[DOCID: f:hr657.110]
From the House Reports Online via GPO Access
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-657
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GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS ACT OF 2008
_______
May 19, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1464]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 1464) to assist in the conservation of rare felids
and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources
for the conservation programs of nations within the range of
rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons
with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid
and rare canid populations, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill
as amended do pass.
The amendments is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of
2008.''
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Many wild populations of felids and canids, once
considered common, are in decline, and many have declined to
the point that their long-term survival in the wild is in
serious jeopardy.
(2) Of the 37 wild felid species worldwide, all are currently
recognized as species in need of protection under the IUCN Red
List, the lists of species in CITES appendices I, II, and III,
or the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Of the 35 wild canid
species worldwide, nearly 50 percent are recognized as in need
of such protection.
(3) In addition to their intrinsic value, felids and canids
are important aesthetic, economic, and ecological global
resources that need to be conserved.
(4) Large felids and canids are considered both umbrella and
indicator species. Healthy populations of these species act as
an important indicator of the integrity of entire ecosystems
and, because they require large wild spaces to persist, benefit
entire ecosystems and a large number of other species. Measures
taken to benefit these keystone species will ultimately benefit
a great number of other species.
(5) Rare felids and rare canids face an array of threats,
including loss of habitat and natural prey, intentional and
unintentional takings by humans, disease transmission, and a
vast number of other threats. These threats need to be
addressed in a coordinated fashion.
(6) Conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations
requires global commitment. Adequate funding for conservation
is sorely lacking, and many range countries for those species
do not have adequate infrastructure to protect species of
concern. Those countries that do provide assistance to
threatened populations need further assistance in implementing
effective conservation strategies.
(7) In particular, in developing nations with limited
resources, poverty, population growth, and habitat loss all
present significant challenges to conservation of rare felids
and rare canids.
(8) Although some protections and initiatives exist to
conserve rare felid and rare canid populations and their
habitat, those efforts can be significantly strengthened and
enhanced by increased coordination and the infusion of targeted
funding to benefit species of concern.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are to provide financial resources and to
foster international cooperation--
(1) to restore and perpetuate healthy populations of rare
felids and rare canids in the wild; and
(2) to assist in the conservation of rare felid and rare
canid populations worldwide.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) CITES.--The term ``CITES'' means the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora, done at Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS
8249), including its appendices.
(2) Conservation.--The term ``conservation''--
(A) means the methods and procedures necessary to
bring a species of rare felid or rare canid to the
point at which there are sufficient populations in the
wild to ensure the long-term viability of the species;
(B) includes all activities associated with
protection and management of a rare felid or rare canid
population, including--
(i) maintenance, management, protection, and
restoration of rare felid or rare canid
habitat;
(ii) research and monitoring;
(iii) law enforcement;
(iv) community outreach and education;
(v) conflict resolution initiatives; and
(vi) strengthening the capacity of local
communities, governmental agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and other
institutions to implement conservation
programs.
(3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Great Cats and Rare
Canids Conservation Fund established by section 6.
(4) IUCN red list.--The term ``IUCN Red List'' means the Red
List of Threatened Species Maintained by the World Conservation
Union.
(5) Rare canid.--The term ``rare canid''--
(A) means any canid species, subspecies, or
population that--
(i) is not native to the area comprised of
the United States and Canada; and
(ii) is included in the IUCN Red List,
Appendix I, II, or III of CITES, or any list
published under section 4(c) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(c)); and
(B) includes such a subspecies or population of dhole
(Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), Ethiopian wolf
(Canis simensis), bush dog (Speothos venaticus),
African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), or maned wolf
(Chrysocyon brachyurus).
(6) Rare felid.--The term ``rare felid''--
(A) subject to subparagraph (C), means any felid
species, subspecies, or population that--
(i) is not native to the area comprised of
the United States and Canada; and
(ii) is included in the IUCN Red List,
Appendix I, II, or III of CITES, or any list
published under section 4(c) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(c));
(B) includes such a subspecies or population of lion
(Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), jaguar
(Panthera onca), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), clouded
leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus), or Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina); and
(C) does not include any tiger (Panthera tigris).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' refers to the
Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of funds and in
consultation with other appropriate Federal officials, the Secretary
shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial assistance for
projects for the conservation of rare felid and rare canids for which
project proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this
section.
