[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 182 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13535-H13536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUNDS SEMIPOSTAL STAMP ACT OF 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1454) to provide for the issuance of a Multinational Species 
Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1454

       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 ``Multinational Species 
     Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUNDS SEMIPOSTAL 
                   STAMP.

       (a) In General.--In order to afford a convenient way for 
     members of the public to contribute to funding for the 
     operations supported by the Multinational Species 
     Conservation Funds, the United States Postal Service shall 
     issue a semipostal stamp (hereinafter in this Act referred to 
     as the ``Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal 
     Stamp'') in accordance with succeeding provisions of this 
     section.
       (b) Cost.--The Multinational Species Conservation Funds 
     Semipostal Stamp shall be offered at a cost equal to the cost 
     of mailing a letter weighing 1 ounce or less at the 
     nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate, in effect 
     at the time of purchase, plus a differential of not less than 
     25 percent.
       (c) Other Terms and Conditions.--The issuance and sale of 
     the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp 
     shall be governed by the provisions of section 416 of title 
     39, United States Code, and regulations issued under such 
     section, subject to subsection (b) and the following:
       (1) Disposition of proceeds.--
       (A) In general.--All amounts becoming available from the 
     sale of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds 
     Semipostal Stamp (as determined under section 416(d) of such 
     title 39) shall be transferred to the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service, for the purpose described in subsection 
     (a), through payments which shall be made at least twice a 
     year, with the proceeds to be divided equally among the 
     African Elephant Conservation Fund, the Asian Elephant 
     Conservation Fund, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the 
     Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, the Rhinoceros and Tiger 
     Conservation Fund, and other international wildlife 
     conservation funds authorized by the Congress after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and administered by the Service 
     as part of the Multinational Species Conservation Fund.
       (B) Proceeds not to be offset.--In accordance with section 
     416(d)(4) of such title 39, amounts becoming available from 
     the sale of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds 
     Semipostal Stamp (as so determined) shall not be taken into 
     account in any decision relating to the level of 
     appropriations or other Federal funding to be furnished in 
     any year to--
       (i) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; or
       (ii) any of the funds identified in subparagraph (A).
       (2) Duration.--The Multinational Species Conservation Funds 
     Semipostal Stamp shall be made available to the public for a 
     period of at least 5 years, beginning no later than 12 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (3) Stamp depictions.--Stamps issued under this Act shall 
     depict images of flagship multinational species, such as 
     African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros and tigers, marine 
     turtles, and certain species of great apes.
       (4) Limitation.--The Multinational Species Conservation 
     Funds Semipostal Stamp shall not be subject to, or taken into 
     account for purposes of applying, any limitation under 
     section 416(e)(1)(C) of such title 39.
       (5) Restriction on use of funds.--Amounts transferred under 
     paragraph (1) shall not be used to fund or support the 
     Wildlife Without Borders Program or to supplement funds made 
     available for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation 
     Fund.
       (d) Definition.--For purposes of this Act, the term 
     ``semipostal stamp'' refers to a stamp described in section 
     416(a)(1) of title 39, United States Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been authored by my 
colleague and my friend Mr. Brown of South Carolina. The Multinational 
Species Conservation Funds support conservation activities in a wide 
range of countries to protect, recover, or restore threatened and 
endangered species, specifically, tigers, rhinoceroses, African 
elephants, Asian elephants, great apes and sea turtles.
  H.R. 1454 would require the U.S. Postal Service to issue a 
Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp to generate 
additional funding to support the wildlife grant programs under these 
funds. Considering the high demand for grants under these programs and 
the fact that they commonly leverage three or four times as much 
funding from non-Federal contributions, this additional funding, Mr. 
Speaker, will be put to good use to protect these keystone species.
  With that, I ask Members on both sides to support the bill's passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  As the sponsor of H.R. 1454, first I want to thank the chairwoman of 
our subcommittee, Ms. Bordallo, for her assistance in moving this bill 
forward.
  Also, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Chairman Nick 
Rahall, Chairman Ed Towns, Ranking Republican Member Doc Hastings and 
Ranking Republican Member Darrell Issa for all of their efforts to 
facilitate today's consideration for the Multinational Species 
Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a fiscally responsible method to 
assist endangered species without costing our taxpayers any money.
  This bipartisan legislation has been cosponsored by 154 Members of 
this body and it has been endorsed by more than 40 conservation 
organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the 
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the National Rifle Association, 
Safari Club International, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, 
The Nature Conservancy, the

