119 S4543 IS: Extinction Prevention Act of 2026
U.S. Senate
2026-05-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Extinction Prevention Act of 2026
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—North America Butterfly Conservation Act of 2026Sec. 101. Short title.Sec. 102. Purposes.Sec. 103. Definitions.Sec. 104. North America butterfly conservation assistance.Sec. 105. North America Butterfly Conservation Fund.Sec. 106. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 107. Report to Congress.TITLE II—Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund Act of 2026Sec. 201. Short title.Sec. 202. Purposes.Sec. 203. Definitions.Sec. 204. Pacific Islands plant conservation assistance.Sec. 205. Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund.Sec. 206. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 207. Report to Congress.TITLE III—Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund Act of 2026Sec. 301. Short title.Sec. 302. Purposes.Sec. 303. Definitions.Sec. 304. United States freshwater mussel conservation assistance.Sec. 305. Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund.Sec. 306. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 307. Report to Congress.TITLE IV—Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund Act of 2026Sec. 401. Short title.Sec. 402. Purposes.Sec. 403. Definitions.Sec. 404. Southwest desert fish conservation assistance.Sec. 405. Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund.Sec. 406. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 407. Report to Congress.<enum>I</enum><header>North America Butterfly Conservation Act of 2026</header><section id="H076BA64BECE445DF954657B86B36335E"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>North America Butterfly Conservation Fund Act of 2026</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="HB6645581562F457C95ABF44BD18CBA87"><enum>102.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text><paragraph id="H8CEBEC7700324004A224AD53168423DF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to perpetuate healthy populations of butterflies in North America;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE43C3CE576CD41429FFFD3B7101DF4A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to assist in the conservation of threatened and endangered butterflies by supporting conservation initiatives in North America; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7F7256D8392B4AC98F65BD920B4E8062"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation for those initiatives.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H56D7E12DE3F74BD9807B4271FBC6BE4B"><enum>103.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H593BF92BDA2447F4BFBC8E7CBE84CA33"><enum>(1)</enum><header>North America butterfly conservation</header><text>The term <term>North America butterfly conservation</term> means the use of all methods and procedures necessary to protect habitats of butterflies in North America and of butterflies in those habitats, including—</text><subparagraph id="HE488573287724A198F8B2B4DD603563F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protection, restoration, and management of habitats;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0516330DA6774C769AC1D40D2AE603F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>onsite research and monitoring of populations, habitats, annual reproduction, and butterfly species population trends;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3E04A9C114B14B57AC474E1CA6401FDD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance in the development, implementation, and improvement of national and regional management plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H968174B7A1EA4458A5908FFEF70E747B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>enforcement and implementation of applicable conservation laws; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B2E9B0067984391AE5D49C447CEBE42"><enum>(E)</enum><text>community outreach and education.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF6B68592FFD84B45BF50E70A6DD8C2A6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <term>Fund</term> means the North America Butterfly Conservation Fund established by section 105.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0ECB5CEA5D8B480692A735A528B27067"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Butterfly; butterflies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms <term>butterfly</term> and <term>butterflies</term> mean any member of the order Lepidoptera.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC9759525C9774D1C83AF4BE705B7764F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>North America</header><text>The term <term>North America</term> means the United States, Canada, Mexico, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H39A340B85D6A42F7B9BC092DD7DD7B28"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H13AEAF0BE5094263ADE07B1E8F24F016"><enum>104.</enum><header>North America butterfly conservation assistance</header><subsection id="H260127E044F74C20AA29DD69CD60D663"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H6CCC2D74A2C24A62BF0F475D23D7939F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal officials, use amounts in the Fund to provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for North America butterfly conservation projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H36DF48479CAC41A58C735B2CC103ADD3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of existing authorities</header><text>Assistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE7E2FFBED67B43B0BBA2F8F9861B4880"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Project proposals</header><paragraph id="HB00FE59967DB4A878E5D7A1E20776839"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible applicants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A proposal for a North America butterfly conservation project may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by—</text><subparagraph id="H867ED0210A434A14A8F1D2DD3ADC4B68"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State or Tribal agency, research institution, nonprofit organization, or wildlife management authority in North America that—</text><clause commented="no" id="H9D9C647AA65B414C8A0530160C90C31A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>exercises control or has jurisdiction over butterfly habitat; and</text></clause><clause id="H2FF36E665E174D3B88D3EC9091F191B4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">directly or indirectly affects North America butterfly conservation; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1EF6AC20E0648CBB0C38A4048B91610"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other individual or entity, as the Secretary determines appropriate, with the demonstrated expertise required to carry out North America butterfly conservation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF7148D6128494D90AAA2B57BD871CDC4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal partnership opportunities</header><text>A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H92CF6ED855FF43A48B0DC90975D87F00"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required elements</header><text>A project proposal submitted under this section shall include—</text><subparagraph id="HE9EC15ED908C40DF873EB867D23CE89E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the purposes of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0810836A2E4042718186A3355BED83DB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name of the individual or entity with overall responsibility for the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8FA0C1B9E6164ED0A09560A6128171C1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of—</text><clause id="H39550F8A9BBB4CE6857253F791B9946B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the qualifications of the individual or entity that will conduct the project;</text></clause><clause id="HD516487E7E51422B9CAAC672F1CFAEF5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods for project implementation and outcome assessment;</text></clause><clause id="HE62C01D3761E479FBCA3FE07D77565AC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project, including mechanisms to encourage adequate local public participation in project development and implementation;</text></clause><clause id="H15A1A68931454759B493C4F8E26B17A2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the logistics of the project, including cost estimates and timelines; and</text></clause><clause id="H38F1BA317CC74D0A9FB3B3DB7D87E05E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>anticipated outcomes of the project;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H596AB39575FB42909C049FDBC9310807"><enum>(D)</enum><text>evidence of free, informed, and prior consent by indigenous communities in the area in which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such consent is required for the success of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1C1776F2B2794373A25333CDE849F3BF"><enum>(E)</enum><text>assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities, Tribes, and other