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[House Report 107-451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

107th Congress                                            Rept. 107-451
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                      Part 1

======================================================================

 
               HARMFUL INVASIVE WEED CONTROL ACT OF 2002

                                _______
                                

                  May 9, 2002.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1462]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1462) to require the Secretary of the Interior to 
establish a program to provide assistance through States to 
eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate 
harmful, nonnative weeds on public and private land, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment 
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Harmful Invasive Weed Control Act of 
2002''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

  (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
          (1) There exists no dedicated, coordinated Federal effort to 
        address, control, or eradicate harmful, invasive terrestrial 
        weeds.
          (2) Public and private land in the United States faces 
        unprecedented and severe stress from harmful, invasive weeds.
          (3) The economic and resource value of the land is being 
        destroyed as harmful invasive weeds overtake native vegetation, 
        making the land unusable for forage and for diverse plant and 
        animal communities.
          (4) Damage caused by harmful invasive weeds has been 
        estimated to run in the hundreds of millions of dollars 
        annually.
          (5) Successfully fighting this scourge will require 
        coordinated action by all affected stakeholders, which may 
        include Federal, State, and local governments, private 
        landowners, and nongovernmental organizations.
          (6) The fight must begin at the local level, since it is at 
        the local level that persons feel the loss caused by harmful 
        invasive weeds and will therefore have the greatest motivation 
        to take effective action.
          (7) To date, effective action has been hampered by inadequate 
        funding at all levels of government and by inadequate 
        coordination.
  (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
          (1) To direct the Secretary to coordinate with the National 
        Invasive Species Council to develop a dedicated program to 
        combat harmful, invasive terrestrial weeds.
          (2) To provide assistance to eligible weed management 
        entities in carrying out projects to control or eradicate 
        harmful, invasive weeds on public and private land.
          (3) To coordinate projects with existing weed management 
        entities, areas, districts, and ongoing partnerships.
          (4) In locations in which no weed management entity, area, or 
        district exists, to stimulate the formation of additional local 
        or regional cooperative weed management entities, such as 
        entities for weed management areas or districts, that organize 
        locally affected stakeholders to control or eradicate weeds.
          (5) To leverage additional funds from a variety of public and 
        private sources to control or eradicate weeds through local 
        stakeholders.
          (6) To promote healthy, diverse, and desirable plant 
        communities by abating through a variety of measures the threat 
        posed by harmful, invasive weeds.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National 
        Invasive Species Council established by Executive Order 13112 
        of February 3, 1999.
          (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
        and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
          (3) Local stakeholder.--
                  (A) In general.--The term ``local stakeholder'' means 
                an interested party that participates in the 
                establishment of a weed management entity in a State.
                  (B) Inclusions.--The term ``local stakeholder'' 
                includes a Federal, State, local, tribal, or private 
                landowner.
          (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior.
          (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.
          (6) Weed.--The term ``weed'' means any parasitic or other 
        kind of plant at any living stage (including seeds and 
        reproductive parts of such a plant), that--
                  (A) is of foreign origin;
                  (B) is new or not widely prevalent in a region, 
                State, or the United States; and
                  (C) can directly or indirectly impact other useful 
                plants, livestock, wildlife resources, or the public 
                health.
          (7) Weed management entity.--The term ``weed management 
        entity'' means an entity that--
                  (A) is recognized by the State in which it is 
                established;
                  (B) is established by and includes local 
                stakeholders;
                  (C) is established for the purpose of controlling or 
                eradicating harmful, invasive weeds on public or 
                private land and increasing public knowledge and 
                education concerning the need to control or eradicate 
                harmful, invasive weeds on public or private land; and
                  (D) is multijurisdictional and multidisciplinary in 
                nature.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

  The Secretary, in coordination with the Council, shall establish in 
the Office of the Secretary a program to provide financial assistance 
through States to eligible weed management entities to control or 
eradicate harmful, invasive weeds on public and private land.

SEC. 5. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES.

