[House Report 117-298]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                      {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {     117-298

======================================================================



 
 GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2021

                                _______
                                

 April 25, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 5973]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 5973) to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife 
Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE 
                    RESTORATION ACT OF 1990.

  (a) Reports.--Section 1008 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife 
Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941f) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1)--
                  (A) by inserting ``and not later than December 31, 
                2027,'' after ``2021,'';
                  (B) by striking ``Committee on Resources'' and 
                inserting ``Committee on Natural Resources''; and
                  (C) by inserting ``, with respect to the period 
                covered by the report'' after ``describes''; and
          (2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
        by striking ``2016 through 2020'' and inserting ``2022 through 
        2027''.
  (b) Reauthorization.--Section 1009(a) of the Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941g(a)) is amended, in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``2016 through 2021'' and 
inserting ``2022 through 2027''.
  (c) Administrative Costs.--Section 1009(a)(1)(B) of the Great Lakes 
Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941g(a)(1)(B)) is 
amended by striking ``5'' and inserting ``3''.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 5973 is to reauthorize the Great Lakes 
Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Great Lakes Basin is the largest body of freshwater 
globally, holding 18% of the world's fresh water supply. 
Covering 95,000 square miles and 9,000 miles of shoreline, the 
Great Lakes are incredibly diverse. More than 500 migratory 
bird species, over 140 species of fish, and a myriad of 
endangered species use the Great Lakes.\1\ Spread across eight 
states and Canada, 35 million people live in the Great Lakes 
Basin and depend on it for their livelihoods.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\U.S. Fish Wildlife Serv., Report to Congress, Great Lakes Fish 
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 Progress 1990-2010, at 2, 32, 
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/
documents/GLFWRA-Report-to-Congress-1990-2010.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem include invasive 
species, pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. In 
the past 200 years, dozens of invasive species have entered the 
Great Lakes.\2\ Some, like the sea lamprey and zebra mussels, 
have been causing severe damage to food chains and devastating 
native species populations.\3\ Climate change exacerbates the 
issue by making invasive species particularly competitive in 
the changing ecosystem. In addition, industrial, agricultural, 
and residential pollution runoff causes frequent, recurring 
cyanobacteria algal blooms, which endanger people and animals, 
compromise water quality, and lead to mass fish death.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\Id. at 2; Invasive Species in the Great Lakes, U.S. EPA, https:/
/www.epa.gov/greatlakes/invasive-species-great-lakes (last visited Apr. 
20, 2022).
    \3\See Sea Lamprey: A Great Lakes Invader, Great Lakes Fishery 
Comm'n, http://www.glfc.org/sea-lamprey.php (last visited Apr. 20, 
2022); What Are Zebra Mussels and Why Should We Care About Them?, U.S. 
Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-zebra-mussels-
and-why-should-we-care-about-them (last visited Apr. 20, 2022).
    \4\Harmful Algal Blooms, Nat'l Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin., 
https://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/project/harmful-
algal-blooms (last visited Apr. 20, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 
1990\5\ required the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to 
carry out an assessment and plan to meet the restoration needs 
of the Basin.\6\ Since the first authorization of the Act, FWS 
has partnered with academic institutions, local natural 
resources departments, tribal authorities, and fishers to 
protect and preserve the Great Lakes ecosystem. Such efforts 
include constructing fish passages, creating and executing 
habitat restoration plans, and mitigating pollution impacts. 
Since 1998, the Act has provided federal funding to 148 
research and restoration projects in the Great Lakes Basin.\7\ 
Congress reauthorized the Act in 1998, 2006, and 2016. However, 
the reauthorization expired in the fiscal year 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\Pub. L. No. 101-537, 104 Stat. 2370 (1990), http://
uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm
?volume=104&page=2370 (codified as amended at various, see http://
uscode.house.gov/table3/101_537.htm) (statutory compilation as amended 
through P.L. 114-322 at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-2990/
pdf/COMPS-2990.pdf); see also Pub. L. No. 101-646, 104 Stat. 4773 
(1990), http://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=104&page=4773 
(codified as amended at various, see http://uscode.house.gov/table3/
101_646.htm).
    \6\See U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv., supra note 1.
    \7\Press Release, Office of Representative Debbie Dingell, Dingell, 
LaHood, Tonko, Joyce Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration in the Great Lakes (Nov. 16, 2021), https://
debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3285.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    H.R. 5973 would reauthorize funding for fiscal years 2022 
through 2027 at the same levels as the Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2016. Funding would 
go toward implementing FWS restoration proposals, implementing 
regional projects, covering administration costs, and 
supporting activities of the Upper Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Offices and the Lower Great Lakes Fish 
and Wildlife Conservation Office.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 5973 was introduced on November 15, 2021, by 
Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The bill was referred 
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. 
On January 20, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the 
bill. On February 16, 2022, the Natural Resources Committee met 
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by 
unanimous consent. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) offered an amendment 
designated Moore #1. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote. 
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) offered an amendment designated 
Stauber #1. The amendment was not agreed to by voice vote. The 
bill, as amended, was adopted and ordered favorably reported to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote.

