[Pages H4533-H4537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS ACT OF 2009

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 411) 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,
as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 411

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 ``Great Cats and Rare Canids
Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are to provide financial resources
and to foster international cooperation--
(1) to restore and perpetuate healthy populations of rare
felids and rare canids in the wild; and
(2) to assist in the conservation of rare felid and rare
canid populations worldwide.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) CITES.--The term ``CITES'' means the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora, done at Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS
8249), including its appendices.
(2) Conservation.--The term ``conservation''--
(A) means the methods and procedures necessary to bring a
species of rare felid or rare canid to the point at which
there are sufficient populations in the wild to ensure the
long-term viability of the species; and
(B) includes all activities associated with protection and
management of a rare felid or rare canid population,
including--
(i) maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of
rare felid or rare canid habitat;
(ii) research and monitoring;
(iii) law enforcement;
(iv) community outreach and education;
(v) conflict resolution initiatives; and
(vi) strengthening the capacity of local communities,
governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and
other institutions to implement conservation programs.
(3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Great Cats and Rare
Canids Conservation Fund established by section 5.
(4) IUCN red list.--The term ``IUCN Red List'' means the
Red List of Threatened Species Maintained by the World
Conservation Union.
(5) Rare canid.--The term ``rare canid''--
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means any of
the canid species dhole (Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis
lupus), Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), bush dog (Speothos
venaticus), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), maned wolf
(Chrysocyon brachyurus), and Darwin's fox, (Pseudalopex
fulvipes), including any subspecies or population of such a
species; and
(B) does not include any subspecies or population that is
native to the area comprised of the United States and Canada
or the European Union.
(6) Rare felid.--The term ``rare felid''--
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means any of
the felid species lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera
pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), snow leopard (Uncia uncia),
clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), and Borneo bay cat
(Catopuma badia), including any subspecies or population of
such a species; and
(B) does not include--
(i) any species, subspecies, or population that is native
to the United States; and
(ii) any tiger (Panthera tigris).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.

SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of funds and
in consultation with other appropriate Federal officials, the
Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial
assistance for projects for the conservation of rare felid
and rare canids for which project proposals are approved by
the Secretary in accordance with this section.

[[Page H4534]]

(b) Project Proposals.--
(1) Eligible applicants.--A proposal for a project for the
conservation of rare felid and canids may be submitted to the
Secretary by--
(A) any wildlife management authority of a country that has
within its boundaries any part of the range of a rare felid
or rare canid species, respectively; and
(B) any person or group with the demonstrated expertise
required for the conservation in the wild of rare felids or
rare canids, respectively.
(2) Project proposals.--To be considered for financial
assistance for a project under this Act, an applicant shall
submit a project proposal that includes--
(A) a concise statement of the purposes of the project;
(B) the name of the individual responsible for conducting
the project;
(C) a description of the qualifications of the individuals
who will conduct the project;
(D) a concise description of--
(i) methods for project implementation and outcome
assessment;
(ii) staffing for the project;
(iii) the logistics of the project; and
(iv) community involvement in the project;
(E) an estimate of funds and time required to complete the
project;
(F) evidence of support for the project by appropriate
governmental entities of the countries in which the project
will be conducted, if the Secretary determines that such
support is required for the success of the project;
(G) information regarding the source and amount of matching
funding available for the project; and
(H) any other information that the Secretary considers to
be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project
for funding under this Act.
(c) Project Review and Approval.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving a project
proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to the appropriate
Federal officials; and
(B) review each project proposal in a timely manner to
determine if the proposal meets the criteria specified in
subsection (d).
(2) Consultation; approval or disapproval.--Not later than
180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to
the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting
with other appropriate Federal officials, shall--
(A) ensure the proposal contains assurances that the
project will be implemented in consultation with relevant
wildlife management authorities and other appropriate
government officials with jurisdiction over the resources
addressed by the project;
(B) approve or disapprove the proposal; and
(C) provide written notification of the approval or
disapproval to the person who submitted the proposal, other
appropriate Federal officials, and each country within whose
borders the project will take place.
(d) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may approve a
project proposal under this section if the project will
contribute to conservation of rare felids or rare canids in
the wild by assisting efforts to--
(1) implement conservation programs;
(2) address the conflicts between humans and rare felids or
rare canids, respectively, that arise from competition for
the same habitat or resources;
(3) enhance compliance with CITES, the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, and other applicable laws that prohibit or
regulate the taking or trade of rare felids and rare canids
or regulate the use and management of rare felid and rare
canid habitat;
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods for
monitoring--
(A) the condition and health of rare felid or rare canid
habitat;
(B) rare felid or rare canid population numbers and trends;
and
(C) the ecological characteristics and requirements of
populations of rare felids or rare canids for which there are
little or no data;
(5) promote cooperative projects among government entities,
affected local communities, nongovernmental organizations,
and other persons in the private sector; or
(6) funds will not be appropriated for the purchase or
lease of lands to be used as suitable habitat for felids or
canids.
(e) Project Sustainability.--In approving project proposals
under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to
conservation projects that are designed to ensure effective,
long-term conservation of rare felids and rare canids and
their habitats.
(f) Matching Funds.--In determining whether to approve
project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall
give preference to projects for which there exists some
measure of matching funds.
(g) Project Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Each person that receives assistance under
this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary
periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary
considers necessary) that include all information that the
Secretary, after consultation with other appropriate
government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the
progress and success of the project for the purposes of
ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering
improvements.
(2) Availability to the public.--Reports under paragraph
(1), and any other documents relating to projects for which
financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be
made available to the public.
(h) Limitations on Use for Captive Breeding or Display.--
Amounts provided as a grant under this Act--
(1) may not be used for captive breeding or display of rare
felids and rare canids other than captive breeding for
release into the wild; and
(2) may be used for captive breeding of a species for
release into the wild only if no other conservation method
for the species is biologically feasible.
(i) Advisory Group.--
(1) In general.--To assist in carrying out this Act, the
Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting of
individuals representing public and private organizations
actively involved in the conservation of felids and canids.
(2) Public participation.--
(A) Meetings.--The advisory group shall--
(i) ensure that each meeting of the advisory group is open
to the public; and
(ii) provide, at each meeting, an opportunity for
interested persons to present oral or written statements
concerning items on the agenda.
(B) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the public
timely notice of each meeting of the advisory group,
including the meeting agenda.
(C) Minutes.--Minutes of each meeting of the advisory group
shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available to
the public.
(3) Exemption from federal advisory committee act.--The
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not
apply to the advisory group.