  (a) Allocation.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in consultation 
        with the Council, the Secretary shall allocate funds made 
        available for each fiscal year under section 12 to States and 
        Indian tribes to provide funding in accordance with sections 6 
        and 7 to weed management entities to carry out projects 
        approved by States and Indian tribes to control or eradicate 
        harmful, invasive weeds on public and private land.
          (2) Federal allocation to indian tribes.--Of the funds made 
        available for allocation under section 12 for each fiscal year, 
        5 percent shall be--
                  (A) reserved for allocation to Indian tribes; and
                  (B) administered by the Council.
  (b) Amount.--The Secretary shall determine the amount of Federal 
funds allocated to a State or Indian tribe for a fiscal year under this 
section to be used to address a harmful, invasive terrestrial weed 
problem in the State or portion of the State, or on land or in water 
under the jurisdiction of the Indian tribe, on the basis of--
          (1) the severity or potential severity of the harmful, 
        invasive weed problem;
          (2) the extent to which the Federal funds will be used to 
        leverage non-Federal funds to address the harmful, invasive 
        weed problem;
          (3) the extent to which the State or Indian tribe has made 
        progress in addressing harmful, invasive weed problems; and
          (4) other factors recommended by the Council and approved by 
        the Secretary.

SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS ALLOCATED TO STATES.