[[Page H13536]]

Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. These 
groups represent millions of Americans, and I agree with their 
assessment that allowing the U.S. Postal Service to sell a semipostal 
stamp that would generate funding for the Multinational Species 
Conservation Funds would give the general public the opportunity to 
contribute directly to the conservation of many keystone species around 
the world.
  Under the terms of this measure, the U.S. Postal Service will be 
directed to design and distribute a semipostal stamp depicting various 
flagship species, like an African elephant, Bengal tiger, white 
rhinoceros, or loggerhead sea turtle. These stamps would be available 
to the public at a premium price. After the Postal Service has deducted 
all of its administrative costs, the remaining proceeds will be 
transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will then 
equally divide the monies into the Multinational Species Conservation 
Funds.
  This is not a new idea. In fact, the Congress has already approved 
semipostal stamps for the 9/11 response heroes, the victims of domestic 
violence, and breast cancer research. These stamps have been remarkably 
successful. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 860 million 
breast cancer stamps have been sold, $381 million in revenue has been 
obtained, and $67.8 million has been dedicated for medical research to 
fight this terrible disease.
  Let me be clear that under H.R. 1454, there is absolutely no cost to 
either our taxpayers or the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the Postal 
Service will realize a significant profit from the sale of these 
wildlife postal stamps because we know, based on previous experience, 
that a large number of people will buy semipostals but will never use 
them.
  For the past 20 years, the U.S. Congress has generously allocated a 
small amount of taxpayers' money to save highly imperiled African and 
Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles. 
While we have authorized $400 million to assist these species, only $64 
million has been appropriated, leaving over 1,500 worthwhile eligible 
conservation projects unfunded.

                              {time}  1315

  H.R. 1454 offers us a unique opportunity to establish a new creative 
funding mechanism, for a limited period of time and at no cost, to 
provide a small amount of additional money to help save some of the 
most iconic species on this planet.
  Finally, I would like to again thank the leadership of House 
Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Natural Resources for 
allowing the House to vote on this important bipartisan wildlife 
conservation legislation. I would also like to again thank all the 
cosponsors of this bill and recognize my distinguished colleague and 
friend from Columbia, South Carolina, the Honorable Jim Clyburn, for 
assisting me in this effort.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1454, and let's work together to stamp 
out extinction.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of H.R. 
1454, legislation to create a postal stamp to benefit the Multinational 
Species Conservation Fund. I appreciate the leadership of my colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle in crafting this bill and am pleased to 
support this effort to improve global wildlife conservation efforts.
  The bill before the House today, H.R. 1454, would establish a 
Multinational Species Conservation Fund stamp through the United States 
Post Office in order to provide the public with a convenient 
opportunity to contribute to important international conservation 
efforts.
  Like many of my constituents in the west and northwest suburbs of 
Chicago, I believe that we are called to be good stewards of our 
environment and natural resources. This means exercising a healthy 
respect for animals, both domestically as pets, and in the wild. As the 
parent of four children, I want to pass along to them an appreciation 
of the beauty of God's creation.
  The proceeds of the stamps sold under this legislation will benefit 
the research and protection of at-risk species including African 
elephants, Asian elephants, great apes and marine turtles. This 
legislation provides a great avenue for animal welfare supporters to 
make a financial difference in international conservation efforts on a 
daily basis, one stamp at a time.
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I encourage supportive 
members of the public to select these new stamps when they become 
available to help show their commitment to safeguarding our precious 
natural resources and wildlife.
  I urge Members to support this bill.
  Mr. Brown of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, 
and I congratulate my colleague for authoring this fine piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1454, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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