IB 

Union Calendar No. 397 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1771 

[Report No. 110–635] 

To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and providing, through 

projects of persons and organizations with expertise in crane conservation, financial resources for the conservation programs of countries the 

activities of which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystems 

of cranes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2007 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. KIND, Mr. 

OBERSTAR, Mr. SNYDER, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

MAY 13, 2008 

Additional sponsors: Mr. GRIJALVA and Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida 

MAY 13, 2008 

Reported with an amendment, 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 March 29, 2007] 

A BILL 

To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and 

providing, through projects of persons and organizations 

with expertise in crane conservation, financial resources 

for the conservation programs of countries the activities 


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of which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystems of cranes. 

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 ‘‘Crane Conservation Act 

5 of 2008’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 

7 The purposes of this Act are— 

8 (1) to perpetuate healthy populations of cranes; 

9 (2) to assist in the conservation and protection 

10 of cranes by supporting— 

11 (A) conservation programs in countries in 

12 which endangered and threatened cranes occur; 

13 and 

14 (B) the efforts of private organizations com15 mitted to helping cranes; and 

16 (3) to provide financial resources for those pro17 grams and efforts. 

18 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

19 In this Act: 

20 (1) CONSERVATION.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 

22 means the use of any method or procedure to im23 prove the viability of crane populations and the 

24 quality of the ecosystems and habitats on which 


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1 the crane populations depend to help the species 

2 achieve sufficient populations in the wild to en3 sure the long-term viability of the species. 

4 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 

5 includes the carrying out of any activity associ6 ated with scientific resource management, such 

7 as— 

8 (i) protection, restoration, and man9 agement of habitat; 

10 (ii) research and monitoring of known 

11 populations; 

12 (iii) the provision of assistance in the 

13 development of management plans for man14 aged crane ranges; 

15 (iv) enforcement of the Convention; 

16 (v) law enforcement and habitat pro17 tection through community participation; 

18 (vi) reintroduction of cranes to the 

19 wild; 

20 (vii) conflict resolution initiatives; and 

21 (viii) community outreach and edu22 cation. 

23 (2) CONVENTION.—The term ‘‘Convention’’ has 

24 the meaning given the term in section 3 of the En25 dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532). 


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1 (3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Crane 

2 Conservation Fund established by section 5(a). 

3 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

4 the Secretary of the Interior. 

5 SEC. 4. CRANE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro7 priations and in consultation with other appropriate Fed8 eral officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund 

9 to provide financial assistance for projects relating to the 

10 conservation of cranes for which project proposals are ap11 proved by the Secretary in accordance with this section. 

12 (b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.— 

13 (1) APPLICANTS.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—An applicant described 

15 in subparagraph (B) that seeks to receive assist16 ance under this section to carry out a project re17 lating to the conservation of cranes shall submit 

18 to the Secretary a project proposal that meets the 

19 requirements of this section. 

20 (B) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—An applicant 

21 described in this subparagraph is— 

22 (i) any relevant wildlife management 

23 authority of a country that— 


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1 (I) is located within the African, 

2 Asian, European, or North American 

3 range of a species of crane; and 

4 (II) carries out 1 or more activi5 ties that directly or indirectly affect 

6 crane populations; 

7 (ii) the Secretariat of the Convention; 

8 and 

9 (iii) any person or organization with 

10 demonstrated expertise in the conservation 

11 of cranes. 

12 (2) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—A project proposal 

13 submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include— 

14 (A) a concise statement of the purpose of the 

15 project; 

16 (B)(i) the name of each individual respon17 sible for conducting the project; and 

18 (ii) a description of the qualifications of 

19 each of those individuals; 

20 (C) a concise description of— 

21 (i) methods to be used to implement 

22 and assess the outcome of the project; 

23 (ii) staff and community management 

24 for the project; and 

25 (iii) the logistics of the project; 


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1 (D) an estimate of the funds and the period 

2 of time required to complete the project; 

3 (E) evidence of support for the project by 

4 appropriate government entities of countries in 

5 which the project will be conducted, if the Sec6 retary determines that such support is required 

7 to ensure the success of the project; 

8 (F) information regarding the source and 

9 amount of matching funding available for the 

10 project; and 

11 (G) any other information that the Sec12 retary considers to be necessary for evaluating 

13 the eligibility of the project to receive assistance 

14 under this Act. 

15 (c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 

17 (A) not later than 30 days after receiving a 

18 final project proposal, provide a copy of the pro19 posal to other appropriate Federal officials; and 

20 (B) review each project proposal in a timely 

21 manner to determine whether the proposal meets 

22 the criteria described in subsection (d). 

23 (2) CONSULTATION; APPROVAL OR DIS24 APPROVAL.—Not later than 180 days after receiving 

25 a project proposal, and subject to the availability of 


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1 appropriations, the Secretary, after consulting with 

2 other appropriate Federal officials, shall— 

3 (A) consult on the proposal with the govern4 ment of each country in which the project is to 

5 be carried out; 

6 (B) after taking into consideration any 

7 comments resulting from the consultation, ap8 prove or disapprove the proposal; and 

9 (C) provide written notification of the ap10 proval or disapproval to— 

11 (i) the applicant that submitted the 

12 proposal; 

13 (ii) other appropriate Federal officials; 

14 and 

15 (iii) each country described in sub16 paragraph (A). 

