I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7999 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to encourage and incentivize rescue, 

rehabilitation, and appropriate reintroduction of threatened and endangered animals by establishing a Wildlife Confiscations Network, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2024 

Mr. GARBARINO (for himself and Mr. QUIGLEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to encourage and 

incentivize rescue, rehabilitation, and appropriate reintroduction of threatened and endangered animals by establishing a Wildlife Confiscations Network, and for other 

purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wildlife Rescue, Reha5 bilitation, and Reintroduction Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 It is the sense of Congress that— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (1) accredited zoos, aquariums, science centers, 

2 wildlife sanctuaries, and similar facilities play in3 valuable roles in the rescue, rehabilitation, and re4 introduction of threatened and endangered species of 

5 animals; and 

6 (2) to the maximum extent possible, such activi7 ties, including the educational display and interpre8 tation of such species, should be encouraged, facili9 tated, and incentivized. 

10 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

11 In this Act: 

12 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis13 trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 

14 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acting 

15 through the Director of the National Marine Fish16 eries Service. 

17 (2) APPROPRIATE SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘ap18 propriate Secretary’’ means— 

19 (A) the Secretary, with respect to a zoo, 

20 aquarium, science center, wildlife sanctuary, or 

21 similar facility that cares for animal species 

22 over which the Director of the United States 

23 Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction; 

24 (B) the Secretary of Commerce, acting 

25 through the Administrator, with respect to a 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 7999 IH

1 zoo, aquarium, science center, wildlife sanc2 tuary, or similar facility that cares for animal 

3 species over which the Administrator has juris4 diction; and 

5 (C) the Secretary and the Secretary of 

6 Commerce, acting through the Administrator, 

7 acting jointly with respect to a zoo, aquarium, 

8 science center, wildlife sanctuary, or similar fa9 cility that cares for animal species described in 

10 both of subparagraphs (A) and (B). 

11 (3) ASSOCIATION.—The term ‘‘Association’’ 

12 means the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

13 (4) CITES SPECIES.—The term ‘‘CITES spe14 cies’’ means an animal species that is listed in one 

15 of the Appendices of the Convention on International 

16 Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 

17 Flora. 

18 (5) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ 

19 means the committee established under section 

20 6(b)(3). 

21 (6) CONFISCATED ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘con22 fiscated animal’’ means an individual of a CITES 

23 species or a threatened or endangered species that 

24 is— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (A) seized at or en route to or from a port 

2 or border of the United States; and 

3 (B) placed at a qualified zoological facility 

4 to provide general animal care and welfare to 

5 such individual. 

6 (7) CONSERVATION RECOVERY SPECIES.—The 

7 term ‘‘conservation recovery species’’ means a popu8 lation of a threatened or endangered species that is 

9 cared for by a qualified zoological facility— 

10 (A) for non-commercial purposes; and 

11 (B) in direct support of recovery and re12 introduction efforts of a Federal agency for 

13 such threatened or endangered species. 

14 (8) NETWORK.—The term ‘‘Network’’ means 

15 the Wildlife Confiscations Network established under 

16 section 6(a). 

17 (9) QUALIFIED ZOOLOGICAL FACILITY.—The 

18 term ‘‘qualified zoological facility’’ means a zoo, 

19 aquarium, science center, wildlife sanctuary, or simi20 lar facility— 

21 (A) that, as of the date of the enactment 

22 of this Act, provides care to an individual of a 

23 conservation recovery species; 

24 (B) with which the appropriate Secretary 

25 has placed a rescued animal within the 5 years 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HR 7999 IH

1 preceding the date of the enactment of this Act; 

2 or 

3 (C) designated as such by the appropriate 

4 Secretary under section 4. 

5 (10) RESCUED ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘rescued 

6 animal’’— 

7 (A) means an individual of a threatened or 

8 endangered species that— 

9 (i) is native to the United States; and 

10 (ii) is removed from the wild because 

11 of injury, or threats or impending effects 

12 due to natural or human-induced activities, 

13 including such an individual that is re14 moved from the wild by, or at the request 

15 of, a Federal, State, or Tribal agency; and 

16 (B) does not include an individual of any 

17 species of sea turtle. 

18 (11) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

19 means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 

20 the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

21 Service. 

22 (12) THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPE23 CIES.—The term ‘‘threatened or endangered spe24 cies’’ means an animal species that is listed under 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•HR 7999 IH

1 the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 

2 1531 et seq.)— 

3 (A) as a threatened species; or 

4 (B) as an endangered species. 

5 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED ZOOLOGICAL FACILI6 TIES. 