appropriate government officials;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79750BF40E9140D98518AFE209EF9B02"><enum>(F)</enum><text>demonstrated sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H87AC24FFEC9B4658B35E879E21B9A2EC"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information that demonstrates the potential of the project to contribute to North America butterfly conservation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B286AA97FD04070B90626220C9C079E"><enum>(H)</enum><text>evidence of support for the project from each appropriate governmental entity of each country, Tribe, and indigenous community in which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such support is required for the success of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9DA6D8073BF84C17AF81315EAC712A9D"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information regarding the source and amount of any matching funding available for the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66F2F246DACC466A96E1F7D650F12407"><enum>(J)</enum><text>such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H43091ECE667C4AB894808A44294381FF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header><paragraph id="H72938812781C47D09E287D81B184EDE6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="H3E8C6EE0689941AE9F4211AA0C4E5167"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after receiving a project proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6EAC0C11EB4745199420FA3752EC2CDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>review each project proposal to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H91E3113FFB7747ED8C40E21D4F505691"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation; approval or disapproval</header><text>Not later than 180 days after receiving a project proposal, the Secretary shall, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section—</text><subparagraph id="HFBC41FCBA9CD45178DE742FC25FFB1D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult on the project proposal with the government of each country in which the project is to be conducted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A43192BDAF849FCAB268711A98709A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>after taking into consideration any comments resulting from such consultation, approve or disapprove the project proposal; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED66D746B7E3422C8A7BF875A692FAFC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the project proposal, such other Federal officials, and each country described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2654F6F3CB0742F3B0C8E269FC868019"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for approval</header><paragraph id="H6D8DE423DBD2487CBFA46F352214E2AD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will help recover and sustain viable populations of butterflies in the wild by assisting efforts to implement North America butterfly conservation programs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H51ED6B66812043B78E5621957655042A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve species of butterflies that are listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9A1BCD320F0C407CBD237ECEDE7FD49E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project sustainability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects that are designed to ensure effective and long-term North America butterfly conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC876ABA6B4D47FA885A5868E6D5F04A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Matching funds</header><text>In determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F59CF905A2D4C5A9357103409467F6E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) with respect to a project if the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="H7CB17D50A58C4B13997392705C96F98E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has identified the project as of high priority; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB1B9048303124502ADF98FBF8541F084"><enum>(B)</enum><text>finds that such waiver is necessary to support the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H142CD285E49E4D51906EBE3ECA320828"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Project reporting</header><paragraph id="HF5C412A969D247B68E60ABA3D14DBAC6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary determines appropriate) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of such project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3FF9CB03384F4C6DA5174F7D8C707843"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability to the public</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall make available to the public each report submitted under paragraph (1) and any other document relating to a project for which financial assistance is provided under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HEF1273BC80C049A296B9A4758780E5AB"><enum>105.</enum><header>North America Butterfly Conservation Fund</header><subsection id="HB23EFC9EB5B646CAA88CE35A7B508BFF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a separate account, to be known as the <quote>North America Butterfly Conservation Fund</quote>, consisting of—</text><paragraph id="HE8364492477047B8822B54A79A4DCBA0"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">amounts transferred to the Secretary for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H91999FA7300C40A085463251374D9A08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 106; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9AB335F1AD4640559D54EA5739FDB136"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4E3DAD1CBE4C4B52A594A014AFB31DF7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expenditures from fund</header><paragraph id="H9C60B6E67DEF4D679EF41CEAA235755C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), at the request of 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 carry out section 104.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0C7D3AC747EC49A4858448A597DC450C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend the greater of 3 percent of such amounts or $80,000 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4D2E7A831786483FA30BEFD50FF56F59"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investment of amounts</header><paragraph id="HF3223B0B91054DBFB487AEF71C5551D2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H89BDBEDA357B4065A8C1CCD0C608406C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acquisition of obligations</header><text>For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired—</text><subparagraph id="HA433670C24B549BAA077F87445D570B0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on original issue at the issue price; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9CA07B5B30B24700AFD1D3EF888776F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by purchase of outstanding obligations at market price.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C961B0D4FD1443CA666E004CA00321E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Sale of obligations</header><text>Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at market price.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F280110FAC84A67A15BAC5128A6D78E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Credits to fund</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H793FE1A5414648BC8E0AEF4031D5D6FD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfers of amounts</header><paragraph id="HE90435DE834B490D8C1CE2F9D760BBE6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer at least monthly the amounts required to be transferred to the Fund under this section from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H63EDD99548DB4164ABBC7B00839B901F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury shall make proper adjustment in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA98A1CFDF65F43E0B16A5252A30E5BB7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Acceptance and use of donations</header><paragraph id="HC73E40DE7D554C4CB66A976EEE757A9E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may accept for the Government a gift of any of the following to provide assistance under section 104:</text><subparagraph id="HE9FA40C8AB3B4803A11A02D00644158D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Money.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H89CF73FA01274668A8EFBCBD45F35844"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An obligation of the Government included in the public debt made only on the condition that the obligation be canceled and retired and not reissued.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D3FC1D4C15A49BD9ACAF9CD29695FB2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold on the best terms available and the proceeds are deposited in the Fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1BA2F4663DE4036BF8902248A21A393"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discretion to reject a gift</header><text>The Secretary may reject a gift under this section when the rejection is in the interest of the Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1FF8B3D45B6C461BA110C819D9C4D1AE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Taxes</header><text>If a gift received under this subsection is subject to a gift or inheritance tax, the Secretary may pay the tax out of the proceeds of the gift or the proceeds of the redemption or sale of the gift.