[House Report 111-297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-297
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JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND DESIGN PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT
OF 2009
_______
October 9, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3537]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3537) to amend and reauthorize the Junior Duck
Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment
and recommend that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 3537 is to amend and reauthorize the
Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994.
Background and Need for Legislation
Initiated in 1989 by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its
authority under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, Congress
passed the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
Act on October 6, 1994 (Public Law 103-340) to formalize the
program. The Junior Duck Stamp Program (JDS) Program provides
students with a broad exposure to migratory waterfowl,
including lesson plans to help increase students' knowledge and
appreciation of migratory birds and their ecology. The program
also provides activities geared to motivate students to take an
active role in conserving these species. In the JDS curriculum
guide, which is distributed free of charge to requesting
schools, students can research any species of North American
waterfowl and then artistically portray the selected bird and
its habitat.
Students may then choose to enter their artwork in state
JDS contests. All students from kindergarten through high
school are eligible to participate at the state level. Entries
are judged by local artists, stamp collectors, hunters,
wildlife biologists and conservationists. The first place
National winner receives a $5,000 cash award and their design
is reproduced as the Federal Junior Duck Stamp for that year.
The winner is also provided a free trip to our nation's capital
for themselves, their art teacher, one parent or guardian and
the State JDS Coordinator to attend the First Day of Sales
Ceremony for the Federal Duck Stamp, held towards the end of
June each year.
Today, more than 27,000 students participate in the
nationwide JDS wildlife art contest. The proceeds from the sale
of the Junior Duck Stamp, which costs $5, are returned to the
program to be used for awards and conservation education. In
2008, the sale of Junior Duck Stamps generated $106,949. The
Administration, for the first time, requested funds to
administer JDS Program in its FY 2010 budget submission.
Committee Action
H.R. 3537 was introduced on September 9, 2009 by
Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-TX). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife. On
September 22, 2009, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
bill.
On September 30, 2009, the Subcommittee was discharged from
further consideration of H.R. 3537 and the full Natural
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The bill was
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
unanimous consent.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 provides that this Act may be cited as the
``Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
Reauthorization Act of 2009''.
Section 2. Findings
Section 2 provides Congressional findings that sales of the
Junior Duck Stamp have successfully provided educational
materials and scholarships for students, promoting the
program's goal of connecting children with nature. The program
has also built strong partnerships with schools, federal and
state government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and
the private sector in promoting youth conservation initiatives
and stewardship.
Section 3. Reporting requirement
Section 3 amends the reporting requirements to direct the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to report to Congress on the
status of the program in each state once every five years
instead of biennially.
Section 4. Authorization of appropriations
Section 4 amends the Act to increase the annual authorized
appropriations for program administration from $350,000 to
$500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to amend and reauthorize the Junior
Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
H.R. 3537--Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
Reauthorization Act of 2009
H.R. 3537 would authorize appropriations for the junior
duck stamp program for fiscal years 2010 through 2015. The
proposed authorization level of $500,000 a year is $150,000
more than the amount currently authorized for 2010 (after which
funding for the program expires). Assuming appropriation of the
authorized amounts each year (including the additional $150,000
authorized for 2010), CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3537
would cost about $2 million over the 2010-2014 period and
$500,000 in 2015. Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, which administers this program, spends less than
$100,000 a year for this purpose, mostly to conduct the annual
competition for the design of junior duck stamps.
The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Earmark Statement
H.R. 3537 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9 of rule XXI.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND DESIGN PROGRAM ACT OF 1994
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Effort To Conduct Program in All States.--
(1) * * *
[(2) Annual report.--The Secretary shall annually
submit a report to the Congress on the status of the
Program in each of the States.]
(2) Reporting requirement.--Beginning in 2010 and
every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the status of the Program in each
State.
* * * * * * *
[SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
[(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary for administrative expenses of the Program
$350,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
[(b) Limitations on Use for Distribution to State and
Regional Coordinators to Implement Competitions.--Of the amount
appropriated under this section for a fiscal year--
[(1) not more than $100,000 may be used by the
Secretary to administer the Program; and
[(2) not more than $250,000 may be distributed to
State and regional coordinators to implement
competitions under the Program.]
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for
administrative expenses of the Program $500,000 for each of
fiscal years 2010 through 2015.