To amend the Acts popularly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to enhance the funds available for grants to States for fish and wildlife conservation projects and increase opportunities for recreational hunting, bow hunting, trapping, archery, and fishing, by eliminating opportunities for waste, fraud, abuse, maladministration, and unauthorized expenditures for administration and execution of those Acts, and for other purposes.
Adds Puerto Rico to the list of territories to which revenues from taxes imposed on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows shall be apportioned.
Specifies authorized administrative uses of amounts set aside for administration. Prohibits the Secretary from using such amounts to supplement any function for which general appropriations are made for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or any other entity of the Department of the Interior (Department). Requires the Department's Inspector General to procure the performance of biennial audits of such expenditures.
(Sec. 112) Earmarks funds under such Act for grants to States that: (1) have not used all funds apportioned from taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows for the enhancement of hunter education programs, hunter and sporting firearm safety programs, hunter development programs and construction or development of firearm shooting and archery ranges; and (2) have used such tax funds for any use authorized by the Act. Limits to 75 percent the Federal share of any grant activity.
(Sec. 113) Earmarks funds under such Act for multi-State conservation project grants under which the Secretary makes grants that will benefit at least 26 States for wildlife restoration projects submitted each fiscal year by State fish and game departments acting through the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association). Requires nongovernmental organizations that apply for such grants to certify that grant funds will not be used for activities that promote or encourage opposition to regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife.
Subtitle B: Sport Fish Restoration - Amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act) to specify the amounts authorized to be set aside for FY 2001 and thereafter for administrative expenses of the Secretary in implementing such Act. Authorizes remaining administrative portions in a fiscal year to be apportioned among the States for purposes of such Act. Specifies authorized administrative uses of such amounts. Prohibits the Secretary from using such amounts to supplement any function for which general appropriations are made for the USFWS or another Department entity. Requires the Department's Inspector General to procure the performance of biennial audits of such expenditures.
(Sec. 122) Makes amounts under such Act available each fiscal year to the Secretary for making multi-State (at least 26 States benefitting) project conservation grants for sport fish restoration projects prepared and submitted by State fish and game departments acting through the Association. Requires nongovernmental organizations that apply for such grants to certify that grant funds will not be used for activities that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of fish. Earmarks fiscal year grant amounts for specified marine fisheries commissions and the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council.
(Sec. 123) Extends the availability of funds made available under such Act to carry out the Coastal Wetlands, Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act through FY 2009.
Subtitle C: Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs - Designates the programs established under the amended Acts as the Federal Assistance Program for State Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (Program).
(Sec. 132) Establishes within the USFWS an Assistant Director for Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs to administer, manage, and oversee the Program.
(Sec. 133) Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the steps taken to comply with this title, including the extent to which compliance has required a reduction in personnel assigned to administer, manage, and oversee the Program.
Provides for spending certifications by the Secretary to specified congressional committees on amounts used under such Acts as well as spending certifications by States to the Secretary.
Title II: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendments of 2000 - Amends the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (the Act) to increase the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Board of Directors from 15 to 25 members, including the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Foundation to have its principal offices in Washington, D.C. (as currently provided), or in the bordering counties of Maryland or Virginia.
Sets forth conditions for the Foundation to: (1) acquire and convey property, including agency approval; and (2) invest and deposit Federal funds.
Revises provisions relating to agency approval of acquisitions of property and of conveyances and grants. Sets forth limitations relating to the Foundation's: (1) reconveyance of real property; and (2) expenditures for printing services or capital equipment.
(Sec. 206) Bars the Foundation from making a grant unless it provides notice within a prescribed time frame to the Member of Congress for the congressional district in which the funded project will be carried out.
(Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2003 for the Departments of Commerce and the Interior to carry out activities under the Act (conservation or management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources). Authorizes the Foundation to accept funds from a Federal agency under any other Federal law to further its conservation and management activities. Sets forth matching funds requirements.
Prohibits Foundation grants from being used for litigation expenses or for lobbying Congress.
(Sec. 208) Declares that nothing in this Act authorizes the Foundation to perform any function for which authority is provided to the National Park Foundation by specified Federal law.
Title III: National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial - National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act - Establishes the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Commission to, among other things: (1) prepare a plan to commemorate the centennial of the System beginning on March 14, 2003; and (2) plan and host a conference on the System.
(Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare and submit to Congress and the President a long-term plan to address priority operation, maintenance, and construction needs of the System; and (2) prepare and submit annually to Congress an assessment of expenditures to meet the identified operation and maintenance backlog, a specification of transition costs, as identified in the analysis of newly acquired refuge land, and a description of the method used to determine the priority status of such costs.
(Sec. 305) Declares that Congress finds that designation of the year 2003 as the Year of the Wildlife Refuge would promote the goal of increasing public appreciation of the System.
(Sec. 306) Authorizes appropriations.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Smith, of NH with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-495. Minority views filed.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Smith, of NH with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-495. Minority views filed.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 945.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10491-10498; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10491-10494)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mr. Young (AK) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H10017-10026)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion.
Enacted as Public Law 106-408
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At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Udall (NM) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed until Oct. 18. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(consideration: CR H10082; text: CR 10/17/2000 H10017-10023)
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10082; text: CR 10/17/2000 H10017-10023)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 106-408.
Became Public Law No: 106-408.