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H64D9979BDAA841469FB7BA6459498E36"><enum>106.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this title.</text></section><section id="H706C7A4026EA4C998A9623C72D77473F"><enum>107.</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><subsection id="H88385268E5B84FF29579060D6E5A08C3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 31 of each calendar year after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the Fund and the status of butterflies in North America during the preceding calendar year.</text></subsection><subsection id="H985F153BA9854FDBBB0802C6761523FC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of reports</header><text>Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the calendar year for which such report is submitted—</text><paragraph id="H20CA5205BD27465FACAA5DF5AD798854"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the total amount deposited into and expended from the Fund;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD230B50802764500BF0F0838B7EC7426"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the costs associated with carrying out this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA74A091384A9424EAC245394362427C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary of the projects for which the Secretary provided assistance under section 104 and an evaluation of such projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H454F0083B9DA41B58910A439B0422D30"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an evaluation of the status of threatened and endangered populations of butterflies in North America.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund Act of 2026</header><section id="H0BAF14CD3E5B40CFB7F9EA5977427950"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund Act of 2026</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H8FD9A39236874FADB489F01AB285F11F"><enum>202.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text><paragraph id="H91436F50576C4F74AFDF5AC58A15B1DC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to assist in the conservation of threatened and endangered species of plants in the Pacific Islands; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA0AFB06D6F614423BAB903BA06A69E3C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to support and provide financial resources for projects to conserve such species of plants and the ecosystems of such species of plants and to address other threats to the survival of such species of plants.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HE06F30445ED941D2A7ABFA1E54875634"><enum>203.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="H93176E7FA0D64315B13E48E0DFCEB5A1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Pacific Islands plant conservation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Pacific Islands plant conservation</term> means the use of all methods and procedures necessary to protect species of plants in the Pacific Islands including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0104A78B9CEB4EBFA1C88BC7AFA71B13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protection, restoration, and management of ecosystems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF2836CCDA2A04F548EBECDE64A64CC4D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>onsite research and monitoring of populations, ecosystems, annual reproduction, and plant population trends;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H5CDEAB2FBCB64E5C80DBF3EE8CCD2D07"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance in the development, implementation, and improvement of management plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF6444ACFE7C041A0B373C379686F7C97"><enum>(D)</enum><text>enforcement and implementation of applicable conservation laws; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H24C0B61EDA4542529FD40C7EEC414DA8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>community outreach and education.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE2C783BAE5794918B07F1C85ED2772E5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <term>Fund</term> means the Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund established by section 205.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD817216933D64209A6CCBA342AEDED55"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Pacific Islands</header><text>The term <term>Pacific Islands</term> means the Hawaiian Islands and the United States territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3D4B6E60590E411CB147A4A822106C7F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H5CE5F037307947149DE3EC7D0D0CE70F"><enum>204.</enum><header>Pacific Islands plant conservation assistance</header><subsection id="HF82A1C01AA7F43F0813BEE24A5B13896"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HCF6FEE2A81E04FE3A145F53FA6433A40"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal officials, use amounts in the Fund to provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for Pacific Islands plant conservation projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE578AB266C1474DAEA21B9409875EC2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of existing authorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8E6E5EE731AC4CC9A68F6577E4FDFAFA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Project proposals</header><paragraph id="HED19EF6233224AB08879A7CF534B4245"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible applicants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A project proposal for Pacific Islands plant conservation may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by a State, territory, or Tribal agency or any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required to carry out Pacific Islands plant conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H462F1144613F471B9AD58B9763E80285"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal partnership opportunities</header><text>A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF3D5DF532739498384153E73F8F50736"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required elements</header><text>A project proposal submitted under this section shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H75EB683412D94693AE3AE50B4421D33E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the purposes of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63DC10625B7344D5B3D8F06E4E1E06F3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name of the individual or entity with overall responsibility for the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA66409FA5DD46BBADD6B6CA5BC82F32"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of—</text><clause id="HACA3DB437C794E6499A4F009B45BE273"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the qualifications of the individual or entity that will conduct the project;</text></clause><clause id="H2903F5FFF7074B3CBC5055D822B50E5A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods for project implementation and outcome assessment;</text></clause><clause id="HC55003869F4946F2A96BE54B1B819E22"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project, including mechanisms to ensure adequate local public participation in project development and implementation;</text></clause><clause id="HE37DA94392AD4F18979A8123C9579AD8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the logistics of the project, including cost estimates and timelines;</text></clause><clause id="H8A6AAED68D5140818C52C8312CF7E5C1"><enum>(v)</enum><text>anticipated outcomes of the project; and</text></clause><clause id="H38A2421069BD4A298E10FB8512491F73"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>how the project will promote sustainable, effective, long-term programs to conserve plant populations on the Pacific Islands;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDBB47B6EA576431991C87AFE19E9D199"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities, Tribes, and other appropriate government officials;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H955322FC003F4A38A84E2CCBEF6D0DAC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>demonstrated sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H739E33FF4EF24F1B80DA5AC9F9C2EA8D"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information that demonstrates the potential of the project to contribute to Pacific Islands plant conservation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8EDB557D9EC4DFA97B6AC81B449D6F6"><enum>(G)</enum><text>information regarding the source and amount of any matching funding available for the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6CB192B851AF4588A9ABEE77DE46076A"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H51D2E9BE71B6485F9535D16D163E21D2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header><paragraph