[Senate Report 113-145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 343
113th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 113-145
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PERMANENT ELECTRONIC DUCK STAMP ACT OF 2013
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April 1, 2014.--Ordered to be printed
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Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1206]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (H.R. 1206) to grant the Secretary of the
Interior permanent authority to authorize States to issue
electronic duck stamps, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends
that the bill do pass.
GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND
Hunters over the age of 16 must purchase a Federal Duck
Stamp each year if they want to hunt migratory waterfowl.
Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales
of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease
wetland and waterfowl habitat for protection in the National
Wildlife Refuge System.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been carrying out a
pilot program that allows customers the option to purchase the
federal duck stamp online. This program is operating in eight
states. H.R. 1206 would extend the pilot program to all states
and make it permanent. To sell stamps electronically a state
must submit an application to the Secretary for approval. The
legislation also outlines requirements for the sale of
electronic stamps, fees that can be charged, and validity of
electronic stamps.
OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION
The Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (H.R. 1206)
permanently authorizes a program to issue electronic duck
stamps.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 provides that this Act may be cited as the
`Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013'.
Section 2. Definitions
Section 2 provides definitions of several terms used in the
Act.
Section 3. Authority to issue electronic duck stamps
Section 3 authorizes the Secretary to issue electronic duck
stamps in consultation with State management agencies.
Section 4. State application
Section 4 establishes application requirements for
authorization of State programs that sell electronic duck
stamps
Section 5. State obligations and authorities
Section 5 establishes requirements for the sale of
electronic duck stamps and the collection of revenues.
Section 6. Electronic stamp requirements; recognition of electronic
stamp
Section 6 establishes requirements for the format and
recognition of electronic stamps.
Section 7. Termination of state participation
Section 7 directs the Secretary to terminate a State's
authority to issue electronic duck stamps if the Secretary
finds that the State has violated any of the terms of the
application of the State approved by the Secretary under
Section 4.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
H.R. 1206 was introduced by Representative Wittman (R-VA)
on March 14, 2013. On May 17, 2013, the House of
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources ordered the bill
reported favorably. The bill passed the House of
Representatives on June 3, 2013 by a vote of 401-0. The bill
was received, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee
on Environment and Public Works on June 4, 2013. On February 6,
2014, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
ordered the bill reported favorably without amendment.
On April 16, 2013, Senators Wicker, Pryor, and Cochran
introduced S. 738, the Senate companion to H.R. 1206.
HEARINGS
There were no hearings on H.R. 1206.
ROLLCALL VOTES
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider H.R. 1206 on February 6, 2014. The bill was ordered
reported favorably by voice vote.
REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT
In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that H.R.
1206 does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor
will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of
individuals.
MANDATES ASSESSMENT
In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Public Law 104-4), the committee noted that the Congressional
Budget Office has found, ``H.R. 1206 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.''
February 12, 2014.
Hon. Barbara Boxer,
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1206, the
Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Martin von
Gnechten.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1206--Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013
H.R. 1206 would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) to permanently allow any state to provide
hunting and conservation stamps for migratory birds (referred
to as federal duck stamps) electronically. The electronic
stamps would remain valid for 45 days to allow for the physical
stamps to arrive in the mail. A pilot program that authorized a
limited number of states to issue electronic stamps expired in
2010, although the USFWS has continued the program under other
authorities.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1206 would affect direct
spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures
apply. Under current law, amounts collected from the sale of
duck stamps are deposited in the Migratory Bird Conservation
Fund and are available to be spent without further
appropriation for waterfowl conservation projects. CBO
estimates that the net effects of enacting the bill would be
insignificant over the 2014-2024 period because we expect that
the number of additional stamps purchased would not be
significant.
H.R. 1206 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.
On May 14, 2013, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R.
1206, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural
Resources on April 24, 2014. The two versions of the
legislation are identical and the CBO cost estimates are the
same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Martin von
Gnechten. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made
by the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no
changes to existing law.