[House Report 107-565]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Rept. 107-565
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session Part 1
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RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION AND
ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS
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July 11, 2002.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Con. Res. 408]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 408) honoring the American
Zoo and Aquarium Association and its accredited member
institutions for their continued service to animal welfare,
conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife
conservation programs, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the
concurrent resolution be agreed to.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H. Con. Res. 408 is to honor the American
Zoo and Aquarium Association and its accredited member
institutions for their continued service to animal welfare,
conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife
conservation programs.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Founded in 1924, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association
(AZA), is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
advancement of zoos and aquariums. AZA's vision is to work
cooperatively with state agencies, Federal agencies,
conservation organizations, the private sector and the
countries of origin to save and protect the wonders of the
living natural world.
AZA is a leader in establishing and maintaining high
curatorial and veterinary standards for zoos and aquariums
through its accreditation process. The accreditation process
examines all aspects of an institution's operation, including
the animal collection, veterinary care, physical facilities,
finance, support organization, education programs,
conservation, and research. There are currently over 2500
animal exhibitors licensed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture in the U.S. AZA accreditation involves a thorough
peer review and inspection process by which zoos and aquariums
are evaluated. To be officially recognized, an institution must
be: a permanent cultural facility which owns and maintains
wildlife; be open to the public on a regular basis; and be
under the direction of a professional staff. The granting of
accreditation is for five years, and expires at the end of that
period. Facilities wishing to remain certified must
successfully complete the process again, before the end of that
period.
Over 200 zoos and aquariums throughout North America have
met AZA's strict accreditation standards. The standards
established by AZA have been recognized by the National Marine
Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the
``professionally accepted standards'' on which a public display
facility must base its marine mammal education and conservation
programs.
Collectively, AZA member institutions draw over 135 million
visitors annually and have more than 5 million zoo and aquarium
members. These institutions teach more than 12 million people
each year in living classrooms, dedicate an estimated $50
million annually to education programs, invest an estimated $50
million annually to scientific research, and support over 1300
field conservation and research projects in 80 countries.
The mission of educational exhibits and programming at AZA
member facilities is to enhance the public's appreciation and
understanding of species and their ecosystems. Knowledge
acquired with animals in AZA public display facilities, in
tandem with field research, has proven to be fundamental in
contributing to species conservation. Communicating this
knowledge is one of the most effective means of ensuring the
health of fish and wildlife populations in the 21st century.
Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on research at AZA
member facilities which helps in understanding the anatomy and
physiology of wild animals and in learning to betterassist
threatened and endangered species. Additionally, many AZA facilities
and scientists collaborate with researchers from colleges,
universities, and other scientific institutions to conduct studies
important to species' conservation and health. Over the years, this
body of work has increased the present knowledge about the biology,
physiology, reproduction, behavior and conservation of many wild
species. These studies have led to improvements in diagnosing and
treating diseases; and for testing for toxic substances and their
effects on wild species.
AZA facilities have developed conservation research efforts
for various species referred to as Species Survival Plans
(SSP). An SSP is a cooperative long-term breeding and
conservation plan that provides many species with an insurance
policy against extinction. Currently the AZA has 97 SSPs for
140 species of animals. A large majority of those SSPs cover
species which are listed under the Endangered Species Act or
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Some of the species covered by an
SSP include: all the great apes; African and Asian elephants;
Siberian and Sumatran tigers; and black, white, Sumatran and
greater one-horned rhinos. SSPs ensure that these animals are
carefully managed to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining
population that is genetically diverse and demographically
stable. In addition, SSPs are cooperative conservation programs
that support both field and zoo and aquarium-based efforts in
research, public education, fund-raising, species
reintroduction, and field projects to protect species and their
habitats.
AZA institutions also work collectively with the Congress,
Federal agencies, and state agencies to shape wildlife
conservation policy by providing input on such issues as
biological diversity, wildlife trade, endangered species,
marine mammal protection and international species
conservation.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H. Con. Res. 408 was introduced on May 22, 2002 by
Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD), and was referred to the
Committee on Resources and the Committee on Agriculture. On
June 3, 2002, the bill was referred within the Resources
Committee to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife and Oceans. On June 12, 2002, the Subcommittee held a
hearing on the bill. On June 20, 2002, the Subcommittee met to
mark up the bill, and the bill was forwarded without amendment
to the Full Committee by unanimous consent. On June 26, 2002,
the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill and,
without amendment, the bill was ordered favorably reported to
the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. The bill expresses a sense
of Congress regarding the American Zoo and Aquarium Association
and therefore, no costs are incurred.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not
apply.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. H. Con. Res.
408 is a sense of Congress resolution and therefore, no costs
are incurred. No cost estimate was requested from the
Congressional Budget Office.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.