id="HA08F7629ED1C4610933E7D3BFCD0020E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="H4748C0D3E16446CB97EBC592FECB8059"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after receiving a project proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC51922B70F4E422293EB0CB79C0152B2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>review each project proposal to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC0B50A7A3BCA4AC4A2CB5D57C21EDB51"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation; approval or disapproval</header><text>The Secretary shall, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section—</text><subparagraph id="H249731467E00421092DBE824BE04F5CD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult on the project proposal with the government of each State or territory in which such project is to be conducted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H71DA9A97540C435691AF3B273F1D4087"><enum>(B)</enum><text>after taking into consideration any comments resulting from such consultation, approve or disapprove the project proposal; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H863BD212EC96499594202D2039DA933B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the project proposal, such other Federal officials, and each State or territory described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD37DE118F9104086A7F9DAF10125D757"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for approval</header><paragraph id="H01B22B041B064D5FBB2DB85D7F63DC2F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will help recover and sustain viable populations of threatened and endangered plants by assisting efforts to implement Pacific Islands plant conservation programs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC42F5E90471B422289CEB269B3D6B693"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve species of plants that are listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC599C57B4064231B654074F9AD1121D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project sustainability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects that are designed to ensure effective and long-term Pacific Islands plant conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H285CDE8C6B504188A2E35C2C00ED26E6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Matching funds</header><text>In determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEFA02026E27E487D89C10B1CAF86B78A"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) with respect to a project if the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="HFBC217EFE0F74EC486B30F12023BC18F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has identified the project as of high priority; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D373253D4624BB197D1B353654FCAAE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>finds that such waiver is necessary to support the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5BF7918066E8409599F013A391F82693"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Project reporting</header><paragraph id="H632F4E112B35484D954F774B966420B0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary determines appropriate) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of such project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE9D607729C514218A89BDD8A70045E96"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability to the public</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall make available to the public each report submitted under paragraph (1) and any other document relating to a project for which financial assistance is provided under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H30F9CC9EC09A45B29AD3E30F8F0DA409"><enum>205.</enum><header>Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund</header><subsection id="HF54932D583BD48648F527487F522A264"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a separate account, to be known as the <quote>Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund</quote>, consisting of—</text><paragraph id="H74D76CD32AD840439214BBA088E999F1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts transferred to the Secretary for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFFBD1FE8BAA44C4F8D094300DB642D2D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 206; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H586F7D994CE04CA48A7EBF800F3A97FF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7C089E76882345D8899FF00C1BD8391E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expenditures from fund</header><paragraph id="H87DEC24731C545C6BE324DFCBA6A31D3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), at the request of 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 carry out section 204.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD41C772C2BCB438EBCD82945F25AA74D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text>Of the amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend the greater of 3 percent of such amounts or $80,000 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H369145CF4AB5418C942960EBE6BAB555"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investment of amounts</header><paragraph id="HD8D01501B4D945D49F8CB0A361B7BEFD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2E8805EFED1745AC9DE4C78D8CBC4786"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acquisition of obligations</header><text>For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired—</text><subparagraph id="HD0600AB60C6740DBB484AD8D8E2A419B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on original issue at the issue price; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95751C105F1643068B453D0D34E52172"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by purchase of outstanding obligations at market price.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7CAEF1C67C944549850639B56E348B7E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Sale of obligations</header><text>Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at market price.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H21BE2CBAC2494231AA491C4EFE430A73"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Credits to fund</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H51520D268F5B4E62AE98F06D08432122"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfers of amounts</header><paragraph id="HDC2167B7BF2D4797A4458CDEA91DAC30"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer at least monthly the amounts required to be transferred to the Fund under this section from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H14F666B61AEA4236A8F8C5EE2625F4E6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall make proper adjustment in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H476D3396E3454DB2A66A0AB0A56047A9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Acceptance and use of donations</header><paragraph id="H9BB8E3A3519B4A088F77A72DF0F1DD09"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may accept for the Government a gift of any of the following to provide assistance under section 204:</text><subparagraph id="H5A62129C0C574CFDBA4C55D0F05063D8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Money.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6ADD1D12BFCB4555A69CEB5B0CC29153"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An obligation of the Government included in the public debt made only on the condition that the obligation be canceled and retired and not reissued.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C1F62C5DD584659B661EB8704C63334"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold on the best terms available and the proceeds are deposited in the Fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H40BC915DFF694DBFA91EFE8C50C77943"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discretion to reject a gift</header><text>The Secretary may reject a gift under this section when the rejection is in the interest of the Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF1C6B047934B4C50A9D68E6C5A39359D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Taxes</header><text>If a gift received under this subsection is subject to a gift or inheritance tax, the Secretary may pay the tax out of the proceeds of the gift or the proceeds of the redemption or sale of the gift.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H5318BD8C873C428C84427DA0BBE6D574"><enum>206.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this title.</text></section><section id="H40A648E097EE4CC48C21E9C91F1B4FFE"><enum>207.</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><subsection id="HEF789251EAEF4EBEA0598E2EDF749E3A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 31 of each calendar year after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the Fund and the status of species of plants in the Pacific Islands during the preceding calendar year.