SEC. 5. GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS CONSERVATION FUND.

(a) Establishment.--There is established, in the
Multinational Species Conservation Fund established in title
I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 1999 under the heading ``MULTINATIONAL
SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND'', a separate account to be known
as the ``Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund'',
consisting of--
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury
for deposit into such account under subsection (c); and
(2) amounts appropriated to such account under section 7.
(b) Expenditures From Fund.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), upon request by
the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer
from the Fund to the Secretary, without further
appropriation, such amounts as the Secretary determines are
necessary to provide assistance under section 4.
(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts in the Fund
available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not
more than three percent, or up to $100,000, whichever is
greater, to pay the administrative expenses necessary to
carry out this Act.
(c) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--The Secretary may
accept and use donations to provide assistance under section
4, and may make public on the Internet website and in
publications of the Department of the Interior that the
Secretary is authorized to accept and use such donations.
Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of such
donations shall be transferred to the Secretary of the
Treasury for deposit into the Fund.

SEC. 6. STUDY OF CONSERVATION STATUS OF FELID AND CANID
SPECIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall initiate within three
months after the date of the enactment of this Act a study of
felid and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List that
are not rare canids and rare felids (as those terms are
defined in section 3), respectively, to determine--
(1) the conservation status of such species in the wild,
including identification of any such species that are
critically endangered or endangered; and
(2) any such species that should be made eligible for
assistance under this Act.
(b) Report.--Not later than two years after date of the
enactment of this Act the Secretary shall report to the
Congress the determinations made in the study, including
recommendations of additional felid species and canid species
that should be made eligible for assistance under this Act.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) to the Fund, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010
through 2014 to carry out this Act, other than section 6; and
(2) such sums as are necessary to carry out section 6.

SEC. 8. INELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.

Amounts provided as a grant under this Act may not be used
for any project conducted in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, or
North Korea.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr.
Bishop) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.

General Leave

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.