(b) Project Proposals.--
(1) Eligible applicants.--A proposal for a project for the
conservation of rare felid and canids may be submitted to the
Secretary by--
(A) any wildlife management authority of a country
that has within its boundaries any part of the range of
a rare felid or rare canid species, respectively; and
(B) any person or group with the demonstrated
expertise required for the conservation in the wild of
rare felids or rare canids, respectively.
(2) Project proposals.--To be considered for financial
assistance for a project under this Act, an applicant shall
submit a project proposal that includes--
(A) a concise statement of the purposes of the
project;
(B) the name of the individual responsible for
conducting the project;
(C) a description of the qualifications of the
individuals who will conduct the project;
(D) a concise description of--
(i) methods for project implementation and
outcome assessment;
(ii) staffing for the project;
(iii) the logistics of the project; and
(iv) community involvement in the project;
(E) an estimate of funds and time required to
complete the project;
(F) evidence of support for the project by
appropriate governmental entities of the countries in
which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary
determines that such support is required for the
success of the project;
(G) information regarding the source and amount of
matching funding available for the project; and
(H) any other information that the Secretary
considers to be necessary for evaluating the
eligibility of the project for funding under this Act.
(c) Project Review and Approval.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving a project
proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to the
appropriate Federal officials; and
(B) review each project proposal in a timely manner
to determine if the proposal meets the criteria
specified in subsection (d).
(2) Consultation; approval or disapproval.--Not later than
180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to the
availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting with
other appropriate Federal officials, shall--
(A) ensure the proposal contains assurances that the
project will be implemented in consultation with
relevant wildlife management authorities and other
appropriate government officials with jurisdiction over
the resources addressed by the project;
(B) approve or disapprove the proposal; and
(C) provide written notification of the approval or
disapproval to the person who submitted the proposal,
other appropriate Federal officials, and each country
within whose borders the project will take place.
(d) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may approve a project
proposal under this section if the project will contribute to
conservation of rare felids or rare canids in the wild by assisting
efforts to--
(1) implement conservation programs;
(2) address the conflicts between humans and rare felids or
rare canids, respectively, that arise from competition for the
same habitat or resources;
(3) enhance compliance with CITES, the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, and other applicable laws that prohibit or regulate
the taking or trade of rare felids and rare canids or regulate
the use and management of rare felid and rare canid habitat;
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods for
monitoring--
(A) the condition and health of rare felid or rare
canid habitat;
(B) rare felid or rare canid population numbers and
trends; and
(C) the ecological characteristics and requirements
of populations of rare felids or rare canids for which
there are little or no data;
(5) promote cooperative projects among government entities,
affected local communities, nongovernmental organizations, and
other persons in the private sector; or
(6) funds will not be appropriated for the purchase or lease
of lands to be used as suitable habitat for felids or canids.
(e) Project Sustainability.--In approving project proposals under
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to conservation
projects that are designed to ensure effective, long-term conservation
of rare felids and rare canids and their habitats.
(f) Matching Funds.--In determining whether to approve project
proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to
projects for which there exists some measure of matching funds.
(g) Project Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Each person that receives assistance under
this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary
periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary considers
necessary) that include all information that the Secretary,
after consultation with other appropriate government officials,
determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of
the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results,
assessing problems, and fostering improvements.
(2) Availability to the public.--Reports under paragraph (1),
and any other documents relating to projects for which
financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made
available to the public.
(h) Limitations on Use for Captive Breeding or Display.--Amounts
provided as a grant under this Act--
(1) may not be used for captive breeding or display of rare
felids and rare canids other than captive breeding for release
into the wild; and
(2) may be used for captive breeding of a species for release
into the wild only if no other conservation method for the
species is biologically feasible.
(i) Limitation on Assistance for Certain Species.--Of amounts
available for a fiscal year for providing financial assistance under
this section, the Secretary may not use more than 25 percent to provide
assistance for projects that target rare canid and rare felid species
that are not listed in paragraph (5)(B) or (6)(B), respectively, of
section 4.