</text></subsection><subsection id="H6CF6EAC9FC8C49A0AE1B75857E4B6FAF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of reports</header><text>Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include with respect to the calendar year for which the report is submitted—</text><paragraph id="H5AD407662EC8430083D114CFD4F44602"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the total amount deposited into and expended from the Fund;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8A723162439F443A91BFED494CB009C5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the costs associated with carrying out this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF5BEC99D935E4BD8A48EB633ECB4EF1E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary of the projects for which the Secretary provided assistance under section 204 and an evaluation of such projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5F10290931E844D5A86A8C3DFFDDC7E5"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an evaluation of the status of threatened and endangered populations of plants in the Pacific Islands.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund Act of 2026</header><section id="H8459001EE797432FB9B18AE165AA4C7A"><enum>301.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund Act of 2026</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="H7610CB4C273E42CD9088D278FA0568F0"><enum>302.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text><paragraph id="H7BFCCD848EAE4067A28E36B38CA2766A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to assist in the conservation of threatened and endangered freshwater mussels and the habitats of such freshwater mussels in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H28FDF60CA4E044F8833021C2857B9C18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to support and provide financial resources for projects to conserve such freshwater mussels and the habitats of such freshwater mussels and to address other threats to the survival of such freshwater mussels.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H10B19446340444388AAF3CF627DF89D2"><enum>303.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H6E4365D1463849D595325605CE1DFA57"><enum>(1)</enum><header>United States freshwater mussel conservation</header><text>The term <term>United States freshwater mussel conservation</term> means the use of all methods and procedures necessary to protect habitats of freshwater mussel species in the United States and of the freshwater mussel species in those habitats, including—</text><subparagraph id="H981C0AB7B37249B79D3D6DFEAFED57FF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protection, restoration, and management of habitats;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H675D7378A5934DBC8E730ADE6204B6C8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>onsite research and monitoring of populations, habitats, annual reproduction, and freshwater mussel species population trends;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA1563BE9B01465D82D27C31FE4EB9CA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance in the development, implementation, and improvement of national and regional management plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F2BFF6F36C44D629CD5D95FAB00023D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>enforcement and implementation of applicable conservation laws; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H53A163CE66AD4DCEAD940F49877E7C14"><enum>(E)</enum><text>community outreach and education.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFBDAFECADAE14F6AB640EB3D417F6480"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <term>Fund</term> means the Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund established by section 305.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2CEF9CD6D0F248B192B264619E0B9EF8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Freshwater mussel; freshwater mussels</header><text>The terms <term>freshwater mussel</term> and <term>freshwater mussels</term> mean any member of the order Unioinida.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCA3C65CB51CC4FC58156A1B9D587CE72"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H2D38A9A5C9244E25A06C529773A7553A"><enum>304.</enum><header>United States freshwater mussel conservation assistance</header><subsection id="H78000C2CAF0A4BAA8AAA2B58DB3ACC48"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H4BE9F0E1858443BCA132373292C31010"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal officials, use amounts in the Fund to provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for United States freshwater mussel conservation projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5AB4E2859AAA4B789F69A4B6C059E204"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of existing authorities</header><text>Assistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H72990D3D9F2E4B638288B81E2D6AD2E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Project proposals</header><paragraph id="H762A132ABBC94B7B96C439CD5C17302A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible applicants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A project proposal for United States freshwater mussel conservation may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by a State or Tribal agency, research institution, nonprofit organization, or any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required to carry out United States freshwater mussel conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF5139714BDD841A6944959D724043668"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal partnership opportunities</header><text>A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE3ADE223A789401FB7901B9BD270497D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required elements</header><text>A project proposal submitted under this section shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H4C1F4EE364DB4564AB872D53961AD908"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the purposes of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HADDAE77779D443AE911FD514383FF516"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name of the individual or entity with overall responsibility for the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA18413E611D9468EA3B118233A88D8D7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of—</text><clause id="H22080C7679B94A7A8E8759410A9E464C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the qualifications of the individual or entity that will conduct the project;</text></clause><clause id="H6DCF87C6D73E4AC5A3B9C400B856D3C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods for project implementation and outcome assessment;</text></clause><clause id="H4F91530400FF40C6AF5453404CBDEB63"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project, including mechanisms to ensure adequate local public participation in project development and implementation;</text></clause><clause id="H87C4F64A4FE24569936C282AD4672B18"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the logistics of the project, including cost estimates and timelines;</text></clause><clause id="HA34D146760A34CFC8A7982AA5A060EFB"><enum>(v)</enum><text>anticipated outcomes of the project; and</text></clause><clause id="H2100234F10B14BEFA6676CACFD414FAA"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>how the project will promote sustainable, effective, long-term programs to conserve freshwater mussels in the United States;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5E682ED263614E0BB370C55564DF1CDC"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities, Tribes, and other appropriate government officials;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB320A77720EB469AA3E0FACADE05DDEF"><enum>(E)</enum><text>demonstrated sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C42303AC0EF42A090A9D24E6C0B94C1"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information that demonstrates the potential of the project to contribute to United States freshwater mussel conservation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H894FED8DA4BA43F7AD3164C80083EC56"><enum>(G)</enum><text>information regarding the source and amount of any matching funding available for the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6531D33C7E30485AB3203A1E03BB7CB9"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H169BE53D70174221A419CB6CD5F4CC91"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header><paragraph id="H1F4487097DDA40A8B5820F599E92D15C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="HF3D94138AC0B4ACDBD5612D3020050B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>solicit project proposals for assistance under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H667BA408FA9248649E190F83AF920B41"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide a copy of each project proposal submitted in response to such solicitation to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAFFF8FB7E78B4FA08057F0AADAB72C64"><enum>(C)</enum><text>review each such proposal on a timeline that recognizes the urgency of the declining number of freshwater mussels in the United States to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3B9A7A82C67A4EB397A6D3D9CBEC8B16"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation; approval