[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1865 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 466
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1865
[Report No. 113-210]
To amend the prices set for Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps and make limited waivers of stamp requirements for
certain users.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 19, 2013
Mr. Begich (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. Tester)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works
July 15, 2014
Reported by Mrs. Boxer, with an amendment
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the prices set for Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps and make limited waivers of stamp requirements for
certain users.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Migratory Bird Habitat Investment
and Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps
(commonly known as ``duck stamps'') were created in 1934 as
Federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl;
(2)(A) duck stamps are a vital tool for wetland
conservation;
(B) 98 percent of the receipts from duck stamp sales are
used to acquire important migratory bird breeding, migration,
and wintering habitat, which are added to the National Wildlife
Refuge System; and
(C) those benefits extend to all wildlife, not just ducks;
(3) since its inception, the Federal duck stamp program
has--
(A) generated more than $750,000,000;
(B) preserved more than 5,000,000 acres of wetland
and wildlife habitat; and
(C) is considered among the most successful
conservation programs ever initiated;
(4)(A) since 1934, when duck stamps cost $1, the price has
been increased 7 times to the price in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act of $15, which took effect in 1991; and
(B) the price of the duck stamp has not increased since
1991, the longest single period without an increase in program
history; and
(5) with the price unchanged during the 20-year period
preceding the date of enactment of this Act, duck stamps have
lost 40 percent of their value based on the consumer price
index, while the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
reports the price of land in targeted wetland areas has tripled
from an average of $306 to $1,091 per acre.
SEC. 3. COST OF STAMPS.
Section 2 of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act
(16 U.S.C. 718b) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting
the following:
``(b) Cost of Stamps.--
``(1) In general.--For the 5-calendar-year period beginning
with calendar year 2014, and for each 5-calendar-year period
thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Migratory
Bird Conservation Commission, shall establish the amount to be
collected under paragraph (2) for each stamp sold under this
section, provided that the amount shall not exceed $25 for the
initial 5-calendar-year period and not exceed $30 for
<DELETED>the</DELETED> any subsequent 5-calendar-year period.
``(2) Collection of amounts.--The United States Postal
Service, the Department of the Interior, or any other agent
approved by the Department of the Interior, shall collect the
amount established under paragraph (1) for each stamp sold
under this section for a hunting year if the Secretary
determines, at any time before February 1 of the calendar year
during which the hunting year begins, that all amounts
described in paragraph (3) have been obligated for expenditure.
``(3) Amounts.--The amounts described in this paragraph are
amounts in the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund available for
obligation and attributable to--
``(A) amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act for
the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding
calendar year; and
``(B) the sale of stamps under this section during
that fiscal year.''.
SEC. 4. WAIVERS.
Section 1(a) of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Act (16 U.S.C. 718a(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and subsection (d)''
after ``paragraph (2)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Waivers.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, may waive requirements
under this section for such individuals as the Secretary, in
consultation with the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission,
determines to be appropriate.
``(2) Limitation.--In making the determination described in
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant only those waivers the
Secretary determines will have a minimal adverse effect on
funds to be deposited in the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund
established under section 4(a)(3).''.
Calendar No. 466
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1865
[Report No. 113-210]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the prices set for Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps and make limited waivers of stamp requirements for
certain users.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 15, 2014
Reported with an amendment