[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2605-H2606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2006

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 518) to require the Secretary of the Interior to refine 
the Department of the Interior program for providing assistance for the 
conservation of neotropical migratory birds, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 518

       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 ``Neotropical Migratory Bird 
     Conservation Improvement Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION 
                   ACT.

       (a) Findings.--Section 2(1) of the Neotropical Migratory 
     Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101(1)) is amended by 
     inserting ``but breed in Canada and the United States'' after 
     ``the Caribbean''.
       (b) Purposes.--Section 3(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6102(2)) 
     is amended by inserting ``Canada,'' after ``United States,''.
       (c) Definition of Caribbean.--Section 4 of such Act (16 
     U.S.C. 6103) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
     (3) and (5), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Caribbean.--The term `Caribbean' includes Puerto Rico 
     and the United States Virgin Islands.''; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated, 
     the following:
       ``(4) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Neotropical 
     Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established by section 
     9(a).''.
       (d) Authorization of Projects to Enhance Conservation in 
     Canada.--Section 5(c)(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6104(c)(2)) 
     is amended by inserting ``Canada,'' after ``the United 
     States,''.
       (e) Cost Sharing.--Section 5(e) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
     6104(e)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``25 percent'' and 
     inserting ``50 percent''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
     as follows:
       ``(B) Form of payment.--
       ``(i) Projects in the united states and canada.--The non-
     Federal share required to be paid for a project carried out 
     in the United States or Canada shall be paid in cash.
       ``(ii) Projects in latin america and the caribbean.--The 
     non-Federal share required to be paid for a project carried 
     out in Latin America or the Caribbean may be paid in cash or 
     in kind.''.
       (f) Advisory Group.--
       (1) Composition.--Section 7(b)(1) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
     6106(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The advisory group as a whole shall have expertise in the 
     methods and procedures set forth in section 4(2) in each 
     country and region of the Western Hemisphere''.
       (2) Encouragement to convene.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior is encouraged to convene an advisory group under 
     section 7(b)(1) of such Act by not later than 6 months after 
     the effective date of this Act. This paragraph shall not be 
     considered to authorize delay of the schedule previously 
     established by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     for the submission, judging, and awarding of grants.
       (g) Report.--Section 8 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6107) is 
     amended by striking ``October 1, 2002,'' and inserting ``2 
     years after the date of the enactment of the Neotropical 
     Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2006''.
       (h) Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Section 9 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6108) is 
     amended by striking so much as precedes subsection (c) and 
     inserting the following:

     ``SEC. 9. NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION FUND.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury 
     a separate account, which shall be known as the `Neotropical 
     Migratory Bird Conservation Fund'. The Fund shall consist of 
     amounts deposited into the Fund by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Deposits Into the Fund.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall deposit into the Fund--
       ``(1) all amounts received by the Secretary in the form of 
     donations under subsection (d); and
       ``(2) other amounts appropriated to the Fund.''.
       (2) Administrative expenses.--Section 9(c)(2) of such Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 6108(c)(2)) is amended by striking `$80,000' and 
     inserting `$150,000'.
       (3) Conforming amendments.--Such Act is amended further as 
     follows:
       (A) In section 4 (16 U.S.C. 6103), by striking paragraph 
     (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Neotropical 
     Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established by section 
     9(a).''.
       (B) In section 9(d) (16 U.S.C. 6108(d)), by striking 
     ``Account'' and inserting ``Fund''.
       (4) Transfer.--The Secretary of the Treasury may transfer 
     to the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund amounts 
     that were in the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation 
     Account immediately before the enactment of this Act.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10 of such 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 6109) is amended to read as follows:
       (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before the first 
     sentence;
       (2) by striking ``$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 
     through 2005'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2006 
     through 2010 the amount specified for that fiscal year in 
     subsection (b)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Authorized Amount.--The amount referred to in 
     subsection (a) is--
       ``(1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007;
       ``(2) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       ``(3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
       ``(4) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       ``(c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated under this 
     section may remain available until expended.
       ``(d) Allocation.--Of amounts appropriated under this 
     section for each fiscal year, not less than 75 percent shall 
     be expended for projects carried out outside the United 
     States.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation 
to extend the Secretary of the Interior's authority to approve grants 
for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds. The Neotropical 
Migratory Bird Conservation Account was established in 2000 and has 
been widely popular.
  In fact, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the 
program, has received 690 grant requests to assist neotropical 
migratory birds. To date, the service has approved 146 conservation 
projects in 30 different countries. These projects have cost the 
Federal Government about $13.8 million, but they have generated almost 
$65 million in private matching funds. This is a remarkable 
achievement.
  This bill would reauthorize the act for 4 years, expand the 
definition of the Caribbean to include Puerto Rico and all the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, reduce the matching fund requirement, allow 
conservation projects to be funded in Canada, and increase the 
authorization levels from $5 million to $6.5 million in fiscal year 
2010.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 518.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 518, the 
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2006. This 
important legislation provides a comprehensive approach to addressing 
the varied and significant threats facing numerous species of migratory 
birds.
  This act was first passed by Congress in 2000 and has a proven track 
record of reversing habitat loss and degradation. It also has advanced 
innovative management and habitat restoration strategies for a broad 
range of neotropical birds. This noncontroversial legislation would 
make technical and conforming improvements, most notably to broaden its 
scope to include Canada and adjust nonFederal matching fund 
requirements.
  It is fitting that we are debating this bill on the House floor given 
that the

[[Page H2606]]

International Migratory Bird Day was just celebrated last week on May 
12. The International Migratory Bird Day was created in 1993 to focus 
public attention on the need to protect birds and their habitats. This 
annual event celebrates one of the most important and spectacular 
events in the life of a migratory bird: its annual journey between 
summer and winter homes.
  Moreover, last Saturday the Department of Interior announced $3.9 
million in grants for neotropical migratory bird conservation to be 
provided to 43 conservation partners in 34 States and 17 Latin American 
and Caribbean countries. These partners will contribute an additional 
$17 million in matching funds to undertake projects that include 
researching, monitoring, and managing migratory bird populations.
  Migratory birds contribute to our environmental and economic well-
being. Many of these species protect crops and forests by feeding on 
insect pests. In addition, birds support a significant component of the 
economy. I know throughout my congressional district, which borders 
more shoreline along the Mississippi River than any other congressional 
district in the Nation, bird watching has become a large part of our 
recreational economy. In fact, the Upper Mississippi River Basin is 
North America's largest waterfowl migrating route. Each year 40 percent 
of all waterfowl species pass through the basin during migration. 
Additionally, nearly 70 million Americans spend more than $20 billion 
each year participating in bird-related activities. Birding is the 
fastest growing outdoor recreational activity in many parts of the 
country.
  Finally, this legislation would provide a very modest increase in 
funding over 5 years. While I feel more funding is needed given the 
tremendous track record of the matching funds and private contributions 
that the partners make to these programs, I believe this legislation is 
important and the reauthorization needs to move forward. Therefore, I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I also want to personally thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member 
Rahall, as well as the Chair and ranking member of the subcommittee, 
Mr. Gilchrest and Mr. Pallone, for their help and effort in the 
reauthorization process.
  Again, I encourage adoption of this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 518, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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