[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Mr. Inouye):
  S. 2013. A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to 
implement the Agreement on the Conservation and Management of the 
Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I introduce today a bill to implement the 
provisions of the ``Agreement Between the Government of the United 
States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the 
Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear 
Population''. This bill is co-sponsored by Senator Inouye.
  The United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management 
Implementation Act of 2005 will amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
adding provisions to create a binational U.S. and Russian Polar Bear 
Commission. This commission will be authorized to determine annual take 
limits and the adoption of other measures to restrict the taking of 
polar bears for subsistence purposes. The Commission will also identify 
polar bear habitats and ``develop recommendations for habitat 
conservation measures.'' Additionally, it prohibits the possession, 
import, export, transport, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of 
any polar bear, or any part or product thereof, that is taken in 
violation of the Agreement.
  This bill will simultaneously support the conservation of U.S. and 
Russian Polar Bear populations and the historical traditions of 
indigenous peoples in the arctic region.
  This implementing legislation for the Polar Bear Treaty is necessary 
to establish the needed regulatory and management entities in both the 
U.S. and Russia. The shared population of Polar Bears that migrate 
between our two nations deserve the added protections and conservation 
this bill will provide.
  The U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty was completed and signed by both 
countries on October 16, 2000. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
held a hearing on the treaty in June of 2003, and reported it out 
favorably on July 23, 2003. The full Senate agreed to the resolution of 
advice and consent on the treaty on July 31, 2003. This legislation is 
needed for the U.S. to ratify and implement the treaty. The 
administration is supportive of the treaty and the proposed 
legislation, as are Alaska Natives, the State of Alaska, and 
conservation groups.
  Russia has indicated that once the U.S. ratifies the treaty, it will 
promptly do the same.

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