[[Page H4535]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 411, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act, was introduced in the
111th Congress by our colleague from Washington, Congressman Jay
Inslee. The bill before the House today is identical to
noncontroversial legislation that passed the House during the 110th
Congress.
The overall purpose of the bill is to assist in the conservation of
15 imperiled cat and canid species such as the lion, cheetah, and
jaguar and the African wild dog and Darwin's fox. The bill would
establish a new Great Cat and Rare Canid Conservation Fund to finance
Federal matching grants that support critical conservation projects to
conserve these highly endangered wildlife species and their shrinking
and fragmented habitats.
Moreover, this legislation is patterned after other noteworthy
wildlife conservation funds authorized by the Congress that help
conserve and recover critically endangered populations of rhinoceros,
tigers, African and Asian elephants, great apes, and marine turtles.
Mr. Speaker, great cats and rare canids are no less deserving than
these other keystone wildlife species, and I ask Members on both sides
to support the passage of this noncontroversial bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
While this legislation is similar to a bill that was approved by the
House last year, and I did, in fact, vote for the bill last year, we
have Members who still continue to have concerns with H.R. 411, the
Great Cats and Rare Canids Act.
During consideration in the Natural Resources Committee during the
last Congress, this bill was amended by Congressman Henry Brown to
target only 12 imperiled big cats and rare dog species. That was an
appropriate amendment especially considering the beginning stages of
this particular bill, which had well over 50 different animals listed.
However, by the time it went from committee to the floor last year,
this bill was expanded, and several other species that are protected
under this bill but do not reach the criteria used to create the other
five existing wildlife conservation funds under law were added.
I am particularly troubled that the inclusion of things like the
Iberian lynx, which lives exclusively in Spain and Portugal, is added.
These are clearly two countries that are not impoverished European
nations. They could easily afford to conserve their own native
wildlife. In addition, I note that few of the species singled out for
special treatment under this law could be considered ``keystone,''
unlike the African elephant, the tiger, the rhino that are considered
keystone criteria. Under H.R. 411, this bill, these 15 cats and dogs
will now be competing for limited funds with the other iconic species.
More importantly, at a time when America has a national debt in
excess of $11 trillion, you still have to question whether this
legislation is the proper priority for right now. With Federal
spending, bank failures, and home foreclosures reaching historic
levels, is it really appropriate to spend our constituents' hard-earned
tax money to conserve an African wild dog, an Ethiopian wolf, or a
Borneo bay cat in Asia? We still are taxing too much, spending too
much, and borrowing too much. And this particular bill once again goes
at elements and species that are not considered reaching the criteria
of needing this kind of protection. If it were to go back to the
original bill that came out last year from the Natural Resources
Committee with the Brown amendment intact, then you would have a decent
standard bill which I would firmly support. But as long as we are still
expanding it to areas that don't meet the criteria that should be used
on these types of issues, then I need to urge a ``no'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield
such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation,
Congressman Jay Inslee of Washington State.
Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out a few points about
this bill.
First off, this is a bill we passed with broad bipartisan support
last year. Two hundred ninety-four Democrats and Republicans stepped up
to the plate and took a very, very modest step to try to preserve these
endangered species that, in fact, are threatened and are listed on
international lists. Having gone through the scientific process, these
15 species are all recognized at risk both under United States
considerations and under the international consortiums of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora, also called CITES; and the World Conservation Union, the
IUCN. We know the science is that all 15 of these species are at risk.
And I want to suggest in answer to my friend's concern about this
investment by Americans, there are at least three reasons Americans
should have an interest in these species even though some of them are
not in the United States.
Number one and perhaps most important, many of our citizens will
never physically be in the presence of a cheetah or physically be in
the presence of some of the fox species that are endangered here. But I
can tell you that they are enjoying the presence of these species, the
Creator's creation, in the Creator's creation watching them on
television. I spent a week taking care of my dad recovering from
surgery, and he spent about half of his time enjoying watching these
creatures, the Creator's creation, because it gives him joy. And we
have got constituents who are enjoying the existence of these species.
This is a very small down payment to protect that.
Number two, when we preserve these species and when we preserve their
habitat, it is in our self-interest because it is in our self-interest
that the rain forest in South America is preserved. That is the lungs
of the planet. We cannot solve our climate change problems without it.
This can, in fact, help Americans through our environmental challenges
that we have.
And, third, this bill is a great investment because for every dollar
we put in, and it's a very small commitment of $5 million, but for
every one of those dollars, we get $4 from the international community
to match and exceed our investment. It is a prudent investment.
So I would hope that we would continue our efforts that we had on a
bipartisan basis last year of standing up for these precious species
that are on the cusp. And I realize that these species are sometimes
thousands of miles away from us, but they can be only months or years
away from extinction; so our great-grandkids will never get to watch
them except in old-time videos and old-time documentaries. We owe them
more. Let's take this very small step forward and pass this bill.
I rise to present important legislation, the Great Cats and Rare
Canids Conservation Act, which supports the conservation of wild big
cats and canine populations outside the United States by providing
financial resources to conserve 15 such species that are vital for
their ecological value and are listed as endangered or threatened on
the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources, IUCN, Red List of Endangered Species.
Mr. Speaker, the genesis of the Great Cats and Rare Canids program is
nearly a decade old, and the bill under consideration today was also
introduced in the past three Congresses. In that time, these species
have continued to decline in numbers. I would like to thank
Representative Udall, now Senator Udall, who brought up this bill in
the past.
This bipartisan legislation continues our tradition of protecting
threatened and endangered species around the world and comes at a
critical time in the survival of these animals. Of the 37 wild felid
species worldwide, all are currently recognized as species in need of
protection. Of the 35 wild canid species worldwide, nearly 50 percent
are recognized as in need of such protection in one of these
categories.
The 15 species whose conservation is supported in this bill are
umbrella species that, if conserved appropriately, protect their
corresponding landscapes and other species dependent on those
ecosystems. They include the majestic jaguar of South and Central

