FINDINGS.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS. The Congress finds and declares the following: (1) The late Silvio Conte was a long-time champion of the preservation of natural resources, including the Connecticut River, shepherding through Congress legislation meant to restore the river and its wildlife to health. (2) The Connecticut River and its riparian lands are unique environmental resources which provide habitat for significant anadromous, migratory, and resident fish; migratory waterfowl; and other wildlife species, including such threatened or endangered species as the shortnosed sturgeon and bald eagle. (3) Federal, State, and local governments have spent over $600,000,000 to clean up the Connecticut River and improve the quality of its fish and wildlife habitat, resulting in the reestablishment or improvement of the populations of many species such as the Atlantic salmon, American shad, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. (4) The Connecticut River valley is home to over two million people, and accordingly the river and riparian lands are of great value for environmental education and natural resource based recreation. (5) The Connecticut River valley is threatened with spoliation, removal from public access, and ecological downgrading and is a significant source of energy and means of commerce for New England. (6) Despoiling the Connecticut River and its riparian lands will result in the permanent loss of unique social, educational, and environmental assets and will devalue the significant Federal, State and local investments made to clean up the river.