79–010

Calendar No. 904

106TH CONGRESS REPORT

2d Session " ! SENATE 106–457

JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND DESIGN

PROGRAM ACT

OCTOBER 2 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2000.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire, from the Committee on

Environment and Public Works, submitted the following

REPORT

[to accompany H.R. 2496]

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was

referred a bill to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation

and Design Program Act of 1994, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Early America had an abundance of marshes and wetlands that

provided a home for an astonishing number of wild ducks, geese,

swans, brants and other waterfowl. As more and more settlers arrived on America’s shores much of our critical wildlife habitat was

leveled, plowed or dammed. In addition, frequent bouts of extreme

weather took its toll. Degradation of waterfowl habitat continued

throughout the 19th and into the 20th century. By the late 1920’s,

hunters, conservationists and government officials became concerned at the alarming decrease of waterfowl species.

To address the problem, Congress passed the Migratory Bird

Conservation Act of 1929. The Act authorized the Department of

the Agriculture to acquire and preserve wetlands as waterfowl

habitat. Although the Act was a step in the right direction, it did

not provide a permanent fund for the purchase of wetlands and waterfowl habitat.

To rectify this situation, Jay ‘‘Ding’’ Darling, political cartoonist

and chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey, conceived of an

unique idea to raise funds. Ding Darling thought that stamps sold

to waterfowl hunters would generate funds to preserve the habitat.

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Based on Ding Darling’s idea, Congress passed and President Roosevelt signed into law the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act on

March 16, 1934. More commonly known as the Duck Stamp Act,

it requires that all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over

must annually purchase and carry a Federal Duck Stamp. The revenue generated from duck stamp sales is earmarked for the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to buy or lease waterfowl sanctuaries.

The first duck stamp was designed by Ding Darling at President

Roosevelt’s request, and depicts two mallards about to land on a

marsh pond. Since 1949, a contest has been conducted to determine

what image will be depicted on the stamp. Winners receive no compensation for their work except a pane of their stamps.

The Duck Stamp Program was such a success that in 1994 Congress created the Junior Duck Stamp Program. This extremely successful program allows children from kindergarten through the

twelfth grade to participate in an integrated art and science curriculum designed to teach environmental art and science to students. Each student chooses one waterfowl species to focus their efforts on throughout their course of study. At the culmination of the

course they draw that particular species. Each state selects a Bestof-Show winner and enters the piece of artwork in a national competition. The national winning design is used to create the Junior

Duck Stamp and the artist receives $2,500. The national first, second, and third place winning students, one of their parents, and

their art teacher win a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the

award ceremony.

Last year more than 44,000 thousand students entered the State

competitions. This program has been particularly successful at introducing urban children to nature, encouraging children to develop

a connection to the environment, and motivating students to take

an active role in the conservation of waterfowl species.

Authorization for the Act expires in fiscal year 2000.

OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 2496 would reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp program

through 2005 at its current level of authorization of $250,000. In

addition, this bill would allow the District of Columbia, Puerto

Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Somoa, Guam, the

Virgin Islands, and any other territories or possessions of the United States to participate.

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the committee makes an evaluation of the regulatory impact of the reported bill. The reported bill will have no

regulatory impact. This bill will not have 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. 2496 would impose no Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,

local, or tribal governments. All of its governmental directives are

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imposed on Federal agencies. The bill does not directly impose any

private sector mandates.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On October 27, 1999, H.R. 2496 was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. No hearings were held

on this bill. The Committee on Environment and Public Works held

a business meeting to consider this bill on September 21; the business meeting was continued on September 28, 2000. On September

28, 2000, H.R. 2496 was favorably reported by the committee on a

voice vote.

COST OF LEGISLATION

Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the reported bill,

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be included in the report. That statement follows:

U.S. CONGRESS,

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,

Washington, DC, September 29, 2000.

Hon. ROBERT C. SMITH, Chairman,

Committee on Environment and Public Works,

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2496, an act to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act

of 1994.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis, who can

be reached at 226–2860.

Sincerely,

DAN L. CRIPPEN.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

H.R. 2496, An Act to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994, as ordered reported by

the Senate Committee on Environment Public Works on September 28, 2000

H.R. 2496 would reauthorize discretionary funding for administration of the junior duck stamp program for fiscal years 2001

through 2005 at the event authorization level of $250,000 annually.

Under existing law, this authorization will expire after fiscal year

2000. Assuming appropriation of the amounts authorized by H.R.

2496, CBO estimates that the Federal Government would spend

about $250,000 in each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005. In recent

years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has spent less than

$200,000 to administer the program, mostly to conduct the annual

competition for the design of junior duck stamps.

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H.R. 2496 would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore,

pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The legislation contains

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on

state, local, or tribal governments.

On October 15, 1999, CBO prepared a cost estimate for H.R.

2496, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Resources on

October 6, 1999. Our estimate of the costs of the two versions of

this legislation is the same.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis, who can

be reached at 226–2860. This estimate was approved by Robert A.

Sunshine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

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:

JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONSERVATION AND

DESIGN PROGRAM ACT OF 1994

[Public Law 103–340]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Junior Duck Stamp Conservation

and Design Program Act of 1994’’.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 2. Establishment of program.

(a) IN GENERAL.— * * *

* * * * * * *

(c) EFFORT TO CONDUCT PROGRAM IN ALL STATES— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall take appropriate steps to

seek to conduct the Program in all of the ø50 States¿ States.

(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually submit a

report to the Congress on the status of the Program in each of the

ø50 States¿ States.

* * * * * * *

SEC. 5. DEFINITION OF STATE.

For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam,

the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. ø5¿ 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for administrative expenses of the Program $250,000 øfor each of the

fiscal years 1995 through 2000¿ for each of the fiscal years 2001

through 2005.

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