[Senate Report 113-187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 417
113th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 113-187
======================================================================
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2013
_______
June 5, 2014.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 741]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred the bill (S. 741) to extend the authorization of
appropriations to carry out approved wetlands conservation
projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act
through fiscal year 2017, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the
bill, as amended, do pass.
General Statement and Background
The North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of
2013 extends the authorization of appropriations for the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989 (NAWCA). NAWCA
provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who
have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation
projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the
benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other
wildlife.
Since its inception the program has demonstrated remarkable
success. From September 1990 through March 2011, some 4,500
partners in 2,067 projects have received more than $1.1 billion
in grants. They have contributed another $2.32 billion in
required matching funds to affect 26.5 million acres of habitat
and $1.21 billion in additional funds to affect 234,820 acres
of habitat.
Objectives of the Legislation
The North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of
2014 (S. 741), as amended, extends the authorization of
appropriations to carry out approved wetlands conservation
projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1, as amended, provides that this Act may be cited
as the `North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of
2014'.
Section 2. Authorization of appropriations
Section 2, as amended, extends the authorization of
appropriations until FY 2019.
Legislative History
S. 741 was introduced by Senators Vitter, Boxer, Inhofe,
Baucus, Cochran, Coons, Blunt, Cardin, Crapo, Boozman, Wicker,
and Whitehouse. The bill was received, read twice, and referred
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. On February
6, 2014, the full Committee on Environment and Public Works met
to consider the bill. Sen. Vitter offered an amendment to
reduce the authorization of appropriations by $20 million each
year and to extend the program's authorization through fiscal
year 2019. The amendment was approved and the bill was ordered
reported favorably, as amended, by voice vote.
Hearings
On April 24th, 2012, the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of
the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a
legislative hearing on multiple bills, including S. 2282, which
was a similar version of this legislation introduced in the
112th Congress.
Rollcall Votes
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider S. 741 on February 6, 2014. The bill was ordered
reported favorably, as amended, 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 S. 741
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, ``S. 741 contains no intergovernmental
or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act (UMRA).''
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
February 28, 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 S. 741, the North
American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2014.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
S. 741--North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2014
Summary: S. 741 would authorize the appropriation of $55
million a year through 2019 for programs carried out under the
North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) uses amounts appropriated under
NAWCA primarily for grants to state, local, and tribal
governments, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that
carry out wetlands conservation projects.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $214
million over the 2014-2019 period and $82 million after 2019.
Enacting S. 741 would not affect direct spending or revenues;
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
S. 741 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 741 is shown in the following table. The
costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment). For this estimate, CBO
assumes that the bill will be enacted in 2014 and that the
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year
including supplemental amounts in 2014. Estimated outlays are
based on historical spending patterns for this program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014-2019
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Levela................. 21 55 55 55 55 55 296
Estimated Outlays.............................. 5 19 33 47 55 55 214
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
aThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received appropriations totaling $34 million in fiscal year 2014 to carry
out activities under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The authorization level shown here for 2014
is the difference between that appropriation and the amount that would be authorized by S. 741.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 741
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA. Enacting this legislation would benefit state,
local, and tribal governments because, assuming such amounts
are appropriated, they would receive a portion of the funds
authorized.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact
on the private sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director
for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, 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:
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT
* * * * * * *
SECTION 1. [16 U.S.C. 4401 NOTE] SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``North American Wetlands
Conservation Act''.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 7. [16 U.S.C. 4406] AMOUNTS AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT THIS ACT.
(a) Aid in Wildlife Restoration.--(1) [Amends section 3 of
the Act of September 2, 1937]
(2) [Amends section 4(a) of the Act of September 2, 1937]
(3) The amendments made by this subsection of this Act take
effect October 1, 1989.
(b) Migratory Bird Fines, Penalties, Forfeitures.--The sums
received under section 6 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16
U.S.C. 707) as penalties or fines, or from forfeitures of
property are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
the Interior for purposes of allocation under section 8 of this
Act. This subsection shall not be construed to require the sale
of instrumentalities.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to the
amounts made available under subsections (a) and (b) of this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of the Interior for purposes of allocation under
section 8 of this Act not to exceed--
(1) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
(2) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
(3) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
(4) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; [and]
(5) $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through
2012[.] ; and
(6) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2019.
* * * * * * *