[Senate Report 111-54]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 119
111th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 111-54
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THE CRANE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2009
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July 20, 2009.--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. 388]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred the bill (H.R. 388) to assist in the conservation of
cranes by supporting and providing, through projects of persons
and organizations with expertise in crane conservation,
financial resources for the conservation programs of countries
the activities of which directly or indirectly affect cranes
and the ecosystems of cranes, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSES OF THE LEGISLATION
H.R. 388 would provide financial assistance to conserve
cranes. The bill would establish a Crane Conservation Fund as
an account within the Multinational Species Conservation Fund.
GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND
Wildlife populations across the globe have been in decline
due to many stresses. To help address this problem, Congress
established conservation funds for individual species or groups
of species--the Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF).
Under the MSCF, Federal resources provide financial
assistance to support international conservation efforts to
help wildlife. By providing resources to keystone wildlife
species, other wildlife--and their habitat and ecosystems--can
also be protected and conserved.
Under this bill, cranes become eligible for assistance
under the MSCF.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that the bill may be cited as the
``Crane Conservation Act of 2009.''
Section 2. Purposes
This section provides that the purposes of the bill are to
provide financial resources to assist in the restoration and
conservation of populations of cranes in the wild.
Section 3. Definitions
This section defines specific terms in the legislation.
Section 4. Crane conservation assistance
This section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
provide financial assistance for projects that conserve cranes
and specifies eligible project applicants and required
information for project applications.
Section 5. Crane Conservation Fund
This section authorizes the establishment of a Crane
Conservation Fund within the Multinational Species Conservation
Fund.
Section 6. Advisory group
This section authorizes the Secretary to convene an
advisory group to assist in carrying out the purposes and
requirements of this Act.
Section 7. Funding
The legislation would authorize $5 million per year of
appropriations for each fiscal year from 2010 to 2014.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
In the 110th Congress, similar legislation, H.R. 1771, was
introduced by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and passed the House of
Representatives on May 21, 2008. Companion legislation was
introduced by Senator Russ Feingold. H.R. 1771 was received,
read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works. The Committee ordered the bill reported
favorably by voice vote on September 17, 2008.
H.R. 388 was introduced on January 9, 2009 by Rep. Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI). Companion legislation was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Russ Feingold on January 9, 2009. H.R. 388
passed the House of Representatives on April 21, 2009 and was
received, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works on April 22, 2009. The Committee
met on May 14, 2009, when H.R. 388 was ordered reported
favorably by voice vote.
ROLLCALL VOTES
There were no rollcall votes. The measure was approved by
the Committee on Environment and Public Works at a business
meeting, a quorum being present, by voice vote on May 14, 2009.
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. 80
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. 388 contains no
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs
on state, local, or tribal governments.''
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
May 19, 2009.
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. 388, the Crane
Conservation Act of 2009.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 388--Crane Conservation Act of 2009
Summary: H.R. 388 would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) to establish a grant program to protect and
conserve wild cranes. The act would authorize the appropriation
of $5 million for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for
financial assistance to eligible government agencies,
international or foreign organizations, or private entities
engaged in such activities. Assuming appropriation of the
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 388
would increase discretionary spending by $19 million over the
2010-2014 period and by $6 million after 2014.
The act also would authorize the USFWS to collect and spend
donations from non-federal sources, but CBO estimates that any
new offsetting receipts and associated direct spending would be
minimal and would have no net effect on the federal budget.
H.R. 388 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 388 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010-2014
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CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Level..................................... 5 5 5 5 5 25
Estimated Outlays....................................... 2 3 4 5 5 19
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Basis of Estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
authorized amounts will be provided as specified in the act.
Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for
similar programs.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 388
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Ryan Miller; Impact on
the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of Rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that no
changes to existing law are made by this bill.