IB 

Union Calendar No. 423 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3479 

[Report No. 108–687] 

To provide for the control and eradication of the brown tree snake on 

the island of Guam and the prevention of the introduction of the brown 

tree snake to other areas of the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 7, 2003 

Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. CASE) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and 

in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 

Additional sponsors: Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA ́, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. 

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ORTIZ, and Mr. RODRIGUEZ

SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 

Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment 

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

SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 

Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a period ending not 

later than September 15, 2004 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 

The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the 

Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
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[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 7, 2003] 

A BILL 

To provide for the control and eradication of the brown 

tree snake on the island of Guam and the prevention 

of the introduction of the brown tree snake to other 

areas of the United States, 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 ‘‘Brown Tree Snake Con5 trol and Eradication Act of 2004’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The brown tree snake, an invasive species, is 

9 believed to have been introduced to the island of 

10 Guam as a passive stowaway in a military cargo 

11 ship that moved materiel after World War II. The 

12 historic range of the brown tree snake is portions of 

13 Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and 

14 Australia. 

15 (2) Upon arrival in Guam, the brown tree snake 

16 encountered an abundant food supply and an absence 

17 of natural predators. 
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1 (3) The brown tree snake’s accidental introduc2 tion to Guam placed the species beyond its historic 

3 range, triggering a cascade of extinctions and an eco4 logical disaster. The brown tree snake has been the 

5 principal cause of the destruction of Guam’s native 

6 bird population and has imposed significant stress on 

7 Guam’s economic and agricultural interests, thereby 

8 harming the integrity and environmental stability of 

9 Guam’s ecosystems and economy. 

10 (4) The presence of the brown tree snake is a doc11 umented economic and human health hazard in 

12 Guam. The brown tree snake occurs in Guam at ex13 tremely high densities. Due to its high abundance the 

14 brown tree snake has been accidentally transported 

15 from Guam to other sites worldwide through infested 

16 civilian and military vessels and cargo. The brown 

17 tree snake is a growing threat to the biodiversity, 

18 economy, and human health within the Pacific re19 gion. The brown tree snake poses a direct, significant, 

20 and growing threat of dispersal to other areas outside 

21 of its historic range, including the Commonwealth of 

22 the Northern Mariana Islands, the State of Hawaii, 

23 and the mainland of the United States. 

24 (5) A number of Federal agencies, including the 

25 Department of the Interior, the Department of Agri-
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1 culture, and the Department of Defense, and the gov2 ernments of Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana 

3 Islands, and the Freely Associated States have oper4 ational, environmental, economic, and human health 

5 interests in and responsibilities for controlling the 

6 brown tree snake. 

7 (6) The present Brown Tree Snake Control Com8 mittee was established in response to section 1209 of 

9 the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and 

10 Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4728), and the multi11 agency Memorandum of Agreement on Brown Tree 

12 Snake Control, originally signed in 1992 and renewed 

13 in 1999, will expire in March 2004. It is a purpose 

14 of this Act to legislatively establish the Brown Tree 

15 Snake Control and Eradication Committee to ensure 

16 the ongoing activities and enhance the effectiveness of 

17 the present Committee. 

18 (7) Annual funding for brown tree snake control 

19 and research has come from relatively few Federal 

20 agencies, which have then distributed those funds 

21 amongst a number of agencies actually conducting the 

22 work. While current funding is commendable on the 

23 part of these agencies, the absence of direct funding 

24 through the agencies actually conducting the work has 

25 impaired the progress of both operational and re-
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1 search efforts by limiting stability in staffing and 

2 year-to-year program implementation. It is a purpose 

3 of this Act to authorize funding for brown tree snake 

4 control, interdiction, research, and eradication though 

5 and by the agencies performing the specific tasks. 

6 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) BROWN TREE SNAKE.—The term ‘‘brown tree 

9 snake’’ means the species of the snake Boiga 

10 irregularis that is an invasive species in Guam and 

11 a threat to spread elsewhere. 

12 (2) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means 

13 the Brown Tree Snake Control and Eradication Com14 mittee established under section 6. 

