69–010 

Calendar No. 322 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 110–211 

MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUNDS 

REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 

OCTOBER 29, 2007.—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 H.R. 50] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 

referred a bill (H.R. 50) to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 

1994, having considered the same reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007, would amend and reauthorize through 

2012 the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros 

and Tiger Conservation Act. These acts provide for the conservation of the rhinoceros, tiger and African elephant, three wildlife 

species listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International 

Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

which prohibits any international trade of these endangered species. Some sub-populations of these species may be stable or recovering, but most remain extremely vulnerable in the wild. 

Rhinoceros—Between 1979 and 1992, black rhinoceros declined 

96 percent across Asia and Africa, shrinking from over 1 million 

animals to approximately 2,300. Sumatran rhinos have continued 

to decline in the past 18 years with only an estimated 300 surviving in Malaysia and Indonesia. White rhino, however, whose 

population once declined to about 100 animals, is now thought to 

have recovered to an estimated population of 11,000. All five rhino 


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species remain subjected to intense poaching to supply the illegal 

global black market for rhino horn used mostly in Asian medicine. 

Tiger—Once abundant throughout Asia, wild tigers now number 

between 5,000 to 7,000 animals and live in fragmented groups, 

mostly in protected forests, refuges and national parks. Recent surveys indicate that the South China Tiger may become extinct. Tiger 

populations remain subject to severe poaching pressure and illegal 

hunting to fuel a lucrative international trade in tiger and tiger 

parts, mostly in Asia for traditional medicines. 

African Elephant—Populations plummeted from an estimated 10 

million to approximately 500,000 between 1900 and 1990. Central 

and East African populations remain highly stressed due to increased poaching for ‘‘bushmeat’’ and illegal ivory markets, civil 

war and habitat loss. Southern populations have stabilized or even 

recovered. This has heightened hostile elephant/human interactions 

and increased interest within some range states to downlist specific 

populations to CITES Appendix II which would allow for permitted 

trade if it is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the 

wild. 

H.R. 50 would reauthorize through 2012 two international wildlife conservation acts, providing matching grants to non-federal 

conservation partners. This funding will support field conservation 

projects, such as scientific research, habitat enhancement, law enforcement, monitoring and local community outreach and education 

benefiting African elephants, rhinos, tigers and their habitats. Continued funding is considered essential because future survival in 

the wild of these charismatic species remains tenuous due to increased poaching, escalation in illegal trade, spotty local law enforcement, habitat loss, political instability and civil strife within 

regions where these animals range. Despite achievements made 

under both programs, current conservation efforts could collapse 

with the cessation of U.S. financial involvement. Below is a table 

describing total funding, grants awarded, funds used for administration and total non-federal matching amounts for both Acts since 

their enactments. 

African 

Elephant 

Rhino & 

Tiger Total 

Total number of grant proposals received ................................................. 428 744 1,172 

Total number of grant awards ................................................................... 281 321 602 

Percentage of countries with relevant species that receive grants .......... 100% 82% 94% 

Total amount appropriated by U.S. Congress ............................................ $17,383,350 $9,497,141 $26,880,491 

Total funds distributed through grants ..................................................... $16,812,798 $9,304,209 $26,117,007 

Total funds spent on administration of grants ......................................... $733,833 $488,335 $1,222,168 

Total matching/in-kind funds leveraged through grants .......................... $71,729,121 $19,377,873 $91,106,994 

OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 50 reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act and 

the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 by amending 

several provisions under current law and extending through fiscal 

year 2011 the authorization of appropriations to the African Elephant Conservation Fund and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund. 


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SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

This section states that the bill may be cited as the ‘‘Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007.’’

Section 2. Reauthorization and amendment of African Elephant 

Conservation Act 

This section amends the African Elephant Conservation Act to 

increase funding available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 

administer the program from $80,000 to $100,000 per year. The 

section also revises notice requirements for grants approved by the 

Secretary of the Interior to eliminate unnecessary notices to the 

countries in which the grant activity will be conducted. The section 

also amends the act to reauthorize existing funding levels through 

fiscal year 2012. 

