[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7] [House] [Pages 9612-9614] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]{time} 1230 GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS ACT OF 2008 Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1464) to assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1464 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 ``Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are to provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation-- (1) to restore and perpetuate healthy populations of rare felids and rare canids in the wild; and (2) to assist in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations worldwide. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) CITES.--The term ``CITES'' means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, done at Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249), including its appendices. (2) Conservation.--The term ``conservation''-- (A) means the methods and procedures necessary to bring a species of rare felid or rare canid to the point at which there are sufficient populations in the wild to ensure the long-term viability of the species; and (B) includes all activities associated with protection and management of a rare felid or rare canid population, including-- (i) maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of rare felid or rare canid habitat; (ii) research and monitoring; (iii) law enforcement; (iv) community outreach and education; (v) conflict resolution initiatives; and (vi) strengthening the capacity of local communities, governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other institutions to implement conservation programs. (3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund established by section 5. (4) IUCN red list.--The term ``IUCN Red List'' means the Red List of Threatened Species Maintained by the World Conservation Union. (5) Rare canid.--The term ``rare canid''-- (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means any of the canid species dhole (Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), bush dog (Speothos venaticus), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and Darwin's fox, (Pseudalopex fulvipes), including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (B) does not include any subspecies or population that is native to the area comprised of the United States and Canada or the European Union. (6) Rare felid.--The term ``rare felid''-- (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means any of the felid species lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), and Borneo bay cat (Catopuma badia), including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (B) does not include-- (i) any species, subspecies, or population that is native to the United States; and (ii) any tiger (Panthera tigris). (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of funds and in consultation with other appropriate Federal officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial assistance for projects for the conservation of rare felid and rare canids for which project proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this section. (b) Project Proposals.-- (1) Eligible applicants.--A proposal for a project for the conservation of rare felid and canids may be submitted to the Secretary by-- (A) any wildlife management authority of a country that has within its boundaries any part of the range of a rare felid or rare canid species, respectively; and (B) any person or group with the demonstrated expertise required for the conservation in the wild of rare felids or rare canids, respectively. (2) Project proposals.--To be considered for financial assistance for a project under this Act, an applicant shall submit a project proposal that includes-- (A) a concise statement of the purposes of the project; (B) the name of the individual responsible for conducting the project; (C) a description of the qualifications of the individuals who will conduct the project; (D) a concise description of-- (i) methods for project implementation and outcome assessment; (ii) staffing for the project; (iii) the logistics of the project; and (iv) community involvement in the project; (E) an estimate of funds and time required to complete the project; (F) evidence of support for the project by appropriate governmental entities of the countries in which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such support is required for the success of the project; (G) information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project; and (H) any other information that the Secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under this Act. (c) Project Review and Approval.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall-- (A) not later than 30 days after receiving a project proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to the appropriate Federal officials; and (B) review each project proposal in a timely manner to determine if the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d). (2) Consultation; approval or disapproval.--Not later than 180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting with other appropriate Federal officials, shall-- (A) ensure the proposal contains assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities and other appropriate government officials with jurisdiction over the resources addressed by the project; (B) approve or disapprove the proposal; and (C) provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the person who submitted the proposal, other appropriate Federal officials, and each country within whose borders the project will take place. (d) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will contribute to [[Page 9613]] conservation of rare felids or rare canids in the wild by assisting efforts to-- (1) implement conservation programs; (2) address the conflicts between humans and rare felids or rare canids, respectively, that arise from competition for the same habitat or resources; (3) enhance compliance with CITES, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and other applicable laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rare felids and rare canids or regulate the use and management of rare felid and rare canid habitat; (4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods for monitoring-- (A) the condition and health of rare felid or rare canid habitat; (B) rare felid or rare canid population numbers and trends; and (C) the ecological characteristics and requirements of populations of rare felids or rare canids for which there are little or no data; (5) promote cooperative projects among government entities, affected local communities, nongovernmental organizations, and other persons in the private sector; or (6) funds will not be appropriated for the purchase or lease of lands to be used as suitable habitat for felids or canids. (e) Project Sustainability.--In approving project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to conservation projects that are designed to ensure effective, long-term conservation of rare felids and rare canids and their habitats. (f) Matching Funds.--In determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which there exists some measure of matching funds. (g) Project Reporting.-- (1) In general.