15 (3) COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION.—The term 

16 ‘‘Compact of Free Association’’ means a Compact of 

17 Free Association entered into between the United 

18 States and the government of a Freely Associated 

19 State. 

20 (4) FREELY ASSOCIATED STATE.—The term 

21 ‘‘Freely Associated State’’ means the Republic of 

22 Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Re23 public of the Marshall Islands. 

24 (5) INTRODUCTION.—The terms ‘‘introduce’’ and 

25 ‘‘introduction’’ refer to the expansion of brown tree 
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1 snakes outside of the range where this species is en2 demic. 

3 (6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary con4 cerned’’ means— 

5 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re6 spect to matters under the jurisdiction of the De7 partment of the Interior; and 

8 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re9 spect to matters under the jurisdiction of the De10 partment of Agriculture. 

11 (7) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 

12 means both the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec13 retary of Agriculture. 

14 (8) TERRITORIAL.—The term ‘‘territorial’’, when 

15 used to refer to a government, means the Government 

16 of Guam, the Government of American Samoa, or the 

17 Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

18 Mariana Islands. The term includes such quasi-gov19 ernmental entities as the University of Guam. 

20 (9) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘‘United States’’, 

21 when used in the geographic sense, means the several 

22 States, the District of Colombia, American Samoa, 

23 Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

24 Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 

25 United States Virgin Islands, the Freely Associated 
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1 States, any other possession of the United States, and 

2 any waters within the jurisdiction of the United 

3 States. 

4 SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING FEDERAL OBLI5 GATIONS RELATED TO BROWN TREE SNAKES 

6 INTRODUCTION, CONTROL, AND ERADI7 CATION. 

8 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

9 that there exists a need for improved and better coordinated 

10 control, interdiction, research, and eradication of the brown 

11 tree snake on the part of the United States and other inter12 ested parties. 

13 (b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—It is the policy of the 

14 United States to fund and support coordinated and con15 certed programs and activities to control, interdict, and 

16 eradicate the brown tree snake in Guam and to prevent the 

17 introduction of brown tree snakes to other areas of the 

18 United States. 

19 (c) PREVENTING INTRODUCTION.—Notwithstanding 

20 any other provision of law, to the extent practicable, no 

21 Federal agency may authorize, fund, or carry out any ac22 tion that would likely cause or promote the introduction 

23 or spread of the brown tree snake in the United States. All 

24 Federal agencies must consider brown tree snake interdic25 tion issues, to the extent possible, when planning any activ-
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1 ity that may cause the accidental introduction of brown tree 

2 snakes to uninfested areas in the United States. 

3 (d) CONTROL AND ERADICATION.—All Federal agen4 cies, to the extent possible, that manage lands where brown 

5 tree snakes occur shall fund the control and eradication of 

6 this species. 

7 (e) ACCESS.—All Federal agencies, to the extent pos8 sible, shall facilitate access to Federal, State, and territorial 

9 employees, or their designees, who conduct control, interdic10 tion, or research regarding brown tree snakes on lands and 

11 facilities under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency 

12 through a memorandum of understanding with the respec13 tive State or Territorial government in accordance with the 

14 guidelines developed under subsection (g). 

15 (f) COOPERATIVE SUPPORT.—All Federal agencies, to 

16 the extent possible, shall provide cooperative support, such 

17 as office space, laboratory space, laboratory animal holding 

18 facilities, kennel facilities, short- and long-term housing for 

19 staff, power, water, and communication lines, to Federal 

20 agencies conducting brown tree snake control, interdiction, 

21 research, and eradication. 

22 (g) GUIDELINES.—The Brown Tree Snake Control and 

23 Eradication Committee shall develop, in consultation with 

24 the Invasive Species Council established pursuant to Execu25 tive Order No. 13112 (42 U.S.C. 4321 note), guidelines for 
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1 Federal agencies to analyze their actions and carry out 

2 their duties under this section. 

3 SEC. 5. BROWN TREE SNAKE CONTROL, INTERDICTION, RE4 SEARCH AND ERADICATION. 

5 (a) FUNDING AUTHORITY.—Subject to the availability 

6 of appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretaries 

7 shall provide funds to support brown tree snake control, 

8 interdiction, research, and eradication efforts carried out 

9 by the Department of the Interior and the Department of 

10 Agriculture, other Federal agencies, States, territorial gov11 ernments, local governments, and private sector entities. 

