i) methods to be used to implement and 

assess the outcome of the project; 

(ii) staff and community management for 

the project; and 

(iii) the logistics of the project; 

(D) an estimate of the funds and the period 

of time required to complete the project; 

(E) evidence of support for the project by 

appropriate government entities of countries 

in which the project will be conducted, if the 

Secretary determines that such support is 

required to ensure the success of the project; 

(F) information regarding the source and 

amount of matching funding available for 

the project; and 

(G) any other information that the Secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project to receive 

assistance under this Act. 

(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 

(A) not later than 30 days after receiving a 

final project proposal, provide a copy of the 

proposal to other appropriate Federal officials; and 

(B) review each project proposal in a timely manner to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria described in subsection (d). 

(2) CONSULTATION; APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.—Not later than 180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to the 

availability of appropriations, the Secretary, 

after consulting with other appropriate Federal officials, shall— 

(A) consult on the proposal with the government of each country in which the 

project is to be carried out; 

(B) after taking into consideration any 

comments resulting from the consultation, 

approve or disapprove the proposal; and 

(C) provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to— 

(i) the applicant that submitted the proposal; 

(ii) other appropriate Federal officials; and 

(iii) each country described in subparagraph (A). 

(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may approve a project proposal under 

this section if the Secretary determines that 

the proposed project will enhance programs 

for conservation of cranes by assisting efforts to— 

(1) implement conservation programs; 

(2) address the conflicts between humans 

and cranes that arise from competition for 

the same habitat or resources; 

(3) enhance compliance with the Convention and other applicable laws that— 

(A) prohibit or regulate the taking or trade 

of cranes; or 

(B) regulate the use and management of 

crane habitat; 

(4) develop sound scientific information on, 

or methods for monitoring— 

(A) the condition of crane habitat; 

(B) crane population numbers and trends; 

or 

(C) the current and projected threats to 

crane habitat and population numbers and 

trends; 

(5) promote cooperative projects on the 

issues described in paragraph (4) among— 

(A) governmental entities; 

(B) affected local communities; 

(C) nongovernmental organizations; or 

(D) other persons in the private sector; 

(6) carry out necessary scientific research 

on cranes; 

(7) provide relevant training to, or support 

technical exchanges involving, staff responsible for managing cranes or habitats of 

cranes, to enhance capacity for effective conservation; or 

(8) reintroduce cranes successfully back 

into the wild, including propagation of a sufficient number of cranes required for this 

purpose. 

(e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY; MATCHING

FUNDS.—To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a 

project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to a proposed 

project— 

(1) that is designed to ensure effective, 

long-term conservation of cranes and habitats of cranes; or 

(2) for which matching funds are available. 

(f) PROJECT REPORTING.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each person that receives 

assistance under this section for a project 

shall submit to the Secretary, at such periodic intervals as are determined by the Secretary, reports that include all information 

that the Secretary, after consulting with 

other appropriate government officials, determines to be necessary to evaluate the 

progress and success of the project for the 

purposes of— 

(A) ensuring positive results; 

(B) assessing problems; and 

(C) fostering improvements. 

(2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—Each report submitted under paragraph (1), and any 

other documents relating to a project for 

which financial assistance is provided under 

this Act, shall be made available to the public. 

SEC. 5. CRANE CONSERVATION FUND. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 

in the Multinational Species Conservation 

Fund established by the matter under the 

heading ‘‘MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND’’ in title I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies 

Appropriations Act, 1999 (112 Stat. 2681–237; 

16 U.S.C. 4246) a separate account to be 

known as the ‘‘Crane Conservation Fund’’, 

consisting of— 

(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of 

the Treasury for deposit into the Fund under 

subsection (c); and 

(2) amounts appropriated to the Fund 

under section 7. 

(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 

and (3), upon request by the Secretary, the 

Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 

from the Fund to the Secretary, without further appropriation, such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to provide 

assistance under section 4. 

(2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the 

amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal 

year, the Secretary may expend not more 

than 3 percent, or $150,000, whichever is 

greater, to pay the administrative expenses 

necessary to carry out this Act. 

(3) LIMITATION.—Not more than 20 percent 

of the amounts made available from the 

Fund for any fiscal year may be used for 

projects relating to the conservation of 

North American crane species. 

(c) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may accept 

and use donations to provide assistance 

under section 4. 

(2) TRANSFER OF DONATIONS.—Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of donations shall be transferred to the Secretary of 

the Treasury for deposit in the Fund. 

SEC. 6. ADVISORY GROUP. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—To assist in carrying out 

this Act, the Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting of individuals representing public and private organizations 

actively involved in the conservation of 

cranes. 

(b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 

(1) MEETINGS.—The advisory group shall— 

(A) ensure that each meeting of the advisory group is open to the public; and 

(B) provide, at each meeting, an opportunity for interested persons to present oral 

or written statements concerning items on 

the agenda. 


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(2) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide to 

the public timely notice of each meeting of 

the advisory group. 

(3) MINUTES.—Minutes of each meeting of 

the advisory group shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available to the 

public. 

(c) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY

COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

apply to the advisory group. 

SEC. 7. FUNDING. 

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

There is authorized to be appropriated to the 

Fund $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 

through 2013, to remain available until expended. 

(b) OFFSET.—Of amounts appropriated to, 

and available at the discretion of, the Secretary for programmatic and administrative 

expenditures, a total of $25,000,000 shall be 

used to establish the Fund. 

