I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1454 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 12, 2009 Mr. Brown of South Carolina (for himself, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Kind, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Tanner, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for the issuance of a Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2009.

2.

Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp

(a)

In general

In order to afford a convenient way for members of the public to contribute to funding for the operations supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, the United States Postal Service shall issue a semipostal stamp (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp) in accordance with succeeding provisions of this section. (b)

Cost

The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp shall be offered at a cost equal to the cost of mailing a letter weighing 1 ounce or less at the nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate, in effect at the time of purchase, plus a differential of not less than 25 percent. (c)

Other terms and conditions

The issuance and sale of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp shall be governed by the provisions of section 416 of title 39, United States Code, and regulations issued under such section, subject to subsection (b) and the following: (1)

Disposition of proceeds

(A)

In general

All amounts becoming available from the sale of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp (as determined under section 416(d) of such title 39) shall be transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, for the purpose described in subsection (a), through payments which shall be made at least twice a year, with the proceeds to be divided equally among the African Elephant Conservation Fund, the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund. (B)

Proceeds not to be offset

In accordance with section 416(d)(4) of such title 39, amounts becoming available from the sale of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp (as so determined) shall not be taken into account in any decision relating to the level of appropriations or other Federal funding to be furnished in any year to— (i)the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; or (ii)any of the funds identified in subparagraph (A). (2)

Duration

The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp shall be made available to the public for a period of at least 5 years, beginning no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3)

Stamp depictions

Stamps issued under this Act shall depict images of flagship multinational species, such as African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros and tigers, marine turtles, and certain species of great apes. (4)

Limitation

The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp shall not be subject to, or taken into account for purposes of applying, any limitation under section 416(e)(1)(C) of such title 39. (d)

Definition

For purposes of this Act, the term semipostal stamp refers to a stamp described in section 416(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code.