12 Funds may be provided through grants, contracts, reim13 bursable agreements, or other legal mechanisms available to 

14 the Secretaries for the transfer of Federal funds. 

15 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Brown tree snake con16 trol, interdiction, research, and eradication efforts author17 ized by this section shall include at a minimum the fol18 lowing: 

19 (1) Expansion of science-based eradication and 

20 control programs in Guam to reduce the undesirable 

21 impact of the brown tree snake in Guam and reduce 

22 the risk of the introduction or spread of brown tree 

23 snakes to areas in the United States in which the 

24 brown tree snake is not established. 
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1 (2) Expansion of interagency and intergovern2 mental rapid response teams in Guam, the Common3 wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii 

4 to assist local governments with detecting brown tree 

5 snakes and incipient brown tree snake populations. 

6 (3) Expansion of efforts to protect and restore 

7 native wildlife in Guam or elsewhere in the United 

8 States damaged by the brown tree snake. 

9 (4) Continuation, expansion, and provision of 

10 sustained research funding related to brown tree 

11 snakes, including research conducted at institutions 

12 located in areas affected by the brown tree snake. 

13 (5) Expansion of long-term research into chem14 ical, biological, and other control techniques that 

15 could lead to large-scale reduction of brown tree snake 

16 populations in Guam or other areas where the brown 

17 tree snake might become established. 

18 (6) Expansion of short, medium, and long-term 

19 research, funded by all Federal agencies interested in 

20 or affected by brown tree snakes, into interdiction, de21 tection, and early control of brown tree snakes. 

22 (7) Provision of planning assistance for the con23 struction or renovation of centralized multi-agency fa24 cilities in Guam to support Federal, State, and terri25 torial brown tree snake control, interdiction, research 
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1 and eradication efforts, including office space, labora2 tory space, animal holding facilities, and snake detec3 tor dog kennels. 

4 (8) Provision of technical assistance to the Freely 

5 Associated States on matters related to brown tree 

6 snakes through the mechanisms contained within a 

7 Compact of Free Association dealing with environ8 mental, quarantine, economic, and human health 

9 issues. 

10 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries to carry 

12 out this section (other than subsection (b)(7)) the following 

13 amounts: 

14 (1) For activities conducted through the Animal 

15 and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Serv16 ices, Operations, not more than $2,600,000 for each of 

17 the fiscal years 2005 through 2010. 

18 (2) For activities conducted through the Animal 

19 and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Serv20 ices, National Wildlife Research Center, Methods De21 velopment, not more than $2,200,000 for each of the 

22 fiscal years 2005 through 2010. 

23 (3) For activities conducted through the Office of 

24 Insular Affairs, not more than $4,600,000 for each of 

25 the fiscal years 2005 through 2010. 
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1 (4) For activities conducted through the Fish 

2 and Wildlife Service, not more than $2,600,000 for 

3 each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2010. 

4 (5) For activities conducted through the United 

5 States Geological Survey, Biological Resources, not 

6 more than $1,300,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 

7 through 2010. 

8 (d) CONSTRUCTION PLANNING ASSISTANCE.—There is 

9 authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (b)(7) 

10 the following amounts: 

11 (1) To the Secretary of Agriculture, not more 

12 than $2,300,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 

13 through 2010. 

14 (2) To the Secretary of the Interior, not more 

15 than $2,300,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 

16 through 2010. 

17 SEC. 6. LEGAL MECHANISMS TO CONTROL THE INTRODUC18 TION AND SPREAD OF BROWN TREE SNAKES. 

19 (a) DESIGNATION OF AGRICULTURAL PEST.—The 

20 brown tree snake is hereby designated as an agricultural 

21 pest in the United States under section 28 of the Federal 

22 Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 

23 136w–3). 