or disapproval</header><text>The Secretary shall, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section—</text><subparagraph id="HE444244926F94AEE959CEA71A4A846E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult on the project proposal with the government of each State in which the project is to be conducted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H00329B6C4E6247A89FE299973D8CB816"><enum>(B)</enum><text>after taking into consideration any comments resulting from such consultation, approve or disapprove the project proposal; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H434A60102EC946A59546C910019B4FC8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the project proposal, such other Federal officials, and each State described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HBD2C14FF08444F2E88C3D052C370533A"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for approval</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HC56BFA9DCA8E4CAD90F828931F4A6F96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project shows promise for contributing to recovering and sustaining freshwater mussel populations in the wild in the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H64493E150A0D483DBAFE171F70A7741B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve species of freshwater mussels that are listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H73D4E1F5043942B49DF35AB87DD62721"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project sustainability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects that are designed to ensure effective and long-term United States freshwater mussel conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H03FB98CE4F39481F827321973F3CA2B2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Matching funds</header><text>In determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD314371A18DF4763A6180EE6F3518436"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) with respect to a project if the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="HDE1EDD0F27F84BB78DC1CA771986A7E9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has identified the project as of high priority; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB125E0643AC424CAF728C8BEE6554D4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>finds that such waiver is necessary to support the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2F253FCF892B4297BDDDEC372D35FDD3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Project reporting</header><paragraph id="H12750B9E9F6A486C8B91CF1C0F95764E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary determines appropriate) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of such project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD4AABEE3ACCA4A8297CF5DC8896B8E17"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability to the public</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall make available to the public each report submitted under paragraph (1) and any other document relating to a project for which financial assistance is provided under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H62E7FF6464124140BEC6E6CE3612F407"><enum>305.</enum><header>Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund</header><subsection id="HB757989D4741441A886F691E3394DB7C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a separate account, to be known as the <quote>Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund</quote>, consisting of—</text><paragraph id="H04F6D649AE4942AA8618BB0ACDCF62AC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts transferred to the Secretary for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H330972024D1B4627BE4D1CB96AFA635C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 306; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD66C887BFCD0448990A3362C7A950A75"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1D59BA0A0504416DBB1CD96ADD8C5F37"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expenditures from fund</header><paragraph id="H170C3AC3EDF745BA9FE7651F9EE29E60"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), at the request of 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 carry out section 304.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8BE4E25AA66D417595A28CFDBBBBEBC3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend the greater of 3 percent of such amounts or $80,000 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB6C0174E34904E3A92F93A1417CCD074"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investment of amounts</header><paragraph id="H909E09351D2A412FB5305D0AE2B37051"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H30E06078E5894AE3A5DCB799512CA5A5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acquisition of obligations</header><text>For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired—</text><subparagraph id="H96A3AF0E55C6412098C58F8A6D436097"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on original issue at the issue price; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33E8ED64057E4591B17FCA1C33A401A7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by purchase of outstanding obligations at market price.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H02F229EAF459468D8D07CCA45469957A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Sale of obligations</header><text>Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at market price.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H089EC9FAC0BC480D856941EF3E322E24"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Credits to fund</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H207454EC7D2F4AAE90D95DF962C8FAB5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfers of amounts</header><paragraph id="H2475C1532C264F1FB7E593D7C53AA44D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer at least monthly the amounts required to be transferred to the Fund under this section from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBA9D8AB38F7A4219A83CD06806DB2AB0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall make proper adjustment in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H653BBB53B600442A9D28AC4169EB9093"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Acceptance and use of donations</header><paragraph id="H47A36FD323134EF7945108912E378303"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may accept for the Government a gift of any of the following to provide assistance under section 304:</text><subparagraph id="H60D6FBB6A3134202B17B743BEB58482E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Money.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC111E819CC9E45A1960BC86156AAB0F8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An obligation of the Government included in the public debt made only on the condition that the obligation be canceled and retired and not reissued.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H481626CA103048F9B41CFAE0D5FACF68"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold on the best terms available and the proceeds are deposited in the Fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CD9FFB67A4C4B029E0B63047EE054B0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discretion to reject a gift</header><text>The Secretary may reject a gift under this section when the rejection is in the interest of the Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB3BF1D8971AF48A0A9160683C6AABB26"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Taxes</header><text>If a gift received under this subsection is subject to a gift or inheritance tax, the Secretary may pay the tax out of the proceeds of the gift or the proceeds of the redemption or sale of the gift.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB87A49CBCFA64B5EB57BE603AFE53A3D"><enum>306.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this title.</text></section><section id="H2B19586FBE85485490636F7242CDB823"><enum>307.</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><subsection id="H1313634C70004B17ADECD662150B1C9E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 31 of each calendar year after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the Fund and the status of freshwater mussels in the United States during the preceding calendar year.</text></subsection><subsection id="HA3DF6F107AA14EC98B70C5D5DAA8E31F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of reports</header><text>Each such report shall include with respect to the calendar year for which the report is submitted—</text><paragraph id="H314424A2B4ED4376BE700140E2A1DB1D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the total amount deposited into and expended from the Fund;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEAEED0B9100E485F884971C6063A24C2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the costs associated with carrying out this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H16F04307974846D68E8CAE308A688167"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary of the projects for which the Secretary has provided assistance under section 304 and an evaluation of those projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2638197B7F964A19A37F64C38EFB18BF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an evaluation of the status of threatened and endangered populations of freshwater mussel in the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund Act of 2026</header><section id="HD7F990D24A1C461EB0E994B92E5D59FA"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund Act of 2026</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="HB5DAC6711377496BA2410848485693DC"><enum>402.