[[Page H4536]]

America, the elusive snow leopard, the cheetah, the African wild dog,
and other rare carnivore species.
If enacted, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund would be
established, building on the success of the Multinational Species
Conservation Fund. Importantly, it leverages private conservation
dollars from corporate and non-government sources in order to address
the critical need to conserve these threatened large carnivores.
Historically, for every $1 invested by the Federal Government in the
programs that are part of the Multinational Species Conservation Fund,
there is a $4 match by private donations. Since 1990, the Multinational
Species Conservation Fund which has invested over $50 million in
conservation assistance to the world's charismatic species, has
garnered over $180 million in partner contributions and private
funding.
A coalition of over 80 conservation organizations, zoos, sportsmen
and hunting groups and other non-governmental organizations support
this bill. I would particularly like to recognize Defenders of
Wildlife, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Safari Club
International, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. These
organizations together and their millions of members represent the
broad based support among Americans all over the country for Congress
to enact this critical piece of legislation.
I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and committee staff Jim and
Dave Jansen for bringing this bill to the floor.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, just to clarify on the record, for
any kind of species to be included, they have to be included on the
endangered species list, the appendix I and appendix II in the red
list. Three of these 15 do not meet that criteria. Twelve are
legitimate. Three don't meet that criteria.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Again I appreciate the sensitivities with regard to rare
cats and dogs around the world. With regard to the previous votes on
this bill in the House, to be specific, 227 Democrats voted ``aye,'' 67
Republicans voted ``aye,'' which also was about the same numbers,
similar numbers, that voted for the bailout back in September, which
was also a huge mistake. There was one Democrat that voted ``no'' and
118 Republicans that voted ``no.''
But we are even in different times now. We are still borrowing money
from the Chinese. And, once again, the irony here is incredible. We are
going to borrow more money from the Chinese to possibly give them money
back to create habitats for wild dogs and cats that are rare.

