[Senate Report 108-186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 365
108th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 108-186
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DINGELL-JOHNSON SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACT ONE-YEAR REAUTHORIZATION
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November 5, 2003.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Inhofe, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[to accompany S. 1669]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (S. 1669) to reauthorize the Dingell-Johnson
Sport Fish Restoration Act, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
General Statement and Background
The Sport Fish Restoration Program was created in 1950 with
the passage of the Dingell-Johnson Act. The Act placed a 10
percent excise tax on some fishing tackle and the moneys were
apportioned to the States for use in sport fish restoration
projects. The Dingell-Johnson Act was expanded with the Wallop-
Breaux Amendments in 1984, which augmented the excise taxes and
import duties on fishing equipment, recreational boats and
motorboat fuel. They also established the Aquatic Resources
Trust Fund.
In The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003
reauthorized the programs within the Dingell-Johnson Act for 5
months (through February 29, 2003). According to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Coast Guard, the 5 month
extension (as opposed to a year) will cause tremendous problems
for the State grant recipients.
Not only are there the anticipated administrative problems
with the State matching dollars for a 5-month reauthorization,
the complex distribution of funding for the program would cause
additional hardships resulting in disruptions in the State
programs as well as anticipated losses in funding.
It is important to note that the funding for the Sport Fish
Restoration Program comes from moneys deposited into the
Aquatic Resources Trust Fund during fiscal year 2003.
Additionally, prior to the 1984 Wallop-Breaux Amendments, the
Dingell-Johnson Fish Restoration Act was not reauthorized in
the Federal aid highway legislation.
Objective of the Legislation
The legislation, S. 1669, would reauthorize the Title 16
programs of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act for
1 year (fiscal year 2004). This would allow the States to
continue the various FWS programs without interruption or loss
of funding.
Section-By-Section Analysis
Section 1. Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration and Management
This section amends the Title 16 programs of the Dingell-
Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. It reauthorizes these
programs for $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004. Additionally, it
makes a technical correction by striking the Secretary of
Transportation and replacing it with the Secretary of Homeland
Security. This is necessary as the United States Coast Guard is
now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland
Security.
Legislative History
S. 1669, the 1-year reauthorization of the Dingell-Johnson
Sport Fish Restoration Act was introduced by Senator Inhofe on
September 26, 2003. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
Rollcall Votes
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider S. 1669 on October 15, 2003. The committee favorably
reported the bill by voice vote.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In compliance of section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 1669 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 104B4), the committee finds that S. 1669 would
impose no Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,
local, or tribal governments.
Cost of Legislation
Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be
included in the report. That statement follows:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 23, 2003.
Hon. James M. Inhofe, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1669, a bill to
reauthorize the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis
who can be reached at 226-2860.
Sincerely,
Douglas Holtz-Eakin
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S. 1669, A bill to reauthorize the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish
Restoration Act, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works on October 15, 2003
S. 1669 would amend the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish
Restoration Act to allocate fiscal year 2004 budget authority
for certain programs carried out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the U.S. Coast Guard. CBO estimates that enacting
this bill would have no effect on the Federal budget.
The programs that S. 1669 would reauthorize are financed by
a permanent, indefinite appropriation from the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund (ARTF). Each year, amounts deposited in
that fund from excise taxes, customs duties, and interest
income become available in the following year for a variety of
conservation and restoration projects. Enacting S. 1669 would
change the allocation of budget authority for fiscal year 2004
(roughly $440 million) among the different programs financed by
the ARTF, but would not provide additional budget authority or
affect the timing or level of spending from the fund. In the
absence of this legislation, $92 million would be allocated to
other ARTF programs that do not expire.
S. 1669 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.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes to 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 changes
to existing law.