[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 140 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8002-H8003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FEDERAL DUCK STAMP ACT OF 2014
Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5069) to amend the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation
Stamp Act to increase in the price of Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps to fund the acquisition of conservation easements
for migratory birds, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5069
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 ``Federal Duck Stamp Act of
2014''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN PRICE OF MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING AND
CONSERVATION STAMP TO FUND ACQUISITION OF
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS.
The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act is
amended--
(1) in section 2(b) (16 U.S.C. 718b(b))--
(A) by striking ``1990, and'' and inserting ``1990,''; and
(B) by striking ``for each hunting year thereafter'' and
inserting ``for hunting years 1991 through 2013, and $25 for
each hunting year thereafter'';
(2) by adding at the end of section 2 (16 U.S.C. 718b) the
following:
``(c) Reduction in Price of Stamp.--The Secretary may
reduce the price of each stamp sold under the provisions of
this section for a hunting year if the Secretary determines
that the increase in the price of the stamp after hunting
year 2013 resulted in a reduction in revenues deposited into
the fund.''; and
(3) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 718d)--
(A) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before the period
the following: ``, in which there shall be a subaccount to
which the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer all
amounts in excess of $15 that are received from the sale of
each stamp sold for each hunting year after hunting year
2013'';
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``So much'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (4), so much'';
(C) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and
(D) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following:
``(4) Conservation easements.--Amounts in the subaccount
referred to in subsection (a)(3) shall be used by the
Secretary solely to acquire easements in real property in the
United States for conservation of migratory birds.''.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT ON EXPENDITURES.
Section 4 of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation
Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718d) is further amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking so much as precedes ``The Secretary may''
and inserting the following:
``(c) Promotion of Stamp Sales.--''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall include in each
annual report of the Commission under section 3 of the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715b)--
``(1) a description of activities conducted under
subsection (c) in the year covered by the report;
``(2) an annual assessment of the status of wetlands
conservation projects for migratory bird conservation
purposes, including a clear and accurate accounting of--
``(A) all expenditures by Federal and State agencies under
this section; and
``(B) all expenditures made for fee-simple acquisition of
Federal lands in the United States, including the amount paid
and acreage of each parcel acquired in each acquisition;
``(3) an analysis of the refuge lands opened, and refuge
lands closed, for hunting and fishing in the year covered by
the report, including--
``(A) identification of the specific areas in each refuge
and the reasons for the closure or opening; and
``(B) a detailed description of each closure including
detailed justification for such closure;
``(4) the total number of acres of refuge land open for
hunting and fishing, and the total number of acres of refuge
land closed for hunting and fishing, in the year covered by
the report; and
``(5) a separate report on the hunting and fishing status
of those lands added to the system in the year covered by the
report.''.
SEC. 4. EXEMPTION FOR TAKINGS BY RURAL ALASKA SUBSISTENCE
USERS.
Section 1(a)(2) of the Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718a(a)(2)) is amended by
striking ``or'' after the semicolon at the end of
subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end of
subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; or'', and by adding at the
end the following:
``(D) by a rural Alaska resident for subsistence uses (as
that term is defined in section 803 of the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3113)).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Fleming) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
[[Page H8003]]
General Leave
Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As author of H.R. 5069, I am pleased that we are considering this
bipartisan bill that has been cosponsored by the dean of the House of
Representatives, the leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen's
Caucus, and the entire Louisiana House congressional delegation.
The Federal Duck Stamp Act will modestly increase the price of the
Federal duck stamp for the first time in 23 years and, by so doing,
restore the buying power of this conservation tool which has been used
to acquire, conserve, lease, and restore thousands of acres of
wetlands.
Wetlands are critical to the survival of not only migratory waterfowl
but to the millions of Americans who live along our coastlines. The
U.S. Geological Survey has calculated that for every 2.5 miles a
hurricane travels across wetlands, the storm surge is reduced by 1
foot. It is therefore likely that wetlands were directly responsible
for saving lives and property in the gulf coast that were devastated by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
This legislation has been endorsed by Ducks Unlimited and more than
30 national conservation organizations, including the National Rifle
Association, Boone and Crockett Club, the National Wild Turkey
Federation, and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.
In their support letter, these groups noted that, ``In order for us
to pass down our hunting heritage from generation to generation,
sustain a vital and viable resource for wildlife and people, we must
increase the price of the duck stamp this year.''
I urge adoption of H.R. 5069, and I want to thank all of the Members
who join with me in this effort.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5069 would authorize an increase in the price of
the Federal duck stamp from $15 to $25. Duck stamp revenue funds the
purchase and conservation of wetland habitats critical to maintaining
waterfowl populations and other wildlife prized by hunters. This
increase will restore the purchasing power of the duck stamp dollars to
nearly 1991 levels, the last time Congress increased the price of the
duck stamp.
The current price of the stamp is $15, which equates to less than $9
in 1991. The increase is expected to generate $5 million in revenue for
securing conservation easements on land in the United States.
While I take issue with some of the requirements and restrictions
this bill would place on the Fish and Wildlife Service, the opportunity
to generate these additional funds for wetland conservation with the
support of hunters and other nature lovers is one that we must take
advantage of.
I support the passage of the bill and congratulate the author of the
legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say in closing that not only
do we have huge bipartisan support for this bill, but I just want to
point out, as an example, in 2012, we spent, essentially, an equal
amount of money on both the fee simple land purchase and the easement.
Around $16- to $17 million each. But look at the bang for the buck we
got. We purchased 14,747 acres fee simple, but on easements we got
48,144.
So it is obvious that not only is this a huge savings to the
taxpayer, this is a much better deal, but also think about the
maintenance costs that are now going to be unnecessary because
landowners with the easements will continue to maintain the land rather
than taxpayers.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues and I will
vote on the Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014. This bill would raise the
price of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (more
commonly known as ``Duck Stamps''), for the first time in 23 years,
from $15 to $25. I am a proud supporter of this legislation and ask my
colleagues to vote in favor.
Ever since Congress created the Duck Stamp program in 1934, hunters
have bought duck stamps to help pay for the protection of wildlife
habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses the money generated
from these sales to acquire new land or preserve existing wildlife
refuges for water fowl. Duck Stamps also serve as an entrance pass for
any national wildlife refuge that charges admission, so they are in
effect a user fee for hunters and bird watchers.
Today, because of rising land prices and inflation in general, the
value of the Duck Stamp has fallen by 40 percent, depriving
conservation efforts of crucial funds. As an avid hunter, I understand
the importance of investing in our wildlife habitats. We need to pass
these traditions on to the next generation, so they can learn the
importance of being good stewards of the land.
Since the federal government already owns nearly one third of our
country's land, this bill prohibits new land acquisition and requires
the funds generated from the fee increase to be used solely for
acquiring easements for migratory birds. But since the funds collected
from Duck Stamp sales are technically classified as revenues,
increasing the fees to allow for higher spending on protecting
migratory-bird habitats does not comply with the House's ``Cut as You
Go'' rule (Rule XXI, Clause 10).
In the past, we've made exceptions for spending increases that are
offset with revenue increases for selected programs when there is a
close connection between the revenues and the spending. For example,
budget resolutions often include reserve funds that effectively waive
the ``Cut as You Go'' rule for deficit-neutral legislation designed to
achieve a specific purpose.
Because the funds generated from this legislation will be user fees,
not taxes, and this bill reduces the deficit, I support granting a
waiver of the ``Cut as You Go'' rule for consideration of this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5069, 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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