  (a) In General.--A State that receives an allocation of funds under 
section 5 for a fiscal year shall use--
          (1) not more than 25 percent of the allocation to make an 
        incentive payment to each weed management entity established in 
        the State, in accordance with subsection (b); and
          (2) not less than 75 percent of the allocation to make 
        financial awards to weed management entities established in the 
        State, in accordance with subsection (c).
  (b) Incentive Payments.--
          (1) Use by weed management entities.--
                  (A) In general.--Incentive payments under subsection 
                (a)(1) shall be used by weed management entities--
                          (i) to encourage the formation of new weed 
                        management entities; or
                          (ii) to carry out 1 or more projects 
                        described in subsection (d) to improve the 
                        effectiveness of existing weed management 
                        entities or programs.
                  (B) Duration of payments.--A weed management entity 
                is eligible to receive an incentive payment under 
                subparagraph (A) for not more than 3 years in the 
                aggregate.
                  (C) Federal share.--
                          (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause 
                        (ii), for purposes of subparagraph (A), the 
                        Federal share of the cost of carrying out a 
                        project described in subsection (d) shall not 
                        exceed 50 percent.
                          (ii) Adjustment.--After consultation with the 
                        Secretary, the Governor of a State that makes 
                        either an incentive payment or financial award 
                        under subsection (a) may increase, to a maximum 
                        of 100 percent, such Federal share of a project 
                        that the Governor determines is necessary to 
                        meet the needs of an underserved area.
                          (iii) Form of matching funds.--Under 
                        subparagraph (A), the non-Federal share of the 
                        cost of carrying out a project described in 
                        subsection (d) may be provided--
                                  (I) in cash or in kind; or
                                  (II) in the form of Federal funds 
                                made available under a Federal law 
                                other than this Act.
          (2) Eligibility of weed management entities.--To be eligible 
        to obtain an incentive payment under paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
        year, a weed management entity in a State shall--
                  (A)(i) for the first fiscal year for which the entity 
                receives an incentive payment under this subsection, 
                provide to the State in which it is established a 
                description of--
                          (I) the purposes for which the entity was 
                        established; and
                          (II) any projects to be carried out to 
                        accomplish those purposes; and
                  (ii) for any subsequent fiscal year for which the 
                entity receives an incentive payment, provide to the 
                State--
                          (I) a description of the activities carried 
                        out by the entity in the previous fiscal year--
                                  (aa) to control or eradicate harmful, 
                                invasive weeds on public or private 
                                land; or
                                  (bb) to increase public knowledge and 
                                education concerning the need to 
                                control or eradicate harmful, invasive 
                                weeds on public or private land; and
                          (II) the results of each such activity; and
                  (B) meet such additional eligibility requirements, 
                and conform to such process for determining 
                eligibility, as the State may establish.
  (c) Financial Awards.--
          (1) Use by weed management entities.--
                  (A) In general.--Financial awards under subsection 
                (a)(2) shall be used by weed management entities to pay 
                the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects 
                described in subsection (d) that are selected by the 
                State in accordance with subsection (d).
                  (B) Federal share.--
                          (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause 
                        (ii), for purposes of subparagraph (A), the 
                        Federal share of the cost of carrying out a 
                        project described in subsection (d) shall not 
                        exceed 50 percent.
                          (ii) Adjustment.--After consultation with the 
                        Secretary, the Governor of a State that makes 
                        either an incentive payment or financial award 
                        under subsection (a) may increase, to a maximum 
                        of 100 percent, such Federal share of a project 
                        that the Governor determines is necessary to 
                        meet the needs of an underserved area.
                          (iii) Form of matching funds.--Under 
                        subparagraph (A), the non-Federal share of the 
                        cost of carrying out a project described in 
                        subsection (d) may be provided--
                                  (I) in cash or in kind; or
                                  (II) in the form of Federal funds 
                                made available under a Federal law 
                                other than this Act.
          (2) Eligibility of weed management entities.--To be eligible 
        to obtain a financial award under paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
        year, a weed management entity in a State shall--
                  (A) meet the requirements for eligibility for an 
                incentive payment under subsection (b)(2); and
                  (B) submit to the State a description of the project 
                for which the financial award is sought.
  (d) Projects.--
          (1) In general.--A weed management entity may use a financial 
        award received under this section to carry out a project to 
        control or eradicate harmful, invasive weeds on public or 
        private land, including--
                  (A) education, inventories and mapping, management, 
                monitoring, and similar activities, including the 
                payment of the cost of personnel and equipment that 
                promote such control or eradication; and
                  (B) other activities to promote such control or 
                eradication, if the results of the activities are 
                disseminated to the public.
          (2) Selection of projects.--A State shall select projects for 
        funding under this section on a competitive basis, taking into 
        consideration--
                  (A) the seriousness of the harmful, invasive weed 
                problem or potential problem addressed by the project;
                  (B) the likelihood that the project will prevent or 
                resolve the problem, or increase knowledge about 
                resolving similar problems in the future;
                  (C) the extent to which the payment will leverage 
                non-Federal funds to address the harmful, invasive weed 
                problem addressed by the project;
                  (D) the extent to which the recipient weed management 
                entity has made progress in addressing harmful, 
                invasive weed problems;
                  (E) the extent to which the project will provide a 
                comprehensive approach to the control or eradication of 
                harmful, invasive weeds;
                  (F) the extent to which the project will reduce the 
                total population of a harmful, invasive weed within the 
                State;
                  (G) the extent to which the project uses the 
                principles of integrated vegetation management and 
                sound science; and
                  (H) other factors that the State determines to be 
                relevant.
          (3) Scope of projects.--
                  (A) In general.--A weed management entity shall 
                determine the geographic scope of the harmful, invasive 
                weed problem to be addressed through a project using an 
                incentive payment or financial award received under 
                this section.
                  (B) Multiple states.--A weed management entity may 
                use an incentive payment or financial award under this 
                section to carry out a project to address the harmful, 
                invasive weed problem of more than 1 State only if the 
                entity meets the requirements of all applicable State 
                laws.
          (4) Land.--A weed management entity may use an incentive 
        payment or financial award received under this section to carry 
        out a project to control or eradicate weeds on any public land, 
        or on any private land with the approval of the owner or 
        operator of the land.
          (5) Prohibition on use of funds.--An incentive payment or 
        financial award under this Act may not be used to carry out a 
        project--
                  (A) to control or eradicate animal pests or submerged 
                or floating harmful, invasive aquatic weeds; or
                  (B) to protect an agricultural commodity (as defined 
                in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 
                U.S.C. 5602)) other than--
                          (i) livestock (as defined in section 602 of 
                        the Agricultural Trade Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 
                        1471); or
                          (ii) an animal- or insect-based product.
  (e) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 5 percent of the funds made 
available under section 12 for a fiscal year may be used by the Federal 
Government to pay the administrative costs of the program established 
by this Act, including the costs of complying with Federal 
environmental laws.
  (f) Report.--As a condition of the receipt of an incentive payment or 
financial award under this Act, a weed management entity in a State 
that received such a payment or award shall submit to the Council a 
report that describes the purposes and results of each project for 
which the payment or award was used, by not later than 6 months after 
completion of the projects.

SEC. 7. USE OF FUNDS ALLOCATED TO INDIAN TRIBES.

