Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee

The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

10.

Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee

(a)

Establishment

There is hereby established the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the Advisory Committee) to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. (b)

Duties of the advisory committee

The Advisory Committee shall advise the Secretaries with regard to— (1)implementation of Executive Order No. 13443: Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation, which directs Federal agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat; (2)policies or programs to conserve and restore wetlands, agricultural lands, grasslands, forest, and rangeland habitats; (3)policies or programs to promote opportunities and access to hunting and shooting sports on Federal lands; (4)policies or programs to recruit and retain new hunters and shooters; (5)policies or programs that increase public awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and the social and economic benefits of recreational hunting and shooting; and (6)policies or programs that encourage coordination among the public, the hunting and shooting sports community, wildlife conservation groups, and States, tribes, and the Federal Government. (c)

Membership

(1)

Appointment

(A)

In general

The Advisory Committee shall consist of no more than 16 discretionary members and 7 ex officio members. (B)

Ex officio members

The ex officio members are— (i)the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or a designated representative of the Director; (ii)the Director of the Bureau of Land Management or a designated representative of the Director; (iii)the Director of the National Park Service or a designated representative of the Director; (iv)the Chief of the Forest Service or a designated representative of the Chief; (v)the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or a designated representative of the Chief; (vi)the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency or a designated representative of the Administrator; and (vii)the Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (C)

Discretionary members

The discretionary members shall be appointed jointly by the Secretaries from at least one of each of the following: (i)State fish and wildlife agencies. (ii)Game bird hunting organizations. (iii)Wildlife conservation organizations. (iv)Big game hunting organizations. (v)The tourism, outfitter, or guiding industry. (vi)The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry. (vii)The hunting or shooting equipment retail industry. (viii)Tribal resource management organizations. (ix)The agriculture industry. (x)The ranching industry. (D)

Eligibility

Prior to the appointment of the discretionary members, the Secretaries shall determine that all individuals nominated for appointment to the Advisory Committee, and the organization each individual represents, actively support and promote sustainable-use hunting, wildlife conservation, and recreational shooting. (2)

Terms

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. Members shall not be appointed for more than 3 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. (B)

Terms of initial appointees

As designated by the Secretary at the time of appointment, of the members first appointed— (i)6 members shall be appointed for a term of 4 years; (ii)5 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; and (iii)5 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years. (3)

Preservation of public advisory status

No individual may be appointed as a discretionary member of the Advisory Committee while serving as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (4)

Vacancy and removal

(A)

In general

Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (B)

Removal

Advisory Committee members shall serve at the discretion of the Secretaries and may be removed at any time for good cause. (5)

Continuation of service

Each appointed member may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of office to which such member was appointed until a successor has been appointed. (6)

Chairperson

The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a 3-year term by the Secretaries, jointly, from among the members of the Advisory Committee. An individual may not be appointed as Chairperson for more than 2 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. (7)

Pay and expenses

Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve without pay for such service, but each member of the Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed for travel and lodging incurred through attending meetings of the Advisory Committee approved subgroup meetings in the same amounts and under the same conditions as Federal employees (in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code). (8)

Meetings

(A)

In general

The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Secretaries, the chairperson, or a majority of the members, but not less frequently than twice annually. (B)

Open meetings

Each meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be open to the public. (C)

Prior notice of meetings

Timely notice of each meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be published in the Federal Register and be submitted to trade publications and publications of general circulation. (D)

Subgroups

The Advisory Committee may establish such workgroups or subgroups as it deems necessary for the purpose of compiling information or conducting research. However, such workgroups may not conduct business without the direction of the Advisory Committee and must report in full to the Advisory Committee. (9)

Quorum

Nine members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum. (d)

Expenses

The expenses of the Advisory Committee that the Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate shall be paid by the Secretaries. (e)

Administrative support, technical services, and advice

A designated Federal Officer shall be jointly appointed by the Secretaries to provide to the Advisory Committee the administrative support, technical services, and advice that the Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate. (f)

Annual report

(1)

Required

Not later than September 30 of each year, the Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the Secretaries, the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. If circumstances arise in which the Advisory Committee cannot meet the September 30 deadline in any year, the Secretaries shall advise the Chairpersons of each such Committee of the reasons for such delay and the date on which the submission of the report is anticipated. (2)

Contents

The report required by paragraph (1) shall describe— (A)the activities of the Advisory Committee during the preceding year; (B)the reports and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee to the Secretaries during the preceding year; and (C)an accounting of actions taken by the Secretaries as a result of the recommendations. (g)

Federal advisory committee act

The Advisory Committee shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). (h)

Abolishment of the existing wildlife and hunting heritage conservation council advisory committee

Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council formed in furtherance of section 441 of the Revised Statutes (43 U.S.C. 1457), the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a), and other Acts applicable to specific bureaus of the Department of the Interior is hereby abolished.