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text><paragraph id="H29F8FC6101A442BD9B931DFF274046EE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to assist in the conservation of threatened and endangered desert fish and the habitats of such desert fish in the Southwest; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA047E152D8974DBFBA37671E056C644A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to support and provide financial resources for projects to conserve such desert fish and the habitats of such desert fish and to address other threats to the survival of such desert fish species.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HCB3C7DD7981948F9932D7A48F0DA17A3"><enum>403.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H9AC25F707F0B409ABE6A6DBA33E43C89"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Southwest desert fish conservation</header><text>The term <term>Southwest desert fish conservation</term> means the use of all methods and procedures necessary to protect habitats of desert fish species in the Southwest and of the desert fish species in those habitats, including—</text><subparagraph id="HE6FF31B54F6D406C9833CC7981776489"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protection, restoration, and management of habitats;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC34C18554BDD4CF5891F96657976000F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>onsite research and monitoring of populations, habitats, annual reproduction, and desert fish species population trends;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H527913A037904411A74716B09447B490"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance in the development, implementation, and improvement of national and regional management plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA652282F42AE4F568ECBF1CD7B1C17D6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>enforcement and implementation of applicable conservation laws; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2438FE4F5E44356A37E5CE40CE5BB4B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>community outreach and education.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H73CF9136E84444C19092B4A67C4C186B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <term>Fund</term> means the Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund established by section 405.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F0F87771EFE40E19C110DE0D272DF78"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Desert fish</header><text>The term <term>desert fish</term> means any member of the class Osteichthyes living in a desert ecosystem.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5C1FCBCA0DAE4F6AAAAAB8C198011F63"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Southwest</header><text>The term <term>Southwest</term> means the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1A8079E7CF34D3F86BD45E2F00E699F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H483F0874A25D482689738CFEF2FC2905"><enum>404.</enum><header>Southwest desert fish conservation assistance</header><subsection id="HB0DD9CC788904585A248D799499108BD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HE19CB3D4D66C44C7892C0028155AB10F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal officials, use amounts in the Fund to provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for Southwest desert fish conservation projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA76953F61C0A444185EF44D834EB9D61"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of existing authorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFD46A2EA1F7F46EFB19AA41C5BC21FD6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Project proposals</header><paragraph id="H2E2DCC0EC98D4E9DB291FAB8906576B3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible applicants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A project proposal for Southwest desert fish conservation may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by a State or Tribal agency, research institution, nonprofit organization, or any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required to carry out Southwest desert fish conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4A298C89917542CEA4B4876B236C6EE0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal partnership opportunities</header><text>A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H864F8BD2679440D3A4533D6A49851025"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Required elements</header><text>A project proposal submitted under this section shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H27E7A5ED15754C719B265964F13E6B35"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the purposes of the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H737EC83D17394846BA55EDA1BCD3FC5C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name of the individual or entity with overall responsibility for the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8E8824AD2D7F4A93B419F170EF4CDA6E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of—</text><clause id="H162B08007AED4C8E9DC72C49FE447703"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the qualifications of the individual or entity that will conduct the project;</text></clause><clause id="HFFAD57A69CC245F2887A89AD5F0EA107"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>methods for project implementation and outcome assessment;</text></clause><clause id="H25E33E2838ED454AB8D739455C43F9E3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project, including mechanisms to ensure adequate local public participation in project development and implementation;</text></clause><clause id="HE2E89FBBE43E4294BDF8E3BC49D3ED36"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the logistics of the project, including cost estimates and timelines;</text></clause><clause id="H5D6FD6E8D9674D50A52209477FC9D1FD"><enum>(v)</enum><text>anticipated outcomes of the project; and</text></clause><clause id="H48D75E28CBB74E89BA46B7F92446D1A3"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>how the project will promote sustainable, effective, long-term programs to conserve desert fish in the Southwest;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B9642FC25B64FBB999F01522C4B99D2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities, Tribes, and other appropriate government officials;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCD0F3D81FD4B481DB2E5E3EFB9DF1E00"><enum>(E)</enum><text>demonstrated sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2539612B63434D5E9AEF1C9E9A81CC7A"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information that demonstrates the potential of the project to contribute to Southwest desert fish conservation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H68D13D0442B24B7D9F194A283A678953"><enum>(G)</enum><text>information regarding the source and amount of any matching funding available for the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73CA8F702A144D8CA2D14A853A30BCFF"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4A7F189EDF454CF0A8B36486F35A97F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header><paragraph id="H04EE7C6312D94917956894BBD7AC206E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="HFF85D5FA81F24B1C8A6639B384C9EE4A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>solicit project proposals for assistance under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H617085C10D77403A918531B939A9833E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide a copy of each project proposal submitted in response to such solicitation to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9DB4E36938849EC9ED2AE51E1FB4B8F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>review each such proposal on a timeline that recognizes the urgency of the declining number of desert fish in the Southwest to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H002AB42274824F16A0F07A241FC0FA9B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation; approval or disapproval</header><text>The Secretary shall, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section—</text><subparagraph id="H4537E4E0C1A24979A0A55ED15787CAF4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult with respect to the proposal with the government of each State in which the project is to be conducted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFF42143ACA854F619570EB519BF29264"><enum>(B)</enum><text>after taking into consideration any comments resulting from such consultation, approve or disapprove the project proposal; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H951C2F027D4A49C186802297472ACA04"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the proposal, such other Federal officials, and each State described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HD74DEE7B3BA74C25834DEB44BA908628"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for approval</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H954EC46FC305486382297114E3439028"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project shows promise for contributing to recovering and sustaining desert fish populations in the wild in the Southwest.