Section 3. Reauthorization and amendment of Rhinoceros and Tiger 

Conservation Act of 1994 

This section amends the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act 

to make corresponding changes identical to those described in section 2. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On July 24, 2007, after favorable action by the House Committee 

on Natural Resources and the House of Representatives, the bill 

was received, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on 

Environment and Public Works. The committee met on July 31, 

2007, to consider the bill. H.R. 50 was ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. 

HEARINGS

No committee hearings were held on H.R. 50. 

ROLLCALL VOTES

The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider H.R. 50 on July 31, 2007. The bill was ordered favorably reported by voice vote. 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 H.R. 50 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 finds that H.R. 50 imposes no 

Federal intergovernmental mandates on State, local or tribal governments. 


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CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

Summary: H.R. 50 would reauthorize appropriations for projects 

carried out under the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988 

and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994. Specifically, the act would authorize appropriations through 2012 for such 

projects at the existing authorization level of up to $15 million annually. The current authorization expires at the end of fiscal year 

2007. The Secretary of the Interior uses this fund primarily to help 

finance research and conservation programs overseas. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 50 would result in additional spending of $68 million over the 2008–2012 period. (An additional $7 

million would be spent after 2012.) Enacting the legislation would 

not affect direct spending or revenues. 

H.R. 50 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 50 is shown in the following table. The cost 

of this legislation falls within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). For this estimate, CBO assumes that 

the entire amounts authorized by the act would be appropriated for 

each fiscal year. Outlay estimates are based on recent spending 

patterns for this program. 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Spending Under Current Law for Multinational Species Conservation Funds: 

Budget Authority .................................................................. 3 0 0 0 0 0 

Estimated Outlays: .............................................................. 3 0 0 0 0 0 

Proposed Changes: 

Authorization Level .............................................................. 0 15 15 15 15 15 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 0 9 14 15 15 15 

Spending Under H.R. 50 for Multinational Species Conservation 

Funds: 

Estimated Authorization Level ............................................. 15 15 15 15 15 15 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 15 9 14 15 15 15 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 50 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 

governments. 

Previous CBO cost estimate: On July 18, 2007, CBO transmitted 

a cost estimate for H.R. 50 as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on June 28, 2007. The two versions 

of the legislation are identical, as are the CBO cost estimates. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis and David 

Reynolds; Impact on state, local, and tribal governments: Leo Lex; 

Impact on the private sector: Justin Hall, 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 


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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 øblack brackets¿, new matter is printed in italic, existing 

law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman: 

* * * * * * * 

AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 2101. PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall review each project proposal to determine if it meets the criteria set 

forth in subsection (d) and otherwise merits assistance under this 

title. Not later than six months after receiving a project proposal, 

and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall approve 

or disapprove the proposal and provide written notification to the 

person who submitted the proposal øand to each country within 

which the project is proposed to be conducted¿. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 2306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund and to the Secretary a total of not to exceed $5,000,000 for 

each of fiscal years ø2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 

2007¿2007 through 2012 to carry out this title, to remain available 

until expended. 

(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of amounts available each fiscal year to carry out this title, the Secretary may expend not more 

than 3 percent or ø$80,000¿$100,000, whichever is greater, to pay 

the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this title. 

* * * * * * * 

RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1994 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 5. RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—* * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—Within 30 days of receiving a final project proposal, the Secretary shall provide a copy of 

the proposal to the Administrator. The Secretary shall review each 

final project proposal to determine if it meets the criteria set forth 

in subsection (d). Not later than 6 months after receiving a final 

project proposal, and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting with the Administrator, shall approve or 


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disapprove the proposal and provide written notification to the person who submitted the proposalø, to the Administrator, and to each 

country within which the project is to be conducted¿and to the Administrator. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years ø2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 

2005, 2006, and 2007¿2007 through 2012 to carry out this Act, to 

remain available until expended. 

(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of amounts available each fiscal year to carry out this Act, the Secretary may expend not more 

than 3 percent or ø$80,000¿$100,000, whichever is greater, to pay 

the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this Act. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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