  (a) In General.--The requirements for the use of funds allocated to 
States described in section 6 shall apply to the use of funds allocated 
to Indian tribes under section 5(a)(2).
  (b) Insufficient or Excess Funds.--
          (1) Insufficient funds.--If, in any fiscal year, the funds 
        allocated to Indian tribes under section 5(a)(2) are not 
        sufficient to provide incentive payments or financial awards to 
        each weed management entity of an Indian tribe, an Indian tribe 
        may seek additional funds by participating as a local 
        stakeholder in the establishment of a weed management entity 
        that receives assistance under section 6.
          (2) Excess funds.--Any excess funds remaining after the 
        provision of incentive payments or financial awards to weed 
        management entities of Indian tribes shall be reserved by the 
        Council for use in carrying out this Act in the following 
        fiscal year.
  (c) Report.--As a condition of the receipt of an incentive payment or 
financial award under this Act, not later than October 30 of each year, 
a weed management entity of an Indian tribe that received such a 
payment or award in the preceding fiscal year shall submit to the 
Council a report that describes, for that preceding fiscal year, the 
purposes for which the payment or award was used.

SEC. 8. FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

  The Secretary of Agriculture and the Council shall make 
recommendations to the Secretary regarding--
          (1) the annual allocation of funds to States and Indian 
        tribes under section 5; and
          (2) other issues related to funding under this Act.

SEC. 9. LAND-RELATED CONDITIONS.

  (a) Consent of Landowner.--Any activity involving real property may 
be carried out under this Act only with the consent of the landowner.
  (b) No Effect on PILT Payments.--The provision of funds to any entity 
under this Act shall have no effect on the amount of any payment 
received by a county from the Federal Government under chapter 69 of 
title 31, United States Code (commonly known as ``payments in lieu of 
taxes'').

SEC. 10. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.

  Any activity carried out under this Act shall comply with all other 
Federal laws (including regulations), including the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

SEC. 11. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS.

