39–010 

Calendar No. 419 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 113–188 

TO AMEND THE NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD 

CONSERVATION ACT TO REAUTHORIZE THE ACT 

JUNE 5, 2014.—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 S. 969] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 969) to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird 

Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act, having considered the 

same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

In partnership with other government wildlife agencies and conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently published a comprehensive report on the state of our nation’s birds. 

Currently, almost one-third of the over 800 species of birds in the 

United States are either federally listed as endangered or threatened, or are species of conservation concern—due to their small distribution, high threats or declining populations. 

Wildlife watching, including bird watching, is an increasingly 

profitable industry in the United States. The 2011 National Survey 

of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, which represents the most recent data compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the economic impact of wildlife recreation, showed 

that $54.9 billion was spent in 2011 alone on wildlife watching. 

Birds are also important indicators for the health and integrity 

of our natural environment. As bird populations decline, they signal failing ecosystems and warn of the deterioration of the quality 

of the air, water and soil on which we depend. 


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Originally authorized in 2000, the Neotropical Migratory Bird 

Conservation Act (Public law 106–247) encourages habitat protection, education, researching, monitoring, and capacity building to 

provide for the long-term protection of neotropical migratory birds. 

The program provides grants for projects in the United States, 

Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean that conserve 

neotropical migratory birds. The matching requirements for the 

grant program leverages funding from a range of non-governmental 

sources. Up to one-quarter of the annual grants can be used for 

projects in the United States. 

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000 authorized an annual $5 million for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 

2005. The Act was reauthorized in 2006 to increase the authorization level from $5 million to $6.5 million for Fiscal Years 2006– 

2010. 

Between 2002 and 2011, the program supported 367 projects, coordinated by partners in 48 U.S. states/territories and 36 countries. 

More than $39 million in Federal grants has leveraged over $152 

million in matching funds and $6.5 million in nonmatching funds. 

Projects involving land conservation have affected about 2 million 

acres of bird habitat. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

S. 969 amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act 

to reauthorize the Act for fiscal years 2014 through 2019. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Reauthorization of Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act 

This section amends Section 10 of the Neotropical Migratory Bird 

Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6109) to authorize appropriations to 

carry out the Act. This section, as amended, authorizes $6.5 million 

for fiscal years 2014 through 2019. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On May 16, 2013, Senator Cardin introduced S. 969. The bill was 

received, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The Committee met on February 6, 

2014, to consider the bill. Senator Cardin introduced an amendment that would alter appropriation levels to $6,500,000 annually. 

The committee ordered S. 969 to be reported favorably with an 

amendment. 

HEARINGS

No committee hearings were held on S. 969. 

ROLLCALL VOTES

On February 6, 2014, the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works ordered S. 969 to be favorably reported by voice vote with 

Senator Crapo, Inhofe, Fischer, and Vitter recorded as ‘‘No.’’ No roll 

call votes were taken. 


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REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

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

Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 969 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 notes that the Congressional 

Budget Office has found that ‘‘[S. 969] contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).’’ 

FEBRUARY 28, 2014. 

Hon. BARBARA BOXER, 

Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has 

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 969, a bill to amend the 

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the 

Act. 

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

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

S. 969—A bill to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act 

Summary: S. 969 would authorize appropriations of $6.5 million 

a year through 2019 for grants and other activities carried out 

under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Assuming 

appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $33 million over the 2014–2019 period. Enacting S. 969 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

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

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 969 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 969 will 

be enacted in 2014 and that the authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year including supplemental amounts for 

2014. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns 

for this program. 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014– 

2019 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level a .................................................... 3 7 7 7 7 7 35 

Estimated Outlays ....................................................... 1 6 7 7 7 7 33 

Note: Components do not sum to totals because of rounding. 


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a The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received appropriations totaling about $4 million in fiscal year 2014 to carry out activities under the 

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The authorization level shown here for 2014 is the difference between that appropriation and the 

amount that would be authorized by S. 969. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 969 contains no 

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on 

state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact on the 

private sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, 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: 

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There øare¿ is authorized to be appropriated to 

carry out this Act øsuch sums as are necessary¿ $6,500,000 for 

each of fiscal years 2014 through 2019. 

(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts made available under subsection (a) for each fiscal year, not less than 75 percent shall be expended for projects carried out at a location outside of the United 

States. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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