[Senate Report 113-188]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 419
113th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 113-188
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TO AMEND THE NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT TO REAUTHORIZE
THE ACT
_______
June 5, 2014.--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 S. 969]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred the bill (S. 969) to amend the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and
recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
General Statement and Background
In partnership with other government wildlife agencies and
conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
recently published a comprehensive report on the state of our
nation's birds. Currently, almost one-third of the over 800
species of birds in the United States are either federally
listed as endangered or threatened, or are species of
conservation concern--due to their small distribution, high
threats or declining populations.
Wildlife watching, including bird watching, is an
increasingly profitable industry in the United States. The 2011
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation, which represents the most recent data compiled by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the economic impact of
wildlife recreation, showed that $54.9 billion was spent in
2011 alone on wildlife watching.
Birds are also important indicators for the health and
integrity of our natural environment. As bird populations
decline, they signal failing ecosystems and warn of the
deterioration of the quality of the air, water and soil on
which we depend.
Originally authorized in 2000, the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act (Public law 106-247) encourages habitat
protection, education, researching, monitoring, and capacity
building to provide for the long-term protection of neotropical
migratory birds. The program provides grants for projects in
the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean that
conserve neotropical migratory birds. The matching requirements
for the grant program leverages funding from a range of non-
governmental sources. Up to one-quarter of the annual grants
can be used for projects in the United States.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000
authorized an annual $5 million for each of the fiscal years
2001 through 2005. The Act was reauthorized in 2006 to increase
the authorization level from $5 million to $6.5 million for
Fiscal Years 2006-2010.
Between 2002 and 2011, the program supported 367 projects,
coordinated by partners in 48 U.S. states/territories and 36
countries. More than $39 million in Federal grants has
leveraged over $152 million in matching funds and $6.5 million
in nonmatching funds. Projects involving land conservation have
affected about 2 million acres of bird habitat.
Objectives of the Legislation
S. 969 amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Act to reauthorize the Act for fiscal years 2014 through 2019.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Reauthorization of Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Act
This section amends Section 10 of the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6109) to authorize
appropriations to carry out the Act. This section, as amended,
authorizes $6.5 million for fiscal years 2014 through 2019.
Legislative History
On May 16, 2013, Senator Cardin introduced S. 969. The bill
was received, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee
on Environment and Public Works. The Committee met on February
6, 2014, to consider the bill. Senator Cardin introduced an
amendment that would alter appropriation levels to $6,500,000
annually. The committee ordered S. 969 to be reported favorably
with an amendment.
Hearings
No committee hearings were held on S. 969.
Rollcall Votes
On February 6, 2014, the Committee on Environment and
Public Works ordered S. 969 to be favorably reported by voice
vote with Senator Crapo, Inhofe, Fischer, and Vitter recorded
as ``No.'' No roll call votes were taken.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 969
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 notes that the Congressional
Budget Office has found that ``[S. 969] contains no
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).''
February 28, 2014.
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 S. 969, a bill to amend
the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize
the Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
S. 969--A bill to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
to reauthorize the Act
Summary: S. 969 would authorize appropriations of $6.5
million a year through 2019 for grants and other activities
carried out under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Act. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing the bill would cost $33 million
over the 2014-2019 period. Enacting S. 969 would not affect
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 969 is shown in the following table. The
costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment). For this estimate, CBO
assumes that S. 969 will be enacted in 2014 and that the
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year
including supplemental amounts for 2014. Estimated outlays are
based on historical spending patterns for this program.
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014-2019
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CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Levela........................... 3 7 7 7 7 7 35
Estimated Outlays.............................. 1 6 7 7 7 7 33
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Note: Components do not sum to totals because of rounding.
aThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received appropriations totaling about $4 million in fiscal year 2014 to
carry out activities under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The authorization level shown here
for 2014 is the difference between that appropriation and the amount that would be authorized by S. 969.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 969
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact
on the private sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director
for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill
as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown
in roman:
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
* * * * * * *
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There [are] is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this Act [such sums as are necessary] $6,500,000
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2019.
(b) Use of Funds.--Of the amounts made available under
subsection (a) for each fiscal year, not less than 75 percent
shall be expended for projects carried out at a location
outside of the United States.
* * * * * * *