  Assistance authorized under this Act is intended to supplement, and 
not replace, assistance available to weed management entities, areas, 
and districts for control or eradication of harmful, invasive weeds on 
public lands and private lands, including funding available under the 
Pulling Together Initiative of the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  To carry out this Act there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1462 is to require the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a program to provide assistance through 
States to eligible weed management entities to control or 
eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds on public and private land.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    Invasive nonnative species are considered one of the 
greatest threats to our public and private lands. Nonnative 
species are also referred to as ``non-indigenous,'' ``exotic,'' 
or ``alien.'' Introduction of exotic plant species on the 
American continent started almost immediately with the first 
European colonization. Many of these nonnative introductions 
were purposeful, and have proven to be beneficial, such as most 
row crops, domesticated animals, some game species, and 
ornamental plants.
    Others, however, have turned out to be extremely harmful, 
especially several plant species, such as Buffalobur, Bighead 
Knapweed, Velvetleaf, Leafy Spurge, Scotch Thistle, Yellow Star 
Thistle, Kudzu, and Purple Loosestrife. Many of these plants 
were controlled in their native lands by natural forces such as 
insects, animals, or viruses. However, in America, without such 
natural factors controlling their growth, these noxious plants 
have and continue to expand their range unchecked. The largest 
ecological threat posed by invasive plant species is the 
disruption of entire ecosystems where invasive species replace 
native plants. Plant invaders completely alter the fire regime, 
nutrient cycle, and hydrology in a native ecosystem, and 
greatly diminish the abundance or survival of native species. 
For example, Cheat Grass in the western United States has 
increased the frequency and intensity of fires so that native 
species cannot recover. Another example would be the effects of 
Leafy Spurge on rangelands. An invasive plant from Eurasia, it 
crowds out desirable and nutritious forage, reduces land 
values, and degrades wildlife habitat. Annual damages from this 
weed are estimated to exceed $100 million in the Great Plains 
States. In short, these harmful, invasive weeds out perform the 
natural vegetation indigenous to an area and leave in their 
wake a vast monoculture of weeds. It is thought that up to 46% 
of the plants and animals on the federal endangered species 
list have been negatively impacted by invasive species.
    Today, the United States faces unprecedented harm from 
invasive weeds--unprecedented because the spread of weeds in 
many cases is exponential. In one year, certain species of 
invasive weeds can go from three or four plants one year to 100 
or so the next year, a couple thousand the next year, and so 
on. It has been estimated that in the United States--on public 
land alone--about 5,000 acres of native habitat is being lost 
per day to noxious weeds. For example, today approximately 2.6 
million acres of national parklands are infested by invasive 
plants. Consequently, it is much easier to eradicate three or 
four plants today than eradicate millions of plants five years 
in the future.
    According to the General Accounting Office, in Fiscal Year 
2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture spent about $925 
million on a wide range of invasive species-related 
activities--almost 90 percent of the total federal funding 
directed toward these activities. The Departments of Interior 
and Defense accounted for another $37 million and $10 million, 
respectively. Combined, this amount is less than one half of 
one percent of the estimated total annual economic losses of 
$137 billion caused by all invasive exotic species.
    H.R. 1462 attempts to address a fundamental obstacle to 
effective weed management: a lack of adequate and available 
funding at the local level and inadequate coordination and 
reliance on the federal government. H.R. 1462 will provide weed 
management funds to States for a variety of land managers who 
are working together on cooperative weed management projects. 
Under the bill, matching grants would be available to: (1) 
assist eligible weed management entities in carrying out 
projects to control or eradicate harmful, invasive weeds on 
public or private land; (2) coordinate the projects with 
existing weed management areas and districts; (3) stimulate the 
formation of additional local or regional cooperative weed 
management entities in locations in which none exist; (4) 
leverage additional funds from public and private sources to 
control or eradicate weeds through local stakeholders; and (5) 
promote healthy, diverse and desirable plant communities by 
abating the threat posed by harmful, nonnative weeds.
    Eligible weed management entities are defined as entities 
recognized by a State and are established by local stakeholders 
to control or eradicate harmful nonnative weeds on public or 
private land. These entities are also charged with increasing 
public knowledge and education concerning the need to control 
or eradicate harmful nonnative weeds on public or private land. 
Funds allocated to States may be used for either incentive 
payments--to encourage the formation of new management entities 
or improve the effectiveness of weed management entities, or 
financial payments--funds to be used by weed management 
entities to pay the federal share of the cost of carrying out 
projects to control or eradicate of harmful, nonnative weeds on 
public or private land. Projects could include education, 
inventories and mapping, management, monitoring, and similar 
activities.
    States shall select projects for funding on a competitive 
basis, taking into consideration, among other factors, the 
seriousness of the weed problem, the likelihood that the 
project will prevent or resolve the problem, the extent to 
which the payment will leverage non-federal funds to address 
the weed problem, and the extent the project will provide a 
comprehensive approach to the control or eradication of the 
weeds. Projects on private land will require approval of the 
owner of the land. Funds are also restricted from any project 
to control or eradicate submerged or floating aquatic noxious 
weeds or animal pests.
    States may use no more than 25 percent of their allocation 
under H.R. 1462 to make an incentive payment to a weed 
management entity for weed eradication programs, and not less 
than 75 percent of the allocation to make financial awards to 
weed management entities.
    The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to 
consult with the National Invasive Species Council regarding 
the annual allocation of funds to States and Indian tribes and 
other issues related to funding under the bill. Of the funds 
appropriated in any given year, five percent will be reserved 
for Indian tribes.
    After receiving funds, each weed management entity is 
required to provide to the Councila description of its 
activities to control or eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds and the 
results of each activity, and how the entity has increased the public 
knowledge and education concerning the need to control or eradicate 
harmful, nonnative weeds on public or private land.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 1462 was introduced on April 4, 2001, by Congressman 
Joel Hefley (R-CO). The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Resources and additionally to the Committee on Agriculture. 
Within the Committee on Resources, the bill was referred to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands, 
and the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and 
Oceans. On June 19, 2001, the Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Recreation and Public Lands held a hearing on the bill. On 
March 7, 2002, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, 
and Public Lands met to mark up the bill. Congressman Hefley 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that made 
the following changes to the original text: (1) eliminated the 
advisory council and directed the Secretary of the Interior to 
consult with the National Invasive Species Council in 
developing the weed program and in evaluating State grant 
requests; (2) redefined the term ``weed''; (3) required the 
Governor of a State to consult with the Secretary prior to 
allocating 100 percent of the federal share for a project; (4) 
clarified that a weed management entity involved with more than 
one State may use the funds authorized by the bill as long as 
it meets the requirements of each State; and (5) clarified that 
funds authorized by the bill are not intended to replace 
assistance under existing programs. It was adopted by voice 
vote. The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported 
to the Full Committee by voice vote. On April 24, 2002, the 
Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The 
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans was 
discharged from further consideration of the bill. No further 
amendments were offered and the bill as amended was then 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
voice vote.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 contains the short title of the bill, the 
``Harmful Invasive Weed Control Act of 2002.''

