[Senate Report 110-492] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 1068 110th Congress Report SENATE 2d Session 110-492 ====================================================================== THE GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS ACT OF 2008 _______ September 24 (legislative day, September 17), 2008.--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 H.R. 1464] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Environment and Public Works, having considered the bill (H.R. 1464) to assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. PURPOSES OF THE LEGISLATION H.R. 1464 would provide financial assistance to conserve certain species of threatened and endangered great felids (cats) and rare canids (members of the dog family). The bill would establish a Great Cats and Rare Canids 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 the bill, seven species of great cats are eligible for assistance. These include the lion, cheetah, leopard, snow leopard, and jaguar. Additionally, six species of dogs would also be eligible including the African wild dog, European gray wolf, dhole, maned wolf and bush dog. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1. Short title This section provides that the bill may be cited as the `Great Cat and Rare Canids Act of 2008.' Section 2. Purposes Section 2 states that the purposes of the bill are to provide financial resources to assist in the restoration and conservation of populations of rare felids and canids in the wild. Section 3. Definitions This section defines specific terms in the legislation. Section 4. Financial assistance This section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance for projects that conserve rare felids and rare canids and specifies eligible project applicants and required information for project applications. It also authorizes the establishment of an advisory group to assist the Secretary in carrying out the purposes of the Act. Section 5. Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund This section authorizes the establishment of a Great Cats and Rare Canids Fund within the Multinational Species Conservation Fund. Section 6. Study of conservation status of felid and canid species This section requires the Secretary to initiate a study within 3 months of the date of enactment and report to the Congress on the conservation status of wild felid and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List that are not eligible under this legislation and include recommendations for additional species to be added to the lists of rare felids or rare canids defined in the bill. Section 7. Ineligible countries This section prohibits any grant under this program from being spent in a country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism under certain statutes. Section 8. Authorization of appropriations The legislation would authorize $5 million per year of appropriations for each fiscal year from 2009 to 2013. Such sums as are necessary are authorized to carry out the study authorized in Section 6 of the bill. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY H.R. 1464 was introduced on March 9, 2007, by Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman on March 29, 2007. H.R. 1464 passed the House of Representatives on May 20, 2008 and was received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on May 21, 2008. The Committee met on September 17, 2008. In Committee, Senator Boxer offered a substitute amendment clarifying that no financial assistance may be spent under this Act in any country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. The Committee ordered H.R. 1464 favorably reported as amended 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 September 17, 2008. REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that the legislation does not impose regulatory costs, and agrees with the Congressional Budget Office that ``H.R. 1464 contains no . . . private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) . . . .'' 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 that ``H.R. 1464 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 September 19, 2008. 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. 1464, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, Peter R. Orszag. Enclosure. H.R. 1464--Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008 Summary: H.R. 1464 would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a grant program to protect and conserve rare species of cats (such as leopards) and canids (such as wolves) in the wild. The act would authorize the appropriation of $5 million for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 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. 1464 would increase discretionary spending by $19 million over the 2009-2013 period and by $6 million after 2013. H.R. 1464 also would authorize the agency to accept and spend (without further appropriation) donations from nonfederal sources. Enacting this provision could increase revenues (from donations) and direct spending (of those donations), but CBO estimates that such increases would offset each other and therefore have no net effect on the federal budget. H.R. 1464 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. 1464 is shown in the following table. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2009 and that authorized amounts will be provided as specified in the bill. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for similar programs. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, in millions of dollars-- ------------------------------------------------------- 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009-2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION Authorization Level..................................... 5 5 5 5 5 25 Estimated Outlays....................................... 2 3 4 5 5 19 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1464 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Previous CBO estimate: On May 5, 2008, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 1464 as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 30, 2008. The two versions of the legislation are very similar but contain different authorization periods. The CBO estimates reflect that difference. Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Deborah Reis; Impact on state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrill; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. CHANGES IN 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 no changes to existing law.