7 The appropriate Secretary shall designate as a quali8 fied zoological facility each zoo, aquarium, science center, 

9 wildlife sanctuary, or similar facility that, as determined 

10 by the appropriate Secretary— 

11 (1) has an established record of providing exem12 plary care to— 

13 (A) confiscated animals; 

14 (B) rescued animals; or 

15 (C) individuals of a conservation recovery 

16 species; and 

17 (2) follows accepted practices in animal hus18 bandry, including— 

19 (A) compliance with the Animal Welfare 

20 Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.); 

21 (B) appropriate licensing and permitting; 

22 and 

23 (C) adherence to industry standards. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
7 

•HR 7999 IH

1 SEC. 5. RESCUE AND RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 

3 with the Administrator, shall establish a grant program 

4 to award amounts and technical assistance to qualified zo5 ological facilities to support the care of individuals of a 

6 conservation recovery species, rescued animals, and con7 fiscated animals. 

8 (b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 

9 this section, a qualified zoological facility shall submit to 

10 the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, 

11 and containing such information as the Secretary deter12 mines appropriate, including a description of each eligible 

13 activity the qualified zoological facility will carry out with 

14 a grant awarded under this section. 

15 (c) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—A qualified zoological fa16 cility that is awarded a grant under this section may use 

17 such grant to carry out the following activities with re18 spect to individuals of a conservation recovery species, res19 cued animals, or confiscated animals: 

20 (1) Pay expenses related to— 

21 (A) facility costs; 

22 (B) food; 

23 (C) veterinary care, including medicine and 

24 life support systems; 

25 (D) direct animal care staff; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
8 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (E) the transportation of an individual of 

2 a conservation recovery species, rescued animal, 

3 or confiscated animal for holding; and 

4 (G) the reintroduction of an individual of 

5 a conservation recovery species, rescued animal, 

6 or confiscated animal into the wild. 

7 (2) Design and construct facilities to support 

8 the creation of a network of facilities qualified to 

9 conduct rescue, recovery, and reintroduction efforts 

10 for individuals of a conservation recovery species, 

11 rescued animals, or confiscated animals. 

12 (3) Develop rescue and rehabilitation tech13 nologies and procedures, especially such technologies 

14 and procedures that are necessary to support the 

15 rapid and safe reintroduction of individuals of a con16 servation recovery species, rescued animals, or con17 fiscated animals. 

18 (d) GUIDANCE; CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall, in 

19 consultation with stakeholders, including public and pri20 vate entities that are actively involved in the care, rescue, 

21 rehabilitation, and reintroduction of any threatened or en22 dangered species, issue— 

23 (1) guidance regarding the implementation of 

24 the grant program established under subsection (a); 

25 and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
9 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (2) criteria to award grants under this section. 

2 (e) LIMITATION.—The Secretary, in consultation 

3 with the Administrator, may not award a qualified zoolog4 ical facility more than $1,000,000 under this section in 

5 a fiscal year, except in the event of an unusual mortality 

6 event, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with 

7 the Administrator. 

8 (f) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para10 graph (2), the Federal share of an activity carried 

11 out with a grant awarded under this section may not 

12 exceed 50 percent. 

13 (2) EXCEPTIONS.— 

14 (A) CRITICAL ACTIVITY.—The Federal 

15 share of an activity carried out with a grant 

16 awarded under this section that is related to 

17 the development of a facility, technology, or 

18 procedure that is critical for the rescue and re19 introduction of individuals of a conservation re20 covery species, rescued animals, or confiscated 

21 animals, as determined by the Secretary, may 

22 not exceed 75 percent. 

23 (B) WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIRE24 MENT.—The Secretary may waive the applica25 tion of paragraph (1) in the case of an unusual 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
10 

•HR 7999 IH

1 mortality event or other declared emergency, as 

2 determined by the Secretary. 

3 (g) PERMIT FOR QUALIFIED ZOOLOGICAL FACILI4 TIES.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

6 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

7 shall issue a programmatic permit under section 10 

8 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 

9 1539) authorizing qualified zoological facilities to 

10 conduct rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction ef11 forts for threatened or endangered species under this 

12 section. 

13 (2) CONTENTS.—The permit issued under para14 graph (1)— 

15 (A) shall, to the maximum extent pos16 sible— 

17 (i) encourage and incentivize the res18 cue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of 

19 threatened or endangered species; and 

20 (ii) encourage and facilitate public 

21 display of rescued animals and the off22 spring of such rescued animals in partici23 pating qualified zoological facilities for 

24 educational purposes; and 

25 (B) may not— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
11 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (i) regulate normal and accepted hus2 bandry practices, including breeding; 

3 (ii) prohibit the display of rescued 

4 animals for educational purposes; or 

5 (iii) provide for Federal Government 

6 ownership of a rescued animal, or the off7 spring of such a rescued animal, that is 

8 placed in a qualified zoological facility for 

9 long-term care, except for an individual of 

10 a conservation recovery species. 

