IB 

Union Calendar No. 224

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2408

[Report No. 108–385] 

To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize volunteer 

programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 10, 2003

Mr. SAXTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

NOVEMBER 20, 2003

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 10, 2003] 

A BILL

To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize 

volunteer programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Wildlife Refuge 

3 Volunteer Act of 2003’’. 

4 SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS 

5 AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS UNDER 

6 FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956. 

7 Section 7(f) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 

8 U.S.C. 742f(f)) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

10 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Inte11 rior to carry out subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) $2,000,000 

12 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.’’. 

13 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF PROJECTS UNDER NATIONAL 

14 WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM VOLUNTEER AND 

15 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT 

16 ACT OF 1998. 

17 Section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System 

18 Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act 

19 of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f note) is amended—

20 (1) in the heading by striking ‘‘PILOT’’; 

21 (2) by striking ‘‘pilot project’’ each place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘project’’; 

23 (3) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘, but not more 

24 than 20 pilot projects nationwide’’; 

25 (4) in paragraph (3)—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘pilot projects’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘projects’’; and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘after the date of the enact4 ment of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘after the date 

5 of the enactment of the National Wildlife Refuge 

6 Volunteer Act of 2003, and every 3 years there7 after’’; and 

8 (5) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘each of fiscal 

9 years 1999 through 2002’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fis10 cal year through fiscal year 2009’’. 

11 SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AU12 THORITY. 

13 Section 7(d)(2) (A) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 

14 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(d)(2)(A)) is amended to read as fol15 lows: 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding chap17 ter 63 of title 31, United States Code, the Sec18 retary of the Interior may negotiate and enter 

19 into a cooperative agreement with a partner or20 ganization, academic institution, State or local 

21 government agency, or other person to implement 

22 one or more projects or programs for a refuge or 

23 complex of geographically related refuges in ac24 cordance with the purposes of this subsection and 
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1 in compliance with the policies of other relevant 

2 authorities, regulations, and policy guidance.’’.

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend the 

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize volunteer 

programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes.’’. 

Union Calendar No. 224

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2408

[Report No. 108–385] 

A BILL

To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize volunteer programs and community 

partnerships for national wildlife refuges. 

NOVEMBER 20, 2003

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed