"The National Wildlife Refuge System is vital to the future of our nations wildlife, and this legislation will serve as the cornerstone for our efforts to use the Centennial milestone to strengthen the System for the benefit of future generations," said Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. "We are grateful to the President and Congress for their leadership to ensure that the Refuge System receives the recognition it deserves, and for their vigorous efforts to save Americas national treasures."
Finding that the System "has an unacceptable backlog in critical operations and maintenance needs," that approaches $800 million, and that "visitor centers and public use facilities must be properly constructed, operated, and maintained," the legislation calls for the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a long term plan by March 2002 to address the priority operations, maintenance, and construction needs of the Refuge System (operations refers to all efforts to protect wildlife, improve habitat, and serve visitors). The Secretary of the Interior must report annually on progress towards meeting this backlog and priority transition costs for newly acquired refuge lands.
The legislation also requires the Interior Secretary to recommend a National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Commission to the next President. The President must appoint the commission within 90 days after taking office. Modeled after a similar distinguished group that oversaw the National Park Systems Centennial celebrations in 1972, members will include the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Congressional leaders, and up to ten distinguished private citizens. This commission is charged with developing and coordinating a plan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the System, and to host a major conference in 2003.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act of 2000 was introduced and shepherded through Congress by a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Representatives, including Senators Bob Smith from New Hampshire and Max Baucus from Montana, and Representatives Jim Saxton from New Jersey and Eni F.H. Faleomavaega from American Samoa. It is the third major piece of legislation intended to strengthen the System since 1997.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, signed in 1997, is the Systems first-ever organic legislation, and ended decades of debate over the Systems role by unequivocally naming wildlife conservation as the sole mission of the Refuge System, and giving wildlife related recreational and educational uses