(j) Advisory Group.--
(1) 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 felids and canids.
(2) Public participation.--
(A) Meetings.--The advisory group shall--
(i) ensure that each meeting of the advisory
group is open to the public; and
(ii) provide, at each meeting, an opportunity
for interested persons to present oral or
written statements concerning items on the
agenda.
(B) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the
public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory
group, including the meeting agenda.
(C) Minutes.--Minutes of each meeting of the advisory
group shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made
available to the public.
(3) Exemption from federal advisory committee act.--The
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply
to the advisory group.
SEC. 6. GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS CONSERVATION FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established, in the Multinational
Species Conservation Fund established in title I of the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 under the
heading ``MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND'', a separate account
to be known as the ``Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund'',
consisting of--
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for
deposit into such account under subsection (e);
(2) amounts appropriated to such account under section 7; and
(3) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the
account under subsection (c).
(b) Expenditures From Fund.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), 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 three percent, or up to $100,000, whichever is
greater, to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry
out this Act.
(c) Investment of Amounts.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest
such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the
Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current
withdrawals. Investments may be made only in interest-bearing
obligations of the United States.
(2) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose of
investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired--
(A) on original issue at the issue price; or
(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the
market price.
(3) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired by the Fund
may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the market
price.
(4) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the proceeds from
the sale or redemption of any obligations held in the Fund
shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.
(d) Transfers of Amounts.--
(1) In general.--The amounts required to be transferred to
the Fund under this section shall be transferred at least
monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on
the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(2) Adjustments.--Proper adjustment shall be made in amounts
subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in
excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred.
(e) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--The Secretary may accept and
use donations to provide assistance under section 4, and may make
public on the Internet website and in publications of the Department of
the Interior that the Secretary is authorized to accept and use such
donations. Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of such
donations shall be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for
deposit into the Fund.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OR APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this Act.
SEC. 8. INELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.
Amounts provided as a grant under this Act may not be spent on
projects in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan and North Korea.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 1464 is to assist in the conservation
of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing
financial resources for the conservation programs of nations
within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and
projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the
conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Throughout the world, wildlife populations are under
increasing stress from the encroachment of expanding human
populations. As a result, many wildlife populations have
declined, some precipitously, due to habitat loss or
degradation, poaching and illegal trade, disease, political
instability and hostile interactions with expanding human
settlements and agriculture. The decline of populations of
charismatic ``keystone'' wildlife species such as tigers,
rhinoceros, elephant, great apes and sea turtles has focused
greater attention on the need to protect wildlife and wildlife
habitat abroad.
The Congress has responded by creating distinct
conservation funds within the Multinational Species
Conservation Fund (MSCF) to provide financial assistance to
support conservation activities to protect, recover and restore
wildlife species and their habitats. The MSCF was created by
Congress in 1999 as part of Title I of the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (16 U.S.C.
4246). Within the fund are specific wildlife conservation
accounts authorized under separate statutes that receive annual
appropriations from Congress to support conservation activities
to protect, recover or restore threatened and endangered
species, specifically tigers, rhinoceroses, African elephants,
Asian elephants, great apes and sea turtles.\1\ These wildlife
species are all considered ``keystone'' or ``umbrella'' species
which means that they enrich ecosystem function in a unique or
significant manner through their activities, and their effect
is disproportionate to their numerical number.\2\
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\1\An additional fund authorized under the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act was removed from the MSCF in 2006.
\2\National Wildlife Federation, 2007. Species At Risk (http://
www.nwf.org/wildlife/pdfs/speciesatrisk.pdf)
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More than $115 million in matching or in-kind support has
been obtained since the first grant was awarded under the
African Elephant Conservation Act in 1990, nearly tripling the
effect of the $43 million in federal appropriated funds. More
than 500 partners have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in 44 countries to protect and conserve these species.
In addition, coordination with other federal agencies overseas,
such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),
has linked up species conservation and habitat management with
economic development within countries with these species. In
general, these funds are viewed as effective tools to leverage
additional resources to implement projects that address the
greatest conservation need.