--Each person that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary considers necessary) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other appropriate government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements. (2) Availability to the public.--Reports under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made available to the public. (h) Limitations on Use for Captive Breeding or Display.-- Amounts provided as a grant under this Act-- (1) may not be used for captive breeding or display of rare felids and rare canids other than captive breeding for release into the wild; and (2) may be used for captive breeding of a species for release into the wild only if no other conservation method for the species is biologically feasible. (i) Advisory Group.-- (1) In general.--To assist in carrying out this Act, the Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of felids and canids. (2) Public participation.-- (A) Meetings.--The advisory group shall-- (i) ensure that each meeting of the advisory group is open to the public; and (ii) provide, at each meeting, an opportunity for interested persons to present oral or written statements concerning items on the agenda. (B) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory group, including the meeting agenda. (C) Minutes.--Minutes of each meeting of the advisory group shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available to the public. (3) Exemption from federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory group. SEC. 5. GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS CONSERVATION FUND. (a) Establishment.--There is established, in the Multinational Species Conservation Fund established in title I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 under the heading ``MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND'', a separate account to be known as the ``Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund'', consisting of-- (1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit into such account under subsection (c); and (2) amounts appropriated to such account under section 7. (b) Expenditures From Fund.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), upon request by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary, without further appropriation, such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to provide assistance under section 4. (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not more than three percent, or up to $100,000, whichever is greater, to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this Act. (c) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--The Secretary may accept and use donations to provide assistance under section 4, and may make public on the Internet website and in publications of the Department of the Interior that the Secretary is authorized to accept and use such donations. Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of such donations shall be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit into the Fund. SEC. 6. STUDY OF CONSERVATION STATUS OF FELID AND CANID SPECIES. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall initiate within three months after the date of the enactment of this Act a study of felid and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List that are not rare canids and rare felids (as those terms are defined in section 3), respectively, to determine-- (1) the conservation status of such species in the wild, including identification of any such species that are critically endangered or endangered; and (2) any such species that should be made eligible for assistance under this Act. (b) Report.--Not later than two years after date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary shall report to the Congress the determinations made in the study, including recommendations of additional felid species and canid species that should be made eligible for assistance under this Act. SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OR APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated-- (1) to the Fund, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this Act, other than section 6; and (2) such sums as are necessary to carry out section 6. SEC. 8. INELIGIBLE COUNTRIES. Amounts provided as a grant under this Act may not be spent on projects in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) 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 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 gentlewoman from Guam? There was no objection. Ms. BORDALLO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act, was introduced by our colleague from New Mexico, Congressman Tom Udall. The overall purpose of H.R. 1464 is to assist in the conservation of 15 imperiled cat and canid species, such as the lion, the cheetah, the jaguar, and the African wild dog. The bill would establish a new Great Cat and Rare Canid Conservation Fund to finance Federal matching grants for critical conservation projects to conserve these endangered wildlife species and their scarce and shrinking habitats. This legislation mirrors other highly popular and effective laws authorizing funding to help conserve and recover rhinoceroses, tigers, African and Asian elephants, great apes, and marine turtles. Great cats and rare canids are no less deserving of greater conservation assistance than these other keystone wildlife species, and I ask Members on both sides to support passage of this noncontroversial bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to give tribute and credit and compliment to former Congressman Clay Shaw of Florida, who has long sponsored this legislation and in the previous Congress worked tirelessly to pass it. So today, as we pass this bill, I would like to remember our colleague, Clay Shaw, who in fact has recognized for a long time the need to make permanent the preservation of these large, and small, but beautiful animals. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would urge the passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2007. As an original cosponsor of this bill and co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus, I would like to thank my fellow Caucus [[Page 9614]] co-chair, Representative Udall, for his leadership on this issue. Endangered species such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, and Ethiopian Wolves are not just remarkable creatures, but they play an important role in eco-tourism throughout Africa, bringing in much needed revenue to very poor countries. Unfortunately, many of these endangered animals are losing their race for survival, as habitats become compromised and poachers decimate populations. This bill will be an important tool for reversing these trends. Importantly, this bill provides assistance for programs to preserve and protect these remarkable animals. Multinational species funds, such as this one, have enjoyed tremendous success and have played a vital role in the protection of wildlife. On average, private donors have matched 3-1 every U.S. government dollar contributed to conservation programs. In other words, when the United States leads in conservation, others follow. As the mission of the international Conservation Caucus states, the U.S. has the opportunity to advance the protection of the worldwide environment. This bill is true to that mission. Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and 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. 1464, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________