[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8853-H8854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MIGRATORY BIRD FRAMEWORK AND HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS ACT

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6013) to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish 
January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting 
season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, 
and active military personnel, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6013

       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 ``Migratory Bird Framework and 
     Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act''.

     SEC. 2. FEDERAL CLOSING DATE FOR HUNTING OF DUCKS, 
                   MERGANSERS, AND COOTS.

       Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Federal Framework Closing Date for Hunting of Ducks, 
     Mergansers, and Coots.--
       ``(1) In general.--In promulgating regulations under 
     subsection (a) relating to the Federal framework for outside 
     dates within which the States may select seasons for 
     migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     the Secretary shall, with respect to the hunting season for 
     ducks, mergansers, and coots--
       ``(A) adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway 
     council (as defined in section 20.152 of title 50, Code of 
     Federal Regulations) for the Federal framework if considered 
     by the Secretary to be consistent with science-based and 
     sustainable adaptive harvest management, but the framework 
     closing date shall be January 31 of each year; and
       ``(B) allow the States to establish the closing date for 
     the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework.
       ``(2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and 
     active military personnel.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the closing date under 
     paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the 
     Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 
     2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, 
     United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on 
     active duty, including members of the National Guard and 
     Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt 
     ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as 
     an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by 
     the States.
       ``(B) Requirements.--In selecting days under subparagraph 
     (A), a State shall ensure that--
       ``(i) the days selected--

[[Page H8854]]

       ``(I) do not fall within the regular hunting season for 
     ducks, mergansers, and coots;
       ``(II) with regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday 
     or other day in which schools are not in session; and
       ``(III) are not more than 14 days before or after the 
     hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and

       ``(ii) the total number of days in a hunting season for 
     ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected 
     under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days.
       ``(C) Limitation.--A State may combine the 2 days allowed 
     for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members 
     of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), 
     but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 
     4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any 
     purpose.
       ``(3) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations in accordance with this subsection for the 
     Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019-
     2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter.''.
         Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to amend the 
     Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each 
     year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck 
     hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for 
     youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for 
     other purposes.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6013, the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting 
Opportunities for Veterans Act, accomplishes two goals. First, it 
provides certainty to States by setting a specific Federal framework 
closing date for duck hunting. Second, it provides States the option to 
establish special duck hunting days for youth, veterans, and members of 
the Armed Forces.
  In addition to the Department of the Interior, I want to thank Ducks 
Unlimited, Vista Outdoors, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, 
and Will Primos among others for their work on and support of this 
important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman mentioned, this bill amends the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish special duck hunting days for 
youth and veterans. While I generally support expanding hunting 
opportunities for youth and veterans, it is important that we do it in 
a way that does not detract from management decisions based on sound 
science that produces the best outcomes for wildlife populations.
  This year marked the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty 
Act, a law which codified our Nation's commitment to honor 
international treaties that protect migratory bird populations. It is 
important to remember that prior to its passage, birds like the snowy 
egret and wood duck were plummeting towards extinction due to market 
hunting and unregulated commercial trade in bird feathers.
  Thanks to the protections afforded by the MBTA, these birds and many 
others have recovered from the brink of extinction, while maintaining 
opportunities for hunters to participate in waterfowl hunting through 
science-based management and population assessments.
  Congress has an obligation to ensure that the Secretary of the 
Interior retains the authority to determine when hunting of migratory 
game birds can take place in the United States. While the flyway 
councils play a critical role in developing regulations, establishing 
the framework for migratory bird management is a Federal responsibility 
that should be done in consultation with flyway councils.
  I do want to thank Chairman Bishop for working with our staff to make 
modest changes to the bill to address some of our concerns. We hope to 
continue working with our colleagues in the Senate to make further 
refinements and ensure that this bill does not move us forward in a way 
that departs from sound, science-based management.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the measure, and 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. McClintock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6013, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as 
the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to 
establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active 
military personnel, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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