By Mr. SANDERS (for himself 

and Mr. LEAHY): 

S. 198. A bill to direct the Secretary 

of Transportation to waive non-Federal 

share requirements for certain transportation programs and activities 

through September 30, 2009; to the 

Committee on Environment and Public 

Works. 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise 

today with my colleague from 

Vermont, Senator SANDERS, to introduce a bill that will help states struggling with meeting non-federal match 

requirements for federal transportation 

funding under the Safe, Accountable, 

Flexible and Efficient Transportation 

Equity Act, SAFETEA. Representative 

PETER WELCH from Vermont introduced identical legislation in the 

House today as well. 

Our States are struggling with enormous budget deficits due to the current 

economic crisis. As a result, nearly 

every one of our states has been forced 

to make drastic cuts to their transportation budgets. On top of that, state 

and local governments around the 

country report they do not have the 

necessary funding in their budgets to 

match any new Federal transportation 

money possibly forthcoming in an economic stimulus package. The inability 

of our states to improve roads and 

bridges, support public transit agencies 

facing record demand, and upgrade rail 

lines puts a strain on our already sagging economy. 

Waiving the non-federal match requirements for all highway, transit, 

and rail projects contained in 

SAFETEA would allow cash-strapped 

states to implement high priority 

transportation projects immediately— 

at no additional cost to the Federal 

Government. Since State and local 

transportation officials have ready-togo projects that simply cannot move 

forward without untying the strings of 

the required match, our legislation 

would waive the non-federal matching 

requirements of SAFETEA through 

September 30, 2009. 

I hope my colleagues will take a good 

look at our bill and support this important legislation that will stimulate 

needed transportation infrastructure 

investments all across the country. 

By Mr. SPECTER (for himself 

and Mr. CASEY): 

S. 199. A -bill to establish the Steel 

Industry National Historic Site in the 

State of Pennsylvania; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 

Mr. SPECTER. Mr President, I have 

sought recognition to introduce legislation that will honor the importance 

of the steel industry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation 

by creating the ‘‘Steel Industry National Historic Site’’ in southwestern 

Pennsylvania. 

The importance of the steel industry 

to the development of the United 

States cannot be overstated. A national historic site devoted to the history of the steel industry will afford all 

Americans the opportunity to celebrate this rich heritage, which is symbolic of the work ethic endemic to this 

great Nation. The legislation offered 

today would create a national historic 

site that would be affiliated with the 

National Park Service. There is no better place to honor our Nation’s steel 

industry heritage than in southwestern 

Pennsylvania, which played a significant role in early industrial America 

and continues today. 

I have long supported efforts to preserve and enhance the historical steelrelated heritage through the Rivers of 

Steel National Heritage Area, which 

includes the city of Pittsburgh, and 

seven southwestern Pennsylvania 

counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland. I have sought and been very 

pleased with congressional support for 

the important work within the Rivers 

of Steel Heritage Area. I have consistently advocated for increased funding 

to support our National Heritage Areas 

and I am hopeful that this support will 

continue. However, more than just resources are necessary to ensure the historical recognition of this site and our 

steel heritage. That is why I am introducing this legislation today. 

It is important to note why Pennsylvania should be the home of the national site that my legislation authorizes. The combination of a strong 

workforce, valuable natural resources, 

and Pennsylvania’s strategic location 

in the heavily populated northeastern 

United States allowed the steel industry to thrive in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the remaining buildings 

and sites that were devoted to steel 

production are threatened with deterioration. Many of these sites are nationally significant and perfectly suited for the study and interpretation of 

this crucial period in our Nation’s development. Some of these sites include 

the Carrie Furnace Complex, the Hot 

Metal Bridge, and the United States 

Steel Homestead Works, which would 

all become a part of the Steel Industry 

National Historic Site under my legislation. As testimony of the area’s historic significance, on September 20, 

2006, the Carrie Furnaces were designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior. 

Highlights of this proposed national 

historic site would commemorate a 

wide range of accomplishments and 

topics for historical preservation and 

interpretation, including industrial 

technology advancements and milestones in labor-management relations. 

One of the sites that would be included 

in the historic site would be the location of the Battle of the Homestead, 

waged in 1892 between steelworkers and 

Pinkerton guards. The Battle of the 

Homestead marked a pivotal moment 

in our Nation’s workers’ rights movement. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, individuals, and public and private entities have attempted to protect 

and preserve resources such as the 

Homestead battleground and the Hot 

Metal Bridge. For the benefit and inspiration of present and future generations, it is time for the Federal Government to join this effort to recognize 

their importance with the additional 

protection I provide in this bill. 

I commend my colleague, Representative DOYLE, who has been a longstanding leader in this preservation effort and who has sponsored this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. I look forward to working with 

officials in southwestern Pennsylvania 

and Mr. August Carlino, president and 

chief executive officer of the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, to bring 

this national historic site designation 

to fruition. I urge my colleagues to 

support this legislation. 

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed 

in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the text of 

the bill was ordered to be printed in 

the RECORD, as follows: 

S. 199 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Steel Industry National Historic Site Act’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

(1) Certain sites and structures in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania symbolize in 

physical form the heritage of the steel industry of the United States. 

(2) Certain buildings and other structures 

in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are 

nationally significant historical resources, 

including the United States Steel Homestead 

Works, the Carrie Furnace complex, and the 

Hot Metal Bridge. 

(3) Despite substantial efforts for cultural 

preservation and historical interpretation by 

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and by 

individuals and public and private entities in 

the Commonwealth, these buildings and 

other structures may be lost without the assistance of the Federal Government. 

(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act 

are to ensure the preservation, interpretation, visitor enjoyment, and maintenance of 

the nationally significant historical and cultural sites and structures described in subsection (a) for the benefit and inspiration of 

present and future generations. 

SEC. 3. STEEL INDUSTRY NATIONAL HISTORIC 

SITE, PENNSYLVANIA. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Steel Industry 

National Historic Site is hereby established 


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