24 (b) QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS.— 
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1 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretaries shall es2 tablish a system of pre-departure quarantine protocols 

3 for persons traveling from, and baggage, cargo and 

4 other items being shipped from, Guam and other 

5 United States locations where brown tree snakes may 

6 have become established to prevent the introduction or 

7 spread of the brown tree snake. Under the quarantine 

8 protocols system, Federal quarantine, natural re9 source, conservation, and law enforcement officers and 

10 inspectors may enforce State and territorial laws re11 garding the illegal importation, possession, or intro12 duction of brown tree snakes. 

13 (2) COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION.—The ac14 tivities of the Secretaries under paragraph (1) shall 

15 be carried out in cooperation with the appropriate 

16 State and territorial quarantine, natural resource, 

17 conservation, and law enforcement officers. In the case 

18 of Guam, the Secretaries shall enter into a memo19 randum of agreement with the Government of Guam 

20 to obtain the assistance and cooperation of the Gov21 ernment of Guam in establishing of the system of pre22 departure quarantine protocols under paragraph (1). 

23 (3) IMPLEMENTATION.—The system of pre-depar24 ture quarantine protocols to be established under 
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1 paragraph (1) shall not be implemented until funds 

2 are specifically appropriated for that purpose. 

3 (c) NONMAILABLE MATTER.—Consistent with sub4 section (c), brown tree snakes constitute nonmailable matter 

5 under section 3015 of title 39, United States Code. 

6 SEC. 7. BROWN TREE SNAKE CONTROL AND ERADICATION 

7 COMMITTEE. 

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretaries shall establish 

9 a committee, to be known as the Brown Tree Snake Control 

10 and Eradication Committee, for the purpose of providing 

11 coordination among Federal agencies, and between the 

12 United States Government and State, territorial, and local 

13 governments, with respect to efforts related to brown tree 

14 snake control, interdiction, research, and eradication in 

15 Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is16 lands, Hawaii, the Freely Associated States, and other 

17 areas of the United States in which the brown tree snake 

18 is, or may be, introduced. 

19 (b) VOTING MEMBERS.— 

20 (1) APPOINTMENT.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

21 the voting members of the Committee shall consist of 

22 one representative from each of the following agencies: 

23 (A) The Office of Insular Affairs, appointed 

24 by the Secretary of the Interior. 
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1 (B) The United States Fish and Wildlife 

2 Service, appointed by the Secretary of the Inte3 rior. 

4 (C) The United States Geological Survey, 

5 appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 (D) The Animal and Plant Health Inspec7 tion Service, Wildlife Services, Operations 

8 Branch, appointed by the Secretary of Agri9 culture. 

10 (E) The Animal and Plant Health Inspec11 tion Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife 

12 Research Center, appointed by the Secretary of 

13 Agriculture. 

14 (F) The Department of Commerce, ap15 pointed by the Secretary of Commerce. 

16 (G) The Department of Transportation, ap17 pointed by the Secretary of Transportation. 

18 (H) The Department of Homeland Security, 

19 appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Secu20 rity. 

21 (I) The Armed Forces Pest Management 

22 Board of the Department of Defense, appointed 

23 by the Secretary of Defense. 

24 (J) The Department of the Air Force, ap25 pointed by the Secretary of the Air Force. 
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1 (K) The Department of the Navy, appointed 

2 by the Secretary of the Navy. 

3 (L) The Department of Agriculture of the 

4 Government of Guam, appointed by the Gov5 ernor of Guam. 

6 (M) The Department of Land and Natural 

7 Resources of the State of Hawaii, appointed by 

8 the Governor of Hawaii. 

9 (N) The Department of Agriculture of the 

10 State of Hawaii, appointed by the Governor of 

11 Hawaii. 

12 (O) The Department of Land and Natural 

13 Resources of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

14 Mariana Islands, appointed by the Governor of 

15 the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is16 lands. 

17 (P) Such additional voting members as 

18 may be designated under paragraph (3). 

19 (2) BLOC VOTING REQUIREMENTS.—The mem20 bers of the Committee appointed by the same executive 

21 branch official or State or territorial governor shall 

22 be required to vote as a single entity, so that a total 

23 of nine votes may be cast by the representatives speci24 fied in subparagraphs (A) through (O) of paragraph 
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1 (1) plus the votes cast by any additional voting mem2 bers designated under paragraph (3). 