11 SEC. 6. WILDLIFE CONFISCATIONS NETWORK. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into an 

13 agreement with the Association to establish a voluntary, 

14 cooperative program to assist Federal wildlife law enforce15 ment agencies with the placement and care of confiscated 

16 animals, to be known as the ‘‘Wildlife Confiscations Net17 work’’. 

18 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The Network shall— 

19 (1) establish a cooperative and coordinated re20 sponse protocol for the care and welfare of con21 fiscated animals; 

22 (2) create and maintain a database of qualified 

23 zoological facilities and other organizations that are 

24 members of the Network that can provide immediate 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
12 

•HR 7999 IH

1 triage needs and long-term housing and care for 

2 confiscated animals; 

3 (3) establish a committee within the Network to 

4 review and approve or reject applications for inclu5 sion in the Network submitted under subsection (c) 

6 by entities listed in paragraph (1) of that subsection; 

7 and 

8 (4) act as the single point of contact for Fed9 eral wildlife law enforcement agencies to assist in 

10 the placement and care of confiscated animals in 

11 qualified zoological facilities. 

12 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each of the following enti14 ties may submit to the Committee an application to 

15 join the Network: 

16 (A) Universities with expertise in the care 

17 of confiscated animals. 

18 (B) Wildlife sanctuaries. 

19 (C) Association-accredited zoos. 

20 (D) Association-accredited aquariums. 

21 (E) Animal rescue organizations. 

22 (F) Nongovernmental organizations with 

23 expertise in the care of confiscated animals. 

24 (G) Qualified zoological facilities. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
13 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (2) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—An applica2 tion submitted under paragraph (1) by an entity 

3 listed in that paragraph shall contain information 

4 sufficient for the Committee to determine whether 

5 such entity— 

6 (A) has, as determined by the Committee, 

7 the necessary credentials; and 

8 (B) is an effective, responsible, and appro9 priate entity that is capable of assisting Federal 

10 wildlife law enforcement agencies in the place11 ment and care of confiscated animals. 

12 (3) DETERMINATION.—The Committee shall re13 view each application submitted under paragraph (1) 

14 and approve or reject each such application. 

15 (d) COMMITTEE.— 

16 (1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall in17 clude 1 representative from each of the following en18 tities: 

19 (A) The Association. 

20 (B) The United States Fish and Wildlife 

21 Service. 

22 (C) A university with expertise in the care 

23 of confiscated animals. 

24 (D) A wildlife sanctuary. 

25 (E) An Association-accredited zoo. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
14 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (F) An Association-accredited aquarium. 

2 (G) An animal rescue organization. 

3 (H) A nongovernmental organization with 

4 expertise in the care of confiscated animals. 

5 (2) INITIAL MEMBERS.—The Association, in 

6 consultation with community stakeholders, including 

7 public and private entities that are actively involved 

8 in the care, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction 

9 of any threatened or endangered species, shall ap10 point each initial member to the Committee in ac11 cordance with paragraph (1). 

12 (3) SUBSEQUENT MEMBERS.—Except for the 

13 appointment of the initial members of the Com14 mittee under paragraph (2), each member of the 

15 Committee shall be elected by a majority vote of the 

16 members of the Committee through a call for service 

17 and application process implemented by the Com18 mittee. 

19 (4) TERM OF MEMBERSHIP.— 

20 (A) INITIAL MEMBERS.—Of the initial 

21 members appointed to the Committee by the 

22 Association under paragraph (2), as determined 

23 by the Association in consultation with the com24 munity stakeholders described in that para25 graph at the time of such appointment— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
15 

•HR 7999 IH

1 (i) 2 members shall be appointed for 

2 a term of 1 year; 

3 (ii) 3 members shall be appointed for 

4 a term of 2 years; and 

5 (iii) 3 members shall be appointed for 

6 a term of 3 years. 

7 (B) SUBSEQUENT MEMBERS.—Each mem8 ber of the Committee elected under paragraph 

9 (3) shall serve on the Committee for a term of 

10 3 years. 

11 SEC. 7. FUNDING. 

12 The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries 

13 of Commerce, Agriculture, and State, shall identify exist14 ing authorizations and appropriations to implement this 

15 Act, and not later than 12 months after the date of the 

16 enactment of this Act, shall advise the Committee on Envi17 ronment and Public Works in the Senate and the Com18 mittee on Natural Resources in the House if any addi19 tional authorizations are necessary. 

20 SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 

21 Nothing in this Act may be construed to amend or 

22 otherwise affect the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal 

23 Rescue and Response Grant Program established under 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
16 

•HR 7999 IH

1 section 408(b)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

2 of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421f–1(b)(1)). 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB