To find out the status of these or any other bills, contact the congressional bill status line at (202) 225-1772. This information is also available on the World Wide Web at http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d105query.html.
| H.R. 512 | H.R. 619 | H.R. 741 | S. 361 | H Joint Resolution 59 | H.R. 923 | H.R. 952 |
Introduced on February 4, 1997, by Don Young (R-Alaska) and referred to the Committee on Resources and the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans. Executive comment was requested from the Secretary of the Interior on February 18 and subcommittee hearings were held on March 6. This act may be cited as the "New Wildlife Refuge Authorization Act."
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds may be expended from the Land and Water Conservation Fund established by Public Law 88-578, for the creation of a new refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System without specific authorization from Congress pursuant to recommendation from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to create that new refuge."
Related bill H.R. 511.
Introduced February 5, 1997, by John Porter (R-Illinois) and referred to the Committee on Resources, Committee on International Relations, and the Committee on Ways and Means. Executive comment was requested from the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce on February 18. On February 24 the bill was referred to the Committee on Asia and the Pacific. This act may be cited as the "Bear Protection Act."
This act prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, purchasing, or possessing it with intent to sell or barter, transporting, acquiring, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to discuss issues involving such trade with representatives of countries that are the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the progress of efforts to end illegal trade in bear viscera.
Related bill S.263
Introduced February 12, 1997, by Don Young (R-Alaska) and referred to the Committee on Resources. On February 21 it was referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans and executive comment was requested from the Secretary of the Interior. This act may be cited as the "Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1997."
SEC. 3. CLARIFYING HUNTING PROHIBITIONS.
Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended as follows: By adding at the end the following: '(b) No person shall take migratory game birds--
'(1) with a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance; '(2) with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than 3 shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so that its total capacity does not exceed 3 shells; '(3) from or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox or any other type of low floating device, having a depression affording a hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water...'
'(c)(1) No person shall take any migratory bird by the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, where that person knows or should have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence that bait was present.
'(2) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit--'(A) the taking of all migratory game birds, including waterfowl, on or over standing crops, flooded standing crops (including aquatics), flooded harvested croplands, grain crops properly shocked on the field where grown, or grains found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting; or, '(B) the taking of all migratory game birds, except waterfowl, on or over any lands where shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed has been distributed or scattered as a result of normal agricultural operations or as a result of manipulation of a crop or other feed on the land where grown for wildlife management purposes.
'(3) As used in this subsection: '(A) The term 'baiting' means the intentional placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed that constitutes for such birds an attraction, on or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take migratory game birds. '(B) The term 'baited area' means any area where shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed whatsoever capable of attracting migratory game birds is intentionally placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered; such an area shall remain a baited area for 10 days following complete removal of all such corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed."
Introduced on February 26, 1997, by James Jeffords (R-Vermont) and referred to the Committee on the Environment and Public Works.
The ESA is amended to prohibit the import of any product labeled as containing any species of fish, wildlife, or plants listed in Appendix I to the Convention (CITES), or export any such product from, the United States.
Introduced on March 4, 1997, by Don Young (R-Alaska) and referred to the Committee on Resources. On March 6, executive comment was requested from the Secretary of the Interior.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior relating to polar bear trophies from Canada under the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and such rule shall have no force or effect. [Ed. note: On April 30, 1994, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Act) was amended to allow the issuance of permits to import sport-hunted trophies of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) (excluding internal organs) legally taken by the applicant while hunting in Canada, provided certain findings have been made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These permits may also authorize the importation of polar bears taken, but not imported, prior to enactment of the Amendments, provided certain conditions are met.]
Introduced on March 5, 1997, by Vern Ehlers (R-Michigan) and referred to the Committee on Commerce. On March 14, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment. This act may be cited as the "Human Cloning Prohibition Act."
(a) In General--It shall be unlawful for any person to use a somatic cell for the process of producing a human clone. (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) is liable to the United States for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000.
Related bills H.R. 922, S. 368
Introduced March 5, 1997, by George Miller (R-California) and referred to the Committee on Resources. On March 14, executive comment was requested from the Secretary of the Interior and the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans. This act may be cited as the "Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997."
SEC. 2. MISSION AND PURPOSES OF THE SYSTEM.
(a) MISSION--The overall mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (in this Act referred to as the 'System') is to preserve a network of lands and waters for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States for the benefit of present and future generations.
(b) PURPOSES--The purposes of the System are--(1) to conserve, manage, and where appropriate, restore fish and wildlife habitats so as to provide, in perpetuity, for the diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants and the ecological processes that sustain them; (2) to provide a diverse national network of lands and waters designed to conserve and manage, in perpetuity, fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and their habitats; (3) to conserve and manage migratory birds, endangered species, anadromous or interjurisdictional fish species, marine mammals, and other fish, wildlife, and plants; and (4) to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats.
SEC. 3. PRIORITY USES.
The priority public uses of the System are wildlife observation and photography, hunting, fishing, and environmental education and interpretation.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM.
In administering the System, the Secretary of the Interior shall--(1) ensure that the mission and purposes of the System described in section 2 and the purposes of each refuge are carried out, except that if a conflict exists between the primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge and any purpose of the System, the conflict shall be resolved in a manner that first fulfills the primary purpose of the refuge, and, to the extent practicable, also achieves the purposes of the System; (2) ensure that opportunities for the uses described in section 3 receive priority attention in planning and management within the System, consistent with the mission and purposes of the System described in sections 2(a) and (b); (3) plan, propose, and direct expansion of the System-- (A) to accomplish the mission and purposes of the System and the purposes of each National Wildlife Refuge; and (B) to contribute to the conservation of the ecosystems of the United States; and (4) inventory and monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each National Wildlife Refuge.
SEC. 5. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) GENERAL RULE--Except as provided in subsection (b), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not initiate or permit a new use of a National Wildlife Refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing allowed use unless the Secretary determines that the use is compatible with the primary purposes of the refuge and the mission and purposes of the System specified in section 2 of this Act. Such determinations shall--(1) be made in writing, be based on the best available scientific information, and represent the best professional judgment of the refuge officer involved; (2) be made after an opportunity has been provided for the public to review and comment on the evaluations; (3) where appropriate, be made concurrently with the development of a conservation plan for the refuge under section 6; and (4) be reevaluated when conditions under which the use is permitted change significantly or when there is significant new information regarding the effects of the use, but not less frequently than every 10 years.
(b) PRIOR IDENTIFICATION FOR NEW ACQUISITIONS--On lands added to the System after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify, prior to acquisition, existing compatible priority public uses (as described in section 3) that shall be permitted to continue on an interim basis pending completion of comprehensive planning.
SEC. 6. REFUGE CONSERVATION PLANNING PROGRAM.
(a) GENERAL RULE--Except with respect to National Wildlife Refuge lands in Alaska (which shall be governed by the refuge planning provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)), the Secretary shall-- (1) propose a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge or ecologically related complex of refuges consistent with section 2 of this Act within 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act and revise such plans not less frequently than every 15 years thereafter; (2) develop and implement a process to ensure an opportunity for active public involvement in the preparation and revision of conservation plans; and (3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent with the conservation plan for the refuge. (b) NEW REFUGES--With respect to any refuge established after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a conservation plan for the refuge not later than 2 years after the Secretary has determined that sufficient land has been acquired to warrant comprehensive planning.
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