3 (3) ADDITIONAL VOTING MEMBERS.—With the 

4 concurrence of a majority of the voting members of 

5 the Committee, the chairperson of the Committee may 

6 designate additional voting members to the Committee 

7 from Federal, State, territorial, or local government 

8 agencies, and private sector entities with significant 

9 responsibilities concerning brown tree snake control, 

10 interdiction, research, and eradication. 

11 (c) NONVOTING MEMBERS.— 

12 (1) APPOINTMENT.—Nonvoting membership to 

13 the Committee shall be extended to representatives of 

14 the Freely Associated States as follows: 

15 (A) The Republic of Palau, appointed by 

16 the President of Palau. 

17 (B) The Federated States of Micronesia, ap18 pointed by the President of the Federated States 

19 of Micronesia. 

20 (C) The Republic of the Marshall Islands, 

21 appointed by the President of the Marshall Is22 lands. 

23 (D) Such additional non-voting members as 

24 may be designated under paragraph (2). 
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1 (2) ADDITIONAL NONVOTING MEMBERS.—With 

2 the concurrence of a majority of the voting members 

3 of the Committee, the chairperson of the Committee 

4 may designate additional nonvoting members to the 

5 Committee from Federal, State, territorial, or local 

6 government agencies, and private sector entities with 

7 significant responsibilities concerning brown tree 

8 snake control, interdiction, research, and eradication. 

9 (d) TERM AND MEETINGS.— 

10 (1) TERM.—The term of a member of the Com11 mittee shall be three years. A member may be re12 appointed for additional terms. Vacancies shall be 

13 filed in the same manner as the original appoint14 ment. 

15 (2) COMMITTEE MEETINGS.—The Committee 

16 shall meet at least annually, at the call of the chair17 person. 

18 (e) DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.— 

19 The Committee shall ensure that Federal, State, territorial, 

20 and local agency efforts concerning the brown tree snake 

21 are coordinated, effective, complementary, and cost-effective. 

22 Specific functions of the Committee include the following: 

23 (1) Evaluate Federal, State, and territorial ac24 tivities, programs and policies that are likely to cause 

25 or promote the introduction or spread of the brown 
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1 tree snake in the United States and recommend gov2 ernmental actions to minimize the risk of introduc3 tion or further spread of the brown tree snake. 

4 (2) Recommend activities, programs, and poli5 cies to reduce and eventually eradicate the brown tree 

6 snake in Guam or other areas within the United 

7 States where the snake may be established and to 

8 monitor the implementation of those activities, pro9 grams, and policies. 

10 (3) Within 18 months after the date of the enact11 ment of this Act, revise the Brown Tree Snake Control 

12 Plan that was prepared by the Brown Tree Snake 

13 Control Committee of the Aquatic Nuisance Species 

14 Task Force, as required by section 1209 of the Non15 indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 

16 Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4728), to coordinate Federal, 

17 State, territorial, and local government efforts to con18 trol, interdict, eradicate or conduct research on the 

19 brown tree snake, and subsequently revise and update 

20 this Plan every five years thereafter. 

21 (4) Develop and submit to Congress a biennial 

22 report containing the following: 

23 (A) Description of progress that will lead 

24 toward large-scale population reduction or eradi-
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1 cation of the brown tree snake in Guam or other 

2 sites that are infested by the brown tree snake. 

3 (B) Description of interdiction and other 

4 activities that will reduce the risk of introduc5 tion of brown tree snakes or other nonindigenous 

6 snake species in Guam, the Commonwealth of the 

7 Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, and Amer8 ican Samoa. 

9 (C) Description of applied and basic re10 search that will lead to improved brown tree 

11 snake control, interdiction and eradication ef12 forts conducted by Federal, State, territorial, and 

13 local governments. 

14 (D) Programs and activities for brown tree 

15 snake control, interdiction, research and eradi16 cation that have been funded, implemented, and 

17 planned by Federal, State, territorial, and local 

18 governments. 

19 (E) A list of priorities, ranked in high, me20 dium, and low categories, of Federal, State, ter21 ritorial, and local efforts and programs in the 

22 following areas: 

23 (i) Control. 

