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[House Report 107-565]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

107th Congress                                            Rept. 107-565
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                      Part 1

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RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION AND 
                        ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS

                                _______
                                

   July 11, 2002.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 408]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 408) honoring the American 
Zoo and Aquarium Association and its accredited member 
institutions for their continued service to animal welfare, 
conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife 
conservation programs, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H. Con. Res. 408 is to honor the American 
Zoo and Aquarium Association and its accredited member 
institutions for their continued service to animal welfare, 
conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife 
conservation programs.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Founded in 1924, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association 
(AZA), is a non-profit organization dedicated to the 
advancement of zoos and aquariums. AZA's vision is to work 
cooperatively with state agencies, Federal agencies, 
conservation organizations, the private sector and the 
countries of origin to save and protect the wonders of the 
living natural world.
    AZA is a leader in establishing and maintaining high 
curatorial and veterinary standards for zoos and aquariums 
through its accreditation process. The accreditation process 
examines all aspects of an institution's operation, including 
the animal collection, veterinary care, physical facilities, 
finance, support organization, education programs, 
conservation, and research. There are currently over 2500 
animal exhibitors licensed by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture in the U.S. AZA accreditation involves a thorough 
peer review and inspection process by which zoos and aquariums 
are evaluated. To be officially recognized, an institution must 
be: a permanent cultural facility which owns and maintains 
wildlife; be open to the public on a regular basis; and be 
under the direction of a professional staff. The granting of 
accreditation is for five years, and expires at the end of that 
period. Facilities wishing to remain certified must 
successfully complete the process again, before the end of that 
period.
    Over 200 zoos and aquariums throughout North America have 
met AZA's strict accreditation standards. The standards 
established by AZA have been recognized by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the 
``professionally accepted standards'' on which a public display 
facility must base its marine mammal education and conservation 
programs.
    Collectively, AZA member institutions draw over 135 million 
visitors annually and have more than 5 million zoo and aquarium 
members. These institutions teach more than 12 million people 
each year in living classrooms, dedicate an estimated $50 
million annually to education programs, invest an estimated $50 
million annually to scientific research, and support over 1300 
field conservation and research projects in 80 countries.
    The mission of educational exhibits and programming at AZA 
member facilities is to enhance the public's appreciation and 
understanding of species and their ecosystems. Knowledge 
acquired with animals in AZA public display facilities, in 
tandem with field research, has proven to be fundamental in 
contributing to species conservation. Communicating this 
knowledge is one of the most effective means of ensuring the 
health of fish and wildlife populations in the 21st century. 
Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on research at AZA 
member facilities which helps in understanding the anatomy and 
physiology of wild animals and in learning to betterassist 
threatened and endangered species. Additionally, many AZA facilities 
and scientists collaborate with researchers from colleges, 
universities, and other scientific institutions to conduct studies 
important to species' conservation and health. Over the years, this 
body of work has increased the present knowledge about the biology, 
physiology, reproduction, behavior and conservation of many wild 
species. These studies have led to improvements in diagnosing and 
treating diseases; and for testing for toxic substances and their 
effects on wild species.
    AZA facilities have developed conservation research efforts 
for various species referred to as Species Survival Plans 
(SSP). An SSP is a cooperative long-term breeding and 
conservation plan that provides many species with an insurance 
policy against extinction. Currently the AZA has 97 SSPs for 
140 species of animals. A large majority of those SSPs cover 
species which are listed under the Endangered Species Act or 
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of 
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Some of the species covered by an 
SSP include: all the great apes; African and Asian elephants; 
Siberian and Sumatran tigers; and black, white, Sumatran and 
greater one-horned rhinos. SSPs ensure that these animals are 
carefully managed to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining 
population that is genetically diverse and demographically 
stable. In addition, SSPs are cooperative conservation programs 
that support both field and zoo and aquarium-based efforts in 
research, public education, fund-raising, species 
reintroduction, and field projects to protect species and their 
habitats.
    AZA institutions also work collectively with the Congress, 
Federal agencies, and state agencies to shape wildlife 
conservation policy by providing input on such issues as 
biological diversity, wildlife trade, endangered species, 
marine mammal protection and international species 
conservation.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H. Con. Res. 408 was introduced on May 22, 2002 by 
Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD), and was referred to the 
Committee on Resources and the Committee on Agriculture. On 
June 3, 2002, the bill was referred within the Resources 
Committee to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans. On June 12, 2002, the Subcommittee held a 
hearing on the bill. On June 20, 2002, the Subcommittee met to 
mark up the bill, and the bill was forwarded without amendment 
to the Full Committee by unanimous consent. On June 26, 2002, 
the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill and, 
without amendment, the bill was ordered favorably reported to 
the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

            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. The bill expresses a sense 
of Congress regarding the American Zoo and Aquarium Association 
and therefore, no costs are incurred.
    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. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. H. Con. Res. 
408 is a sense of Congress resolution and therefore, no costs 
are incurred. No cost estimate was requested from the 
Congressional Budget Office.

                    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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