[House Report 117-640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress } { Rept. 117-640
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { Part 1
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STAMP OUT INVASIVE SPECIES ACT
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December 14, 2022.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6936]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6936) to provide for the issuance of a
semipostal to benefit programs that combat invasive species,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 6936 is to provide for the issuance of
a semipostal to benefit programs that combat invasive species.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Invasive species cause disease outbreaks, habitat
destruction, and species extinction.\1\ If an invasive species
becomes established, containment and eradication are expensive
and almost impossible.\2\ In addition, habitat destruction,
competition, and the spread of disease brought on by invasive
species can all contribute to the extinction of native species.
Approximately 75 percent of reptile, bird, amphibian, and
mammal extinctions have occurred on islands, and invasive
species played a role in most.\3\
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\1\U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Invasive Species (online at
www.fws.gov/program/invasive-species/what-we-do).
\2\U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Aquatic Invasive Species: What
We Do (online at www.fws.gov/program/aquatic-invasive-species/what-we-
do).
\3\U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Invasive Species: Management and
Conservation (online at www.fws.gov/program/invasive-species/what-we-
do).
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has several
ongoing programs to prevent, control, and eradicate invasive
species in National Wildlife Refuges and throughout the United
States. Preventive actions include preventing introductions by
listing species as injurious to prohibit importation and
transport under the Lacey Act,\4\ managing ecosystems with a
focus on restoration and conservation of wildlife habitat under
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act,\5\ and
using surveillance to detect the presence of invasive species
as early as possible.
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\4\18 U.S.C. 42.
\5\16 U.S.C. Sec. 668dd.
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The U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Commerce lead the
National Invasive Species Council (Council). The goal of the
Council is to ``provide the vision and leadership to
coordinate, sustain, and expand federal efforts to safeguard
the interests of the United States from the negative impacts of
invasive species.''\6\ Through this Council, the FWS works with
other federal agencies, states, industries, and local
communities to slow the spread of the species and repair the
damage caused once an invasive species enters a system.
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\6\National Invasive Species Council, National Invasive Special
Council Annual Work Plan FY 2022 (Mar. 31, 2022) (online at
www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/nisc-fy2022-annual-wp-march312022.pdf).
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In addition to appropriations and authorized funding, money
raised from semipostal stamp sales would be a valuable tool for
addressing the impacts of invasive species. A semipostal stamp
is a postage stamp sold at a higher rate than a normal 1-ounce
first-class letter stamp. The extra charge serves as a
contribution by the purchaser to a specific fund or cause.
Existing semipostal stamps raise money for international
species conservation projects,\7\ breast cancer research, PTSD
treatment, and fighting Alzheimer's.\8\
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\7\ CRS Report. 2017. Multinational Species Conservation Fund
Semipostal Stamp (online at www.crs.gov/reports/pdf/R44809).
\8\United States Postal Service, Semipostal Stamps (online at
https://about.usps.com/what/corporate-social-responsibility/activities/
semipostals.htm).
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H.R. 6936 would direct the United States Postal Service to
issue a semipostal stamp, the ``Combating Invasive Species
Semipostal Stamp,'' the profits of which would be transferred
to programs at the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture
that combat invasive species.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 6936 was introduced on March 3, 2022, by
Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the
Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture. Within the
Natural Resources Committee, the bill was referred to the
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. On June 16, 2022,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On July 13, 2022,
the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments
were offered, and the bill was adopted and ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
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 June 16, 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) of rule XIII
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) and clause 3(d) of rule XIII
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
requested but not received a cost estimate for this bill from
the Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee
adopts as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such
cost estimate be made available before House passage of the
bill.
The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
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 provide for the issuance of a
semipostal to benefit programs that combat invasive species.
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
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program.
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
If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing
law.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS
None.
[all]