24 (ii) Interdiction. 

25 (iii) Research. 
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1 (iv) Eradication. 

2 (F) An assessment of current funding short3 falls and future funding needs to support Fed4 eral, State, territorial, and local government ef5 forts to control, interdict, eradicate, or conduct 

6 research on the brown tree snake. 

7 (G) An assessment of regulatory limitations 

8 that hinder Federal, State, territorial, and local 

9 government efforts to control, interdict, eradicate 

10 or conduct research on the brown tree snake. 

11 (f) COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON AND COORDINATOR.— 

12 (1) ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON.—The voting 

13 members of the Committee shall elect a member of the 

14 Committee to serve as chairperson of the Committee. 

15 The chairperson shall have a term of three years. 

16 (2) APPOINTMENT OF COORDINATOR.—The Secre17 taries shall hire a Federal Interagency Brown Tree 

18 Snake Coordinator to serve on the staff of the chair19 person. 

20 (3) DUTIES.—The chairperson shall ensure that 

21 Federal, State, territorial, and local agency efforts 

22 concerning the brown tree snake are maximally co23 ordinated, effective, complementary, and cost-effective 

24 through the Committee. Specific duties of the chair25 person include the following: 
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1 (A) Coordinate and oversee the meetings of 

2 the Committee. 

3 (B) Coordinate and oversee the Committee’s 

4 work to produce the biennial brown tree snake 

5 control, research, interdiction, and eradication 

6 reporting documents for Congress. 

7 (C) Coordinate and oversee revision of the 

8 Brown Tree Snake Control Plan. 

9 (D) Coordinate and oversee preparation of 

10 other reports and documents dealing with brown 

11 tree snakes. 

12 (E) Under direction of the Secretaries, and 

13 in collaboration with the Committee, evaluate 

14 Federal, State, and territorial activities, pro15 grams, and policies that are likely to— 

16 (i) cause or promote the introduction 

17 or spread of the brown tree snake in the 

18 United States and recommend actions by 

19 Federal, State, territorial, or Freely Associ20 ated State governments to prevent the intro21 duction and spread of brown tree snakes; 

22 and 

23 (ii) reduce and eventually eradicate the 

24 brown tree snake in Guam and in any other 
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1 areas in the United States where the snake 

2 may be established. 

3 (F) Monitor the implementation of those 

4 policies by Federal, State, territorial, and local 

5 agencies and other persons. 

6 (G) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, 

7 technical assistance dealing with brown tree 

8 snake control, interdiction, research, and eradi9 cation to Federal, State, territorial, and Freely 

10 Associated State governments. 

11 (H) Serve as the primary contact for the 

12 Secretaries for inquires or requests by Congress 

13 and the Administration regarding brown tree 

14 snakes. 

15 (I) Serve as the primary representative for 

16 the Secretaries on brown tree snake issues to the 

17 National Invasive Species Council and provide 

18 assistance to the National Invasive Species 

19 Council related to brown tree snakes. 

20 (4) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 

21 (3), the chairperson shall not have control over fund22 ing decisions or spending authority with respect to 

23 funds provided by any of the Committee members for 

24 the purposes of this Act. Federal and other agencies 

25 represented on the Committee shall retain control over 
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1 decisions regarding their respective funds, although 

2 the chairperson may participate in planning and im3 plementation of activities with respect to such funds. 

4 (g) STAFF.—The Secretaries may hire staff to assist 

5 the Committee and the chairperson in carrying out their 

6 respective duties and functions. 

7 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

8 authorized to be appropriated to each of the Secretaries not 

9 more than $450,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 

10 through 2010 to carry out this section. 

11 SEC. 8. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 

12 (a) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS.— 

13 Amounts appropriated under this Act shall remain avail14 able until expended. 

15 (b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the amounts ap16 propriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year, the Secre17 taries may expend not more than five percent to cover the 

18 administrative expenses necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 

Union Calendar No. 433 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3479 

[Report No. 108–687] 

A BILL 

To provide for the control and eradication of the 

for other purposes. snake to other areas of the United States, and prevention of the introduction of the brown tree brown tree snake on the island of Guam and the 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 

The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to 

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