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0FC3248D74B24E85B8F92EE779797FC4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In selecting projects for approval, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that conserve threatened and endangered species of desert fish listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC00FE21F989348D1ADF7B0B4AB8B1465"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project sustainability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects that are designed to ensure effective and long-term Southwest desert fish conservation.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4E0A119BA4AB46DAB11ED7F98709ADDE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Matching funds</header><text>In determining whether to approve a project proposal under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H487041F0E7A641B7BE9458E204913057"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (2), (3), or (4) with respect to a project if the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="H65481E228F4F4491A81ECFD1AA50AEA9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has identified the project as of high priority; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1708B337C83495CA2DAF94E8E2DFE50"><enum>(B)</enum><text>finds that such waiver is necessary to support the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5FBC90CB60A643D9B8A95B5B3E0B0FDD"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Project reporting</header><paragraph id="HA0020DBF6CF040368BBFF62CEED6F159"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary determines appropriate) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of such project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H48B85386896B441CA0D0C85AA5F98738"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability to the public</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall make available to the public each report submitted under paragraph (1) and any other document relating to a project for which financial assistance is provided under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H6CEE44C16E4D4676A078BAA1741B3E44"><enum>405.</enum><header>Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund</header><subsection id="H608A2C4B07D0402F86A55E53C006ABF6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a separate account, to be known as the <quote>Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund</quote>, consisting of—</text><paragraph id="H026D71031C484723A2EC670471FC2043"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts transferred to the Secretary for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H844FEA782F6543DBB6EDA0C1F4365090"><enum>(2)</enum><text>amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 406; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC148F68B2C449B78AA165ECD3CD8EEB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H49C26CBF2ABD49E4AADCEF97633AD5FE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expenditures from fund</header><paragraph id="H6A579E35A8064E1B88B9B13FB3973EA6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), at the request of 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 carry out section 404.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF9E7DF6AB02E4212B1F5605C92FA4260"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend the greater of 3 percent of such amounts or $80,000 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0280A61E13E74126921D0353F1147B93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investment of amounts</header><paragraph id="HF3E6ECA5A0A241C3943EB8696FF88605"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB3CA02081DC64E9FB20976FF797F897C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acquisition of obligations</header><text>For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired—</text><subparagraph id="H87542C2DAD844A7C9B0F739BE5BE9960"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on original issue at the issue price; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H287C84B2089D4985BA9ECCDA2B573E9F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by purchase of outstanding obligations at market price.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H72AA5131E03A49DE98AF75E6B2FB8806"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Sale of obligations</header><text>Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at market price.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6E69C799F524439F88B6F343EFE90B51"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Credits to fund</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA558B533B7A346D9AFC25426182F16FA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfers of amounts</header><paragraph id="HB87C578DDA3742B7A60DE596B1FA102E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer at least monthly the amounts required to be transferred to the Fund under this section from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H92E65E60CD794269B86CC66B9E1A0D57"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Treasury shall make proper adjustment in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7CE0187E19147CAAC27D3FADB88729F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Acceptance and use of donations</header><paragraph id="HAF51CAB4C2674CDCB002DB1FB75C4691"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may accept for the Government a gift of any of the following to provide assistance under section 404:</text><subparagraph id="H9E84650E50A343578082519FA40B6660"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Money.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB59CB85A2F064E369B789D92DC114E29"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An obligation of the Government included in the public debt made only on the condition that the obligation be canceled and retired and not reissued.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26FA188E72E448A0A79B1F527BD99089"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold on the best terms available and the proceeds are deposited in the Fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H82ACFFFBFE9F4809BC4D51574132F6E8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Discretion to reject a gift</header><text>The Secretary may reject a gift under this section when the rejection is in the interest of the Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H20D38513DE274D9AB87614200D1CA5C1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Taxes</header><text>If a gift received under this subsection is subject to a gift or inheritance tax, the Secretary may pay the tax out of the proceeds of the gift or the proceeds of the redemption or sale of the gift.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HDFA9054939B74F9CADBB3B7B45EB3136"><enum>406.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this title.</text></section><section id="HEF69D7C79D4A49C2971CC4C55BD18F42"><enum>407.</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><subsection id="H17CA417950C3443F9D9AD772ED5950E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 31 of each calendar year after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the Fund and the status of desert fish in the Southwest during the preceding calendar year.</text></subsection><subsection id="HB19948590F6548688F348112C6CD44A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents of reports</header><text>Each such report shall include with respect to the calendar year for which the report is submitted—</text><paragraph id="H91F83397FB084BD2AF67B4A91A86728B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the total amount deposited into and expended from the Fund;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE772F5F297014F3A82241DC910670FD0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the costs associated with carrying out this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F2BB2E0E09A4A7AAA94FB19E01EE3C0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary of the projects for which the Secretary has provided assistance under section 404 and an evaluation of those projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H7055AE7C8D7444B680AEA39F80D9BF05"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an evaluation of the status of threatened and endangered populations of desert fish in the Southwest.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>