{time} 1445

There is no assurance that if we did that we wouldn't end up with moo
goo dog pan or moo goo cat pan. There is no way to assure that money
will not be wasted when it's sent to foreign countries.
One other thing, Iberian lynx, that cat would be eligible, and he is
only found in Spain and Portugal. We would be appropriating $25 million
over 5 years in order to send some money to the very country that has
been making ridiculous accusations about the United States here in
recent days. Oh, good, accuse us of ridiculous crimes, and then we will
send you money for your dogs and cats. At some point we have got to
stand up and be more responsible with the money we are borrowing that
we are pledging our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren
will pay back.
This is not the time to be passing this bill. I know there were 294
votes, 67 Republicans last time, but I am hoping that because American
habitats are again threatened for individual people in America, it's
time to quit spending money for habitats in foreign countries for
animals.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again yield such
time as he might consume to the sponsor of the bill, Congressman
Inslee.
Mr. INSLEE. Very briefly, I just wanted to respond to my friend's
assertion that the species have not been recognized by the scientific
community. I want to assure the gentleman, all of the 15 species, eight
cats and seven canine species, are listed on at least one of the
salient lists of these endangered and threatened species, and that
would be the Endangered Species Act of the United States, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora, also called CITES, and the third, the World Conservation
Union Red List of Endangered Species. All of the species that we have
selected are on at least one of those lists.
I think we will find broad scientific consensus a lot more species
are in trouble than these. These are just a tiny fraction of the
species that are in trouble, but, frankly, the ones whose existence our
constituents enjoy. They are enjoying them in their living rooms, and
this is a very small down payment to make sure that continues.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. May I inquire, Doctor, do you have other
speakers?
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I have just a brief closing statement.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Just in conclusion, once again, the grants that
we have pervaded in the past for things like the African elephant, the
rhino, the tigers are on all three lists, not just one of the three
lists. Twelve of the fifteen categories included in this are on all
three, not one of the three, which is why, if you were to go back to
the bill that was actually passed in the Resources Committee, the Brown
amendment, and take that standard, that is one that I think is clearly
defendable here on the floor.
But the fact of the matter is, we have expanded it. And once you
expand it, taking not all three criteria, but any of those three
criteria, you set the standard for what may or may not happen in the
future. And once again, we start moving into the direction of having
dedicated reserve funds going to specific areas without having a
comprehensive plan of how we want to spend that money overseas.
In our situation, in the budget crunch here that we are in, we should
be much more systematic in the way we try to deal with these kind of
endangered species and at least demand that everything on that list is
covered on all three of those categories, not just one or two, but all
three of them.
Let me just say once again, I did vote for this bill last time. And,
once again, I think we could make it better and should be making it
better.
I do actually want to thank the majority party for putting back an
amendment that was inadvertently omitted last time that had been placed
in the bill in committee and making sure that that was added in there
before this bill came to the floor. That was very kind of them. I
appreciate them doing that.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, President Theodore Roosevelt in a
message to the Congress once said, and I am quoting, ``To waste, to
destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of
using it, so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining
in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right
to hand down to them amplified and developed.''
H.R. 411, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act, is legislation that
embodies the central tenet in President Roosevelt's message by
conserving our natural resources. By conserving our natural resources
today, we will ensure the prosperity of future generations.
Mr. INSLEE. Will the gentlewoman yield?
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. INSLEE. Just to make sure that Members will know about the lists
we are talking about, the reason not all of these species are on all
three lists that we have alluded to is that canine species that are not
traded could not be listed under one of these lists that involve just
those that are traded animals. It doesn't mean they are not endangered.
It doesn't mean they are not threatened. It just doesn't mean that that
is the list that pertains to only traded species.
And I can warrant that you will not find anything but scientific
consensus that we have had a very well-targeted rifle shot to the most
endangered cats and canines here, not the least. And I am very
sensitive to my colleague's concern about our fiscal condition. It is
real and his points are well taken.
But there are some things that will not wait, even in respite of our
fiscal condition, and extinction is one of them. If we get in better
fiscal condition 3 years from now, we can't go back and sort of gin up
the DNA from these species. Once the Creator's handiwork is gone, we
can't go to our grandkids

[[Page H4537]]

and say, well, we had a budget crunch and we just couldn't save them.
So we hope we get this done.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Just for the record, I think it's important to note
also that this legislation has the full support of the cochairs of the
bipartisan International Conservation Caucus, which includes
Congressman Norm Dicks, Congressman Harold Rogers, Congressman John
Tanner and Congressman Ed Royce, as well as the Safari Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that Members on both sides support the passage of
this noncontroversial bill.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 411, the Great
Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009. I strongly endorse this effort to
provide financial resources and foster international cooperation to
restore and perpetuate healthy populations of endangered species and to
protect threatened habitats.
This bill establishes a fund to support specific conservation
activities by ``any wildlife management authority'' of a foreign
country that meets certain criteria, as well as groups and individuals
with demonstrated, relevant expertise. While supporting such efforts is
a key element of any effective conservation strategy, it seems to me
that such funding in effect constitutes a new form of foreign
assistance that ought to be carefully coordinated with our other
foreign aid programs.
In the first place, it is essential that the Secretary of the
Interior, who will be administering these programs, consult closely
with the Secretary of State to ensure that these activities will not
conflict with our overall foreign policy objectives. For instance, if
there are problems with corruption or transparency and accountability
in a particular government, the State Department would be in a better
position to know which entities are reliable partners, and to ensure
that funding is not diverted to unauthorized purposes. There may also
be some countries to which all other government-to-government aid has
been terminated for political or human rights reasons, and in which
these conservation activities ought to be conducted exclusively through
non-governmental organizations.
Secondly, the State Department, the United States Agency for
International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the
Peace Corps and other foreign policy agencies may be carrying out their
own environmental programs in a given country. The conservation
activities supported by this new fund must be coordinated with ongoing
and planned efforts of such agencies in order to avoid duplication and
overlap and to seize openings for collaboration. Without a mechanism
for consultation with the State Department and USAID, opportunities to
build synergy among programs will be lost and the risks of waste and
inefficiency will escalate.
In light of these concerns, I would strongly urge that in
implementing these new provisions, the Secretary of the Interior
develop a mechanism for full and meaningful consultation with the State
Department, USAID and the foreign policy agencies under the
Department's guidance.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 411, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

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