[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3626-S3627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICA'S CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 343, S. 3791.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3791) to reauthorize the America's Conservation
Enhancement Act, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Environment and Public
Works, with an amendment to strike out all after the enacting clause
and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``America's
Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, DISEASE, AND PREDATION
Sec. 101. Losses of livestock due to depredation by federally protected
species.
Sec. 102. Black vulture livestock protection program.
Sec. 103. Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force.
Sec. 104. Protection of water, oceans, coasts, and wildlife from
invasive species.
Sec. 105. North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
Sec. 106. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act.
Sec. 107. Modification of definition of sport fishing equipment under
TSCA.
Sec. 108. Chesapeake Bay Program.
Sec. 109. Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.
Sec. 110. Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense.
TITLE II--NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Sec. 201. National Fish Habitat Board.
Sec. 202. Fish Habitat Partnerships.
Sec. 203. Fish habitat conservation projects.
Sec. 204. Technical and scientific assistance.
Sec. 205. Accountability and reporting.
Sec. 206. Funding.
Sec. 207. Technical correction.
TITLE I--WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, DISEASE, AND PREDATION
SEC. 101. LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DEPREDATION BY FEDERALLY
PROTECTED SPECIES.
Section 102(d) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (7 U.S.C. 8355(d)) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 102. BLACK VULTURE LIVESTOCK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
Section 103 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(7 U.S.C. 8356) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``; black vulture
livestock protection program'' after ``common ravens'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (a) through (c) as
paragraphs (1) through (3), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(3) in each of paragraphs (2) and (3) (as so redesignated),
by striking ``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(1)'';
(4) by inserting before paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(a) Depredation Permits for Black Vultures and Common
Ravens.--''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Black Vulture Livestock Protection Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with
States, shall carry out, through fiscal year 2030, a black
vulture livestock protection program (referred to in this
subsection as the `program') that allows 1 public entity or
Farm Bureau organization per State to hold a statewide
depredation permit to protect commercial agriculture
livestock from black vulture predation.
``(2) Requirements.--Each public entity or Farm Bureau
organization that holds a depredation permit under the
program--
``(A) shall--
``(i) demonstrate sufficient experience and capacity to
provide government regulated services to the public, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(ii) submit a complete depredation permit application, as
determined by the Secretary, for review and approval
according to procedures of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service;
``(iii) be responsible for complying with, and ensuring
subpermittee compliance with, as applicable, all permit
conditions; and
``(iv) be responsible for collecting, managing, and
reporting required information under the permit; and
``(B) may subpermit to livestock producers to take black
vultures for the purposes of livestock protection.
``(3) Study.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall carry
out a study on whether prescribed take levels of black
vultures may be increased for subpermittees within a
biologically sustainable take level for the population.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Reauthorization Act of 2024, the Secretary, in consultation
with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, shall submit to the Chair and Ranking Member of the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and
the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the
status of the program, including the results of the study
required under paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 103. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK FORCE.
Section 104(d)(1) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (16 U.S.C. 667h(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``2025''
and inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 104. PROTECTION OF WATER, OCEANS, COASTS, AND WILDLIFE
FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.
Section 10(p) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16
U.S.C. 666c-1(p)) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 105. NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT.
Section 7(c) of the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act (16 U.S.C. 4406(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``not to exceed $60,000,000'' and inserting
the following: ``not to exceed--
``(1) $60,000,000'';
(2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) $65,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030.''.
SEC. 106. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT
ACT.
Section 10 of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``2025'' and inserting
``2030''; and
[[Page S3627]]
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and cooperative
agreements,'' and inserting ``, cooperative agreements,
participating agreements, and similar instruments used for
providing partnership funds,'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively;
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) Funding agreements.--Federal departments, agencies,
and instrumentalities may enter into a Federal funding
agreement with the Foundation for a period of not less than 5
years and not more than 10 years.''; and
(D) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by inserting
``, and should when possible,'' after ``may''.
SEC. 107. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF SPORT FISHING
EQUIPMENT UNDER TSCA.
Section 108(a) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 note; Public Law 116-188) is amended by
striking ``During the 5-year period beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``During the period
beginning on the date of enactment of the America's
Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024 and
ending on September 30, 2030''.
SEC. 108. CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM.
Section 117(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1267(j)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030,
$100,000,000.''.
SEC. 109. CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998.
Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998
(Public Law 105-312; 112 Stat. 2963; 134 Stat. 920) is
amended by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 110. CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED INVESTMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE
DEFENSE.
Section 111(e)(1) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (33 U.S.C. 1267 note; Public Law 116-188) is amended by
striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2030''.
TITLE II--NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
SEC. 201. NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD.
Section 203 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 8203) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``26 members'' and inserting ``28 members'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) 2 shall be representatives of the Department of the
Interior, including the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Bureau of Land Management;''; and
(C) by striking subparagraphs (G) and (H) and inserting the
following:
``(G) 2 shall be representatives of Indian Tribes, of
whom--
``(i) 1 shall be a representative of Indian Tribes in the
State of Alaska; and
``(ii) 1 shall be a representative of Indian Tribes in
States other than the State of Alaska;
``(H) 2 shall be representatives of--
``(i) the Regional Fishery Management Councils established
by section 302(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)); or
``(ii) the Marine Fisheries Commissions;''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(1)(B), by striking ``all members''
and inserting ``the members present''.
SEC. 202. FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS.
Section 204(e) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (16 U.S.C. 8204(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``, subject to paragraph (3),'' after ``Act
and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Limitation.--The Board shall only submit a report
required under paragraph (1) in the fiscal years in which the
Board is proposing modifications to, or new designations of,
1 or more Partnerships.''.
SEC. 203. FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.
Section 205 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 8205) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``for the following
fiscal year''; and
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the total cost
of all fish habitat conservation projects carried out by a
Partnership each year shall be at least 50 percent.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``Such non-Federal share of the cost of a
fish habitat conservation project'' and inserting ``The non-
Federal share described in paragraph (1)''.
SEC. 204. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.
Section 206(a) of the America's Conservation Enhancement
Act (16 U.S.C. 8206(a)) is amended by inserting ``, the
Bureau of Land Management,'' after ``the Forest Service''.
SEC. 205. ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING.
Section 209 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 8209) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and heading and
all that follows through ``Not later than'' in paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--Not later than''; and
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subsection (b) and
indenting appropriately; and
(3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D)
as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(C) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(4) a description of the status of fish habitats in the
United States as identified by Partnerships; and''; and
(E) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (i) through (v) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting
appropriately; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by
redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and
(ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately.
SEC. 206. FUNDING.
Section 212 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 8212) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``partnerships
and'' after ``habitat'';
(ii) by inserting ``and $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030'' after ``through 2025''; and
(iii) by inserting ``Partnership operations under section
204 and'' after ``to provide funds for'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2030''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``2025'' and inserting ``2030'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E) as
subparagraphs (C) through (F), respectively; and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by the Bureau of
Land Management;''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) National Fish Habitat Assessment.--There is
authorized to be appropriated for completion of the National
Fish Habitat Assessment described in section 201(4),
including the associated database of the National Fish
Habitat Assessment described in that section, $1,000,000, to
remain available until expended.''.
SEC. 207. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
Section 211 of the America's Conservation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 8211) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.)'' and inserting ``Chapter 10 of title 5,
United States Code (commonly known as the `Federal Advisory
Committee Act'),''.
Mr. SCHUMER. I further ask that the committee-reported substitute
amendment be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
agreed to.
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask that the bill be considered read a third time.
The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
and was read the third time.
Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill?
Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question
is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 3791), as amended, was passed.
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