Section 2. Findings and purpose

    Section 2 contains findings and purposes of the bill, which 
is to provide assistance to eligible weed management entities 
in carrying out projects to control or eradicate harmful, 
invasive weeds on public and private land.

Section 3. Definitions

    Section 3 includes definitions for terms associated with 
the bill.

Section 4. Establishment of program

    Section 4 establishes the program within the office of the 
Secretary of the Interior in coordination with the National 
Invasive Species Council, which will provide financial 
assistance through States to eligible weed management entities.

Section 5. Allocation of funds to States and Indian Tribes

    Section 5 provides for the allocation of funds for the 
incentive payment and the financial award to States and Indian 
Tribes for weed management entities for purposes of controlling 
or eradicating invasive weeds.

Section 6. Use of funds allocated to States

    Section 6 outlines the permitted uses for the allocations 
for the incentive payment and financial award, eligibility 
requirements for weed management entities, selection criteria 
for awards grants, and reporting requirements.

Section 7. Use of funds allocated to Indian Tribes

    Section 7 contains requirements for the use of allocated 
funds to Indian Tribes.

Section 8. Funding recommendations

    Section 8 describes funding recommendations for the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the National Invasive Species 
Council.

Section 9. Land-related conditions

    Section 9 contains land-related conditions.

Section 10. Applicability of other laws

    Section 10 describes the applicability of other laws to the 
bill.

Section 11. Relationship to other programs

    Section 11 describes the relationship of the Act to 
existing programs.

Section 12. Authorization of appropriations

    Section 12 contains the authorization of appropriations--
$100 million for each of Fiscal Years 2002 through 2006.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations 
are reflected in the body of this report.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

                    Compliance With House Rule XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill is to require the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a program to provide assistance through 
States to eligible weed management entities to control or 
eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds on public or private land.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                       Washington, DC, May 7, 2002.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, 
        DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1462, the Harmful 
Invasive Weed Control Act of 2002.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan 
Carroll.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1462--Harmful Invasive Weed Control Act of 2002

    Summary: H.R. 1462 would direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a program to provide grants to states and 
Indian tribes to support projects to control or eradicate 
harmful, invasive weeds on public and private lands. CBO 
estimates that the proposed program would cost $10 million in 
2003 and $245 million over the 2003-2007 period, assuming 
appropriation of the authorized amounts. The bill would not 
affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply.
    H.R. 1462 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments. The assistance authorized by this bill would 
benefit state, local, and tribal governments. Any costs 
incurred by these governments to comply with the conditions of 
this assistance would be voluntary.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1462 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   2002       2003       2004       2005       2006       2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Authorization level...........................        100        100        100        100        100          0
Estimated outlays.............................          0         10         30         45         75         85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: H.R. 1462 would authorize the 
appropriation of $100 million a year over the 2002-2006 period 
for the Secretary of the Interior to make grants to states and 
Indian tribes to fund projects to control or eradicate harmful, 
invasive weeds on public and private lands. Based on 
information from the Department of the Interior, CBO estimates 
that implementing this bill would cost $10 million in 2003 and 
$245 million over the 2003-2007 period, with additional 
spending occurring in later years. For this estimate, we assume 
H.R. 1462 will be enacted by July 1, 2002, and that authorized 
amounts would be provided as specified by the bill. Estimates 
of outlays are based on spending patterns for similar 
activities.
    Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
    Intergovernmental and private-section impact: H.R. 1462 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments. The assistance authorized by this bill 
would benefit state, local, and tribal governments. Any costs 
incurred by these governments to comply with the conditions of 
this assistance would be voluntary.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Megan Carroll; Impact 
on State, local, or tribal governments: Marjorie Miller; Impact 
on the private sector: Lauren Marks.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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