[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 277 Reference Change Senate (RCS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 277

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct an education 
 and administrative center at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in 
                        Box Elder County, Utah.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 4, 2003

  Mr. Bennett introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

                           February 11, 2003

  Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on Environment and 
                              Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct an education 
 and administrative center at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in 
                        Box Elder County, Utah.

    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 ``Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 
Visitor Center Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Bear River marshes have been a historical waterfowl 
        oasis and an important inland waterfowl flyway for thousands of 
        years.
            (2) Congress created the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 
        as one of the first National Wildlife Refuges, for the purpose 
        of protecting waterfowl habitat and migratory birds, educating 
        the public regarding, and enhancing public appreciation of, 
        waterfowl habitat and migratory birds.
            (3) The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was virtually 
        destroyed by the devastating floods that occurred between 1983 
        and 1985.
            (4) Refuge employees, aided by volunteers, have taken 
        valiant actions to rebuild the Refuge by restoring habitat, 
        increasing its attractiveness to waterfowl, reducing waterfowl 
        botulism, and providing recreational and educational 
        opportunities to the public.
            (5) The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge lacks a functional 
        education and administrative center.
            (6) The creation of such a facility would significantly 
        enhance public appreciation of waterfowl and the need to 
        preserve waterfowl habitat.
            (7) Congress has taken significant steps to provide funding 
        for the construction of an education and administrative center.

 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (2) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Bear River 
        Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County, Utah.
            (3) Education and administrative center.--The term 
        ``Education and Administrative Center'' means the facility 
        identified in the Environmental Assessment dated 1991 and 
        entitled ``Restoration and Expansion of the Bear River 
        Migratory Bird Refuge''.

 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDUCATION CENTER.

    (a) Construction.--The Secretary shall construct the Education and 
Administrative Center at the Refuge for the purposes of providing for 
the interpretation of resources of the Refuge for the education and 
benefit of the public, the advancement of research, protection, and 
health of waterfowl habitat, and for the administration of the Bear 
River Migratory Bird Refuge.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $11,000,000 to carry out subsection (a).

 SEC. 5. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Donation of Funds and Services.--The Secretary may accept 
donations of funds and services from nonprofit organizations, State and 
local governments, and private citizens for the construction of the 
Education and Administrative Center.
    (b) Matching Funds.--The Secretary may not require matching funds 
or contributions in kind with a combined total value of more than 
$1,500,000 for construction of the Education and Administrative Center.
                                 <all>