[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S11585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BREAUX (for himself and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 2560. A bill to authorize electronic issuance and recognition of 
migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


                       electronic duck stamp act

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with the 
distinguished senior Senator from the State of Mississippi and my 
colleague on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, Senator 
Cochran, in introducing the Electronic Duck Stamp Act. I believe it is 
legislation all of our colleagues should support.
  The Electronic Duck Stamp Act would authorize electronic issuance of 
the federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp. A number of 
states are setting up electronic licensing systems so their hunters can 
purchase all their state hunting licenses at one time and in one 
location. This bill will help coordinate federal and state licensing 
systems and provide sportsmen and sportswomen the convenience of 
getting all their hunting licenses, federal and state, in one location. 
I believe this added convenience will increase ``duck stamp'' sales. 
This, in turn, will increase the total funds deposited into the 
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund for the purchase of suitable habitat 
for migratory birds. These funds are essential to the long-term 
survival of our migratory bird populations.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this 
worthwhile legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that the full text 
of this legislation be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2560

       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 ``Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 
     1998''.

     SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC ISSUANCE OF MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING AND 
                   CONSERVATION STAMPS.

       Section 2 of the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718b), is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Electronic Issuance of Stamps.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Actual stamp.--The term `actual stamp' means a 
     printed paper stamp that is issued and sold through a means 
     in use on the day before the date of enactment of this 
     subsection.
       ``(B) Electronic stamp.--The term `electronic stamp' means 
     a representation of a stamp issued electronically under 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(C) Stamp.--The term `stamp' means a migratory bird 
     hunting and conservation stamp required by the first section.
       ``(2) Authorization.--The Department of the Interior, the 
     Postal Service, or, subject to paragraph (7), a State or 
     person authorized under subsection (a) to sell stamps, may 
     issue representations of stamps electronically by endorsement 
     affixed to licenses issued at points of sale or through other 
     electronic media.
       ``(3) Size of electronic stamps.--An electronic stamp shall 
     be of an area that is less than \3/4\, or more than 1\1/2\, 
     of the area of an actual stamp.
       ``(4) Confirmation number and other identifying 
     information.--
       ``(A) Confirmation number.--An electronic stamp shall be 
     assigned a unique confirmation number.
       ``(B) Other identifying information.--Each issuer of an 
     electronic stamp and unique confirmation number shall print 
     on the electronic stamp appropriate information that is 
     sufficient to permit Federal, State, and other law 
     enforcement officers to verify the electronic stamp, 
     confirmation number, and sales transaction with the licensee.
       ``(5) Delivery of actual stamps.--An entity that issues 
     electronic stamps shall have financial responsibility for the 
     sale, delivery, and mailing of the corresponding actual stamp 
     to the licensee within 14 calendar days after the date of 
     issuance of the electronic stamp.
       ``(6) Recognition of electronic stamps.--
       ``(A) In general.--An electronic stamp and its unique 
     confirmation number shall--
       ``(i) subject to the requirements of the first section, be 
     given full recognition during the period beginning on the 
     date of issuance of the electronic stamp until the date on 
     which the corresponding actual stamp is received; and
       ``(ii) expire and be replaced by the actual stamp upon 
     receipt of the actual stamp, but not later than 14 calendar 
     days after the date of issuance of the electronic stamp, if 
     the licensee complies with the requirements of the first 
     section.
       ``(7) Plan.--
       ``(A) Submission to secretary of the interior.--A State or 
     person may participate in the issuance of an electronic stamp 
     under this subsection only if the Secretary of the Interior 
     has approved a plan submitted by the State or person that 
     provides for--
       ``(i) a satisfactory accounting process for the collection 
     and transfer of revenue;
       ``(ii) distribution and law enforcement verification of the 
     electronic transaction; and
       ``(iii) the subsequent distribution of the actual stamp.
       ``(B) Action by the secretary.--Not later than 60 days 
     after the date of submission of a plan under subparagraph 
     (A), the Secretary of the Interior shall--
       ``(i) review the request of the State or person and all 
     accompanying documentation and other information available to 
     the Secretary; and
       ``(ii) make a determination to approve or disapprove the 
     plan.
       ``(8) Electronic collection of electronic stamp sales 
     revenue.--Not later than 14 days after the date of issuance 
     of an electronic stamp under this subsection, a State or 
     person shall transfer to the Department of the Interior or a 
     designated agent the revenue collected from the issuance by 
     means of an electronic fund transfer method approved by, and 
     compatible with, the accounting system of the Department of 
     the Interior or the designated agent.''.




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