All of the felid and canid species included in this
legislation suffer from multiple stressors that have negatively
affected their population size, distribution and potential for
recovery which cumulatively has resulted in their being listed
as threatened or endangered and in need of protection. Factors
commonly acknowledged as responsible for these declines include
habitat loss and fragmentation, diminished prey-base, poaching
and illegal wildlife trade, environmental pollution and
pesticides, disease, political instability, and growing human-
wildlife conflicts. Species of predatory carnivores have been
purposefully targeted for eradication in order to promote
pastoral industries and expanded human settlement. H.R. 1464
would expand the number of funds within the MSCF to provide
similar financial assistance to conserve additional threatened
and endangered species, notably great felids (cats) and rare
canids. Summaries of the conservation status of the target
wildlife species follows.\3\
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\3\Wildlife Conservation Society. Fact sheet. 2007
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Great Cats: Seven species within the family Felidae would
be eligible for assistance under both H.R. 1464 and include the
lion, cheetah, leopard, clouded leopard, snow leopard, Iberian
lynx and jaguar. These species are distributed in fragmented
habitats found across sub-Sahara Africa, the Middle East and
South Asia, Central and South America and the Iberian Peninsula
in Europe. All of these species are recognized as threatened or
endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES), and/or the World Conservation Union
(IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.\4\
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\4\IUCN--the World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival
Commission has for the past four decades scientifically assessed on a
global scale the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties
and selected subpopulations to highlight taxa of wildlife that are
threatened with extinction in order to promote their conservation and
maintain global biodiversity.
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Rare Canids: Six species within the family Canidae would be
eligible for assistance under H.R. 1464. These species include
the African wild dog, Ethiopian wolf, European gray wolf,
dhole, maned wolf and bush dog. While their ecological role is
poorly understood and often unappreciated, wild dogs function
as genuine ``keystone'' species and are equally deserving of
protection. In fact, the African wild dog and Ethiopian wolf
are two of the most endangered animals on the African
continent. All of these species are recognized as threatened or
endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES), and/or the IUCN Red List of Endangered
Species.
This legislation assists in the conservation of rare cats
and rare dogs by providing financial resources for conservation
programs within range States and to support projects that
conserve rare cat and rare dog populations and their habitats.
No cat or dog species native to the United States or Canada
would be eligible for grant assistance.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 1464 was introduced on March 9, 2007, by Rep. Tom
Udall (D-NM). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans. On September 6, 2007, the
Fisheries Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. The bill
received the qualified support of the administration and all
other witnesses verified the need for the legislation and
testified in support of the bill.
On October 4, 2007, the Subcommittee met to mark up the
bill. The Subcommittee's Ranking Member, Rep. Henry Brown (R-
SC) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to make
ineligible for funding those species whose populations are not
endangered, clarify the use of funds for captive breeding
activities, strike the bill's findings, and require the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to complete a study of conservation
status of rare felid and canid species. The amendment was
adopted by voice vote. The bill was then forwarded as amended
to the Full Committee by voice vote.
On April 30, 2008, the Full Natural Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) offered an
amendment in the nature of a substitute to add one additional
species (Borneo bay cat and Darwin's fox) to each respective
list; strike the eligibility criteria for non-listed species;
and add the European Union to the list of regions where canid
species would be ineligible to receive grant assistance. Rep.
Steve Pearce (R-NM) offered an amendment to the amendment that
would have amended the bill to insert a restrictive definition
for determining a country's eligibility to receive grant
assistance. The amendment was ruled non-germane. Rep. Pearce
then offered a second amendment to the amendment to insert at
the end of the bill a list of specific ineligible countries
that included, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea. The
amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill, as amended, was
then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives
by voice vote.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that the bill may be cited as the
``Great Cat and Rare Canids Act of 2007.''
Section 2. Purposes
Section 2 states that the purposes of the bill are to
provide financial resources and to foster international
cooperation to restore and perpetuate healthy populations of
rare felids and canids in the wild and to assist in the
conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations
worldwide.