17 (d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may 

18 approve a project proposal under this section if the Sec19 retary determines that the proposed project will enhance 

20 programs for conservation of cranes by assisting efforts to— 

21 (1) implement conservation programs; 

22 (2) address the conflicts between humans and 

23 cranes that arise from competition for the same habi24 tat or resources; 


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1 (3) enhance compliance with the Convention and 

2 other applicable laws that— 

3 (A) prohibit or regulate the taking or trade 

4 of cranes; or 

5 (B) regulate the use and management of 

6 crane habitat; 

7 (4) develop sound scientific information on, or 

8 methods for monitoring— 

9 (A) the condition of crane habitat; 

10 (B) crane population numbers and trends; 

11 or 

12 (C) the current and projected threats to 

13 crane habitat and population numbers and 

14 trends; 

15 (5) promote cooperative projects on the issues de16 scribed in paragraph (4) among— 

17 (A) governmental entities; 

18 (B) affected local communities; 

19 (C) nongovernmental organizations; or 

20 (D) other persons in the private sector; 

21 (6) carry out necessary scientific research on 

22 cranes; 

23 (7) provide relevant training to, or support tech24 nical exchanges involving, staff responsible for manVerDate Aug 31 2005 20:57 May 14, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1771.RH H1771

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1 aging cranes or habitats of cranes, to enhance capac2 ity for effective conservation; or 

3 (8) reintroduce cranes successfully back into the 

4 wild, including propagation of a sufficient number of 

5 cranes required for this purpose. 

6 (e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY; MATCHING FUNDS.— 

7 To the maximum extent practicable, in determining wheth8 er to approve a project proposal under this section, the Sec9 retary shall give preference to a proposed project— 

10 (1) that is designed to ensure effective, long-term 

11 conservation of cranes and habitats of cranes; or 

12 (2) for which matching funds are available. 

13 (f) PROJECT REPORTING.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each person that receives as15 sistance under this section for a project shall submit 

16 to the Secretary, at such periodic intervals as are de17 termined by the Secretary, reports that include all in18 formation that the Secretary, after consulting with 

19 other appropriate government officials, determines to 

20 be necessary to evaluate the progress and success of 

21 the project for the purposes of— 

22 (A) ensuring positive results; 

23 (B) assessing problems; and 

24 (C) fostering improvements. 


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1 (2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—Each report 

2 submitted under paragraph (1), and any other docu3 ments relating to a project for which financial assist4 ance is provided under this Act, shall be made avail5 able to the public. 

6 SEC. 5. CRANE CONSERVATION FUND. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Mul8 tinational Species Conservation Fund established by the 

9 matter under the heading ‘‘MULTINATIONAL SPECIES 

10 CONSERVATION FUND’’ in title I of the Department of 

11 the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 

12 (112 Stat. 2681–237; 16 U.S.C. 4246) a separate account 

13 to be known as the ‘‘Crane Conservation Fund’’, consisting 

14 of— 

15 (1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the 

16 Treasury for deposit into the Fund under subsection 

17 (e); 

18 (2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under 

19 section 7; and 

20 (3) any interest earned on investment of 

21 amounts in the Fund under subsection (c). 

22 (b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and 

24 (3), upon request by the Secretary, the Secretary of 

25 the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the SecVerDate Aug 31 2005 20:57 May 14, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1771.RH H1771

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1 retary, without further appropriation, such amounts 

2 as the Secretary determines are necessary to provide 

3 assistance under section 4. 

4 (2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the 

5 amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, 

6 the Secretary may expend not more than 3 percent, 

7 or $150,000, whichever is greater, to pay the adminis8 trative expenses necessary to carry out this Act. 

9 (3) LIMITATION.—Not more than 20 percent of 

10 the amounts made available from the Fund for any 

11 fiscal year may be used for projects relating to the 

12 conservation of North American crane species. 

13 (c) INVESTMENTS OF AMOUNTS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury 

15 shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the 

16 judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to 

17 meet current withdrawals. Investments may be made 

18 only in interest-bearing obligations of the United 

19 States. 

20 (2) ACQUISITION OF OBLIGATIONS.—For the pur21 pose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations 

22 may be acquired— 

23 (A) on original issue at the issue price; or 

24 (B) by purchase of outstanding obligations 

25 at the market price. 


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1 (3) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation ac2 quired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of 

3 the Treasury at the market price. 

4 (4) CREDITS TO FUND.—The interest on, and the 

5 proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obliga6 tions held in the Fund shall be credited to and form 

7 a part of the Fund. 

8 (d) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts required to be 

10 transferred to the Fund under this section shall be 

11 transferred at least monthly from the general fund of 

12 the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates 

13 made by the Secretary of the Treasury. 

14 (2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall be 

15 made in amounts subsequently transferred to the ex16 tent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the 

17 amounts required to be transferred. 

18 (e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may accept 

20 and use donations to provide assistance under section 

21 4. 

22 (2) TRANSFER OF DONATIONS.—Amounts re23 ceived by the Secretary in the form of donations shall 

24 be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for de25 posit in the Fund. 


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1 SEC. 6. ADVISORY GROUP. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—To assist in carrying out this Act, 

3 the Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting 

4 of individuals representing public and private organiza5 tions actively involved in the conservation of cranes. 

6 (b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 

7 (1) MEETINGS.—The advisory group shall— 

8 (A) ensure that each meeting of the advisory 

9 group is open to the public; and 

10 (B) provide, at each meeting, an oppor11 tunity for interested persons to present oral or 

12 written statements concerning items on the agen13 da. 

14 (2) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide to the 

15 public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory 

16 group. 

17 (3) MINUTES.—Minutes of each meeting of the 

18 advisory group shall be kept by the Secretary and 

19 shall be made available to the public. 

20 (c) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY COM21 MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

22 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory group. 

23 SEC. 7. FUNDING. 

24 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 

25 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to 

26 remain available until expended. 


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Union Calendar No. 397 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1771 

[Report No. 110

–635] 

A BILL 

To assist in the conservation of cranes by supecosystems of cranes. which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the servation programs of countries the activities of conservation, financial resources for the con- sons and organizations with expertise in crane porting and providing, through projects of perMAY 13, 2008 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS