[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.

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