Section 3. Definitions
This section defines specific terms to be used in the
legislation, including ``CITES,'' ``Conservation,'' ``Fund,''
``IUCN Red List,'' ``Rare Canid,'' ``Rare Felid,'' and
``Secretary.''
Section 4. Financial assistance
This section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
provide financial assistance subject to the availability of
appropriations for projects for the conservation of rare felids
and rare canids. The section specifies eligible project
applicants and provides a detailed list of required information
to be included in project applications. The Secretary is
required to approve or disapprove all applications no later
than 180 days after receiving the application and must provide
written notification to the applicant, other appropriate
federal officials and each country within which the project
will take place.
This section also provides the Secretary with criteria to
evaluate and approve project applications, including a
determination that funds will not be used for the purchase or
lease of land. Special preference shall be given under this
section to projects that are designed to ensure effective,
long-term conservation of rare felids and rare canids and their
habitats and applications for which there exist non-federal
matching funds. Approved projects are required under this
section to report regularly to the Secretary to assess
progress, foster improvements and ensure positive results. Such
reports would be available to the public. Funds awarded by the
Secretary under this section could not be used for captive
breeding activities other than for release into the wild or if
no other conservation method is available and biologically
feasible to perpetuate the species. This section would also
authorize the Secretary to convene an advisory group exempt
from requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to
incorporate stakeholder participation.
Section 5. Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund
This section would authorize establishment of a Great Cats
and Rare Canids Fund as a separate account in the Multinational
Species Conservation Fund that would consist of amounts
appropriated by Congress, amounts donated, and any interest
earned on the investment of funds. All funding available to the
Secretary for program administration is limited to three
percent or $100,000 annually, whichever is greater. The
Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to invest un-used
portions of the Fund in interest bearing obligations and
interest earned shall be credited to the Fund. The Secretary of
the Treasury would be required to transfer funds to the Fund on
no less than a monthly schedule.
Section 6. Study of conservation status of felid and canid species
This section would direct the Secretary to complete a study
and report to the Congress on the conservation status of felid
and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List that are not
eligible under this bill and include recommendations for
additional species to be added to the lists of rare felids or
rare canids defined in the bill.
Section 7. Authorization of appropriations
The legislation would authorize $5 million per year to be
appropriated to carry out the Act for each fiscal year from
2008 to 2012. Such sums as are necessary are authorized to
carry out the study authorized in Section 6 of the bill.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized
in the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed
by one or more agencies, an advisory committee already in
existence or by enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory
committee.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to assist in the conservation of rare
felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial
resources for the conservation programs of nations within the
range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of
persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare
felid and rare canid populations.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
H.R. 1464 Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2007
Summary: H.R. 1464 would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to establish a grant program to protect and conserve
rare species of cats (such as leopards) and canids (such as
wolves) in the wild. The bill would authorize the appropriation
of $5 million a year through 2012 for financial assistance to
eligible government agencies, international or foreign
organizations, or private entities engaged in such activities.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts (beginning in
2009), CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1464 would increase
discretionary spending by $19 million over the 2009-2013 period
and by $1 million after 2013.
H.R. 1464 also would authorize the agency to invest
unneeded balances of appropriated funds in federal securities
and spend any proceeds from those investments without further
appropriation. Enacting this legislation would therefore
increase direct spending by an estimated $200,000 a year
beginning in 2010. The bill also would authorize the agency to
accept and spend (also without further appropriation) donations
from nonfederal sources, but any increase in revenues (from
donations) would be offset by additional direct spending of
such amounts.
H.R. 1464 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated Cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 1464 is shown in the following table.
For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be
enacted near the end of fiscal year 2008 and that authorized
amounts will be provided as specified in the bill, beginning
with fiscal year 2009. Estimated outlays are based on
historical spending patterns for similar programs. The costs of
this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural
resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-------------------------------------------------
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION\1\
Authorization Level........................................... 5 5 5 5 0
Estimated Outlays............................................. 2 3 4 5 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Enacting H.R. 1464 also would increase direct spending by an estimated $200,000 a year, beginning in 2010,
from the use of interest on appropriation balances.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1464
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Neil Hood, Impact on
the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director
for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
EARMARK STATEMENT
H.R. 1464 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.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.
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