                                Hearings

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the 
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure: 
hearing by the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held 
on January 20, 2022.

            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.

           Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional 
                               Budget Act

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the 
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, April 20, 2022.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5973, the Great 
Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 
2021.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    H.R. 5973 would authorize the appropriation of $8 million 
annually over the 2022-2027 period for the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) to provide grants and assistance for 
fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration within the Great Lakes 
Basin.
    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be 
enacted late in fiscal year 2022 and that the authorized 
amounts will be appropriated each year.
    In 2022, USFWS allocated $1 million for the program. CBO 
estimates that H.R. 5973 would authorize an increase in 
spending subject to appropriation in 2022 of $7 million, the 
difference between the authorized amount and the allocated 
amount. Based on historical spending patterns for similar 
activities, we estimate that implementing the bill would cost 
$31 million over the 2022-2026 period and $16 million after 
2026.
    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall 
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

                                   TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 5973
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2022    2023    2024    2025    2026    2027    2028    2029    2030    2031   2022-2026  2022-2031
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
 
Authorizationa....................................       7       8       8       8       8       8       0       0       0       0        39         47
Estimated Outlays.................................       *       6       9       8       8       8       5       3       0       0        31         47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = between zero and $500,000.
aIn 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allocated $1 million for the program. CBO estimates that H.R. 5973 would authorize an increase in spending
  subject to appropriation in 2022 of $7 million, the difference between the authorized amount ($8 million) and the allocated amount.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish 
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990.

                           Earmark Statement

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement

    According to CBO, this bill contains no unfunded mandates 
as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

                           Existing Programs

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program. Such program was not included in any report from the 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139. The Fish and Wildlife 
Management Assistance (CFDA No. 15.608) reauthorized by this 
bill is related and complementary to, but not duplicative of, 
the following programs identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 
Sec. 6104: Sport Fish Restoration (CFDA No. 15.605) and 
Partners for Fish and Wildlife (CFDA No. 15.631).

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        Changes in Existing 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 italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

         GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT OF 1990

           TITLE I--GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION

SECTION 1001. SHORT TITLE.

  This title may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990''.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 1008. REPORTS.

  (a) In General.--Not later than December 31, 2021, and not 
later than December 31, 2027, the Director shall submit to the 
[Committee on Resources] Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate a report that describes, with 
respect to the period covered by the report--
          (1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals 
        under section 1005;
          (2) the results of proposals implemented under 
        section 1005; and
          (3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals 
        specified in section 1006.
  (b) Public Access to Data.--For each of fiscal years [2016 
through 2020] 2022 through 2027, the Director shall make 
available through a public access website of the Department 
information that describes--
          (1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals 
        under section 1005;
          (2) the results of proposals implemented under 
        section 1005;
          (3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals 
        specified in section 1006;
          (4) the priorities proposed for funding in the annual 
        budget process under this title; and
          (5) actions taken in support of the Great Lakes 
        Restoration Initiative Action Plan based on the 
        recommendations of the Great Lakes Regional 
        Collaboration authorized under Executive Order 13340 
        (69 Fed. Reg. 29043; relating to the Great Lakes 
        Interagency Task Force).
  (c) Continued Monitoring and Assessment of Study Findings and 
Recommendations.--The Director--
          (1) shall continue to monitor the status, and the 
        assessment, management, and restoration needs, of the 
        fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes Basin; 
        and
          (2) may reassess and update, as necessary, the 
        findings and recommendations of the Report.

SEC. 1009. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

   (a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Director for each of fiscal years [2016 through 2021] 
2022 through 2027--
          (1) $6,000,000 to implement fish and wildlife 
        restoration proposals as selected by the Director under 
        section 1005(e), of which--
                  (A) not more than the lesser of 33 1/3 
                percent or $2,000,000 may be allocated to 
                implement regional projects by the United 
                States Fish and Wildlife Service, as selected 
                by the Director under section 1005(e); and
                  (B) the lesser of [5] 3 percent or $300,000 
                shall be allocated to the United States Fish 
                and Wildlife Service to cover costs incurred in 
                administering the proposals by any entity; and
                  (2) $2,000,000, which shall be allocated for 
                the activities of the Upper Great Lakes Fish 
                and Wildlife Conservation Offices and the Lower 
                Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
                Office under section 1007.
  (b) Prohibition on Use of Funds for Federal Acquisition of 
Interests in Land.--No funds appropriated or used to carry out 
this Act may be used for acquisition by the Federal Government 
of any interest in land.

        Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views

    None.

                                  [all]