39–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPT. 113–336 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session Part 1 

SPORTSMEN’S HERITAGE AND RECREATIONAL 

ENHANCEMENT ACT 

JANUARY 29, 2014.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 2799] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2799) to establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage 

Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries 

of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, 

hunting, recreational shooting, and for other purposes, 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 ‘‘Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act’’ or the ‘‘SHARE Act’’. 

SEC. 2. WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 10. WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the 

‘Advisory Committee’) to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on 

wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. 


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‘‘(b) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Advisory Committee shall advise 

the Secretaries with regard to— 

‘‘(1) implementation of Executive Order No. 13443: Facilitation of Hunting 

Heritage and Wildlife Conservation, which directs Federal agencies ‘to facilitate 

the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management 

of game species and their habitat’; 

‘‘(2) policies or programs to conserve and restore wetlands, agricultural lands, 

grasslands, forest, and rangeland habitats; 

‘‘(3) policies or programs to promote opportunities and access to hunting and 

shooting sports on Federal lands; 

‘‘(4) policies or programs to recruit and retain new hunters and shooters; 

‘‘(5) policies or programs that increase public awareness of the importance of 

wildlife conservation and the social and economic benefits of recreational hunting and shooting; and 

‘‘(6) policies or programs that encourage coordination among the public, the 

hunting and shooting sports community, wildlife conservation groups, and 

States, tribes, and the Federal Government. 

‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— ‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall consist of no more than 

16 discretionary members and 7 ex officio members. 

‘‘(B) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The ex officio members are— 

‘‘(i) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or a 

designated representative of the Director; 

‘‘(ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management or a designated 

representative of the Director; 

‘‘(iii) the Director of the National Park Service or a designated representative of the Director; 

‘‘(iv) the Chief of the Forest Service or a designated representative 

of the Chief; 

‘‘(v) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or a 

designated representative of the Chief; 

‘‘(vi) the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency or a designated 

representative of the Administrator; and 

‘‘(vii) the Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife 

Agencies. 

‘‘(C) DISCRETIONARY MEMBERS.—The discretionary members shall be appointed jointly by the Secretaries from at least one of each of the following: 

‘‘(i) State fish and wildlife agencies. 

‘‘(ii) Game bird hunting organizations. 

‘‘(iii) Wildlife conservation organizations. 

‘‘(iv) Big game hunting organizations. 

‘‘(v) The tourism, outfitter, or guiding industry. 

‘‘(vi) The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry. 

‘‘(vii) The hunting or shooting equipment retail industry. 

‘‘(viii) Tribal resource management organizations. 

‘‘(ix) The agriculture industry. 

‘‘(x) The ranching industry. 

‘‘(xi) Waterfowl hunting organizations. 

‘‘(D) ELIGIBILITY.—Prior to the appointment of the discretionary members, the Secretaries shall determine that all individuals nominated for appointment to the Advisory Committee, and the organization each individual 

represents, actively support and promote sustainable-use hunting, wildlife 

conservation, and recreational shooting. 

‘‘(2) TERMS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), members of 

the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. Members 

shall not be appointed for more than 3 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. 

‘‘(B) TERMS OF INITIAL APPOINTEES.—As designated by the Secretary at 

the time of appointment, of the members first appointed— 

‘‘(i) 6 members shall be appointed for a term of 4 years; 

‘‘(ii) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; and 

‘‘(iii) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years. 

‘‘(3) PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC ADVISORY STATUS.—No individual may be appointed as a discretionary member of the Advisory Committee while serving as 

an officer or employee of the Federal Government. 

‘‘(4) VACANCY AND REMOVAL.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee shall be filled 

in the manner in which the original appointment was made. 


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‘‘(B) REMOVAL.—Advisory Committee members shall serve at the discretion of the Secretaries and may be removed at any time for good cause. 

‘‘(5) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—Each appointed member may continue to 

serve after the expiration of the term of office to which such member was appointed until a successor has been appointed. 

‘‘(6) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a 3-year term by the Secretaries, jointly, from among the members 

of the Advisory Committee. An individual may not be appointed as Chairperson 

for more than 2 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. 

‘‘(7) PAY AND EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve 

without pay for such service, but each member of the Advisory Committee may 

be reimbursed for travel and lodging incurred through attending meetings of 

the Advisory Committee approved subgroup meetings in the same amounts and 

under the same conditions as Federal employees (in accordance with section 

5703 of title 5, United States Code). 

‘‘(8) MEETINGS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the 

Secretaries, the chairperson, or a majority of the members, but not less frequently than twice annually. 

‘‘(B) OPEN MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be 

open to the public. 

‘‘(C) PRIOR NOTICE OF MEETINGS.—Timely notice of each meeting of the 

Advisory Committee shall be published in the Federal Register and be submitted to trade publications and publications of general circulation. 

‘‘(D) SUBGROUPS.—The Advisory Committee may establish such 

workgroups or subgroups as it deems necessary for the purpose of compiling 

information or conducting research. However, such workgroups may not 

conduct business without the direction of the Advisory Committee and must 

report in full to the Advisory Committee. 

‘‘(9) QUORUM.—Nine members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a 

quorum. 

‘‘(d) EXPENSES.—The expenses of the Advisory Committee that the Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate shall be paid by the Secretaries. 

‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TECHNICAL SERVICES, AND ADVICE.—A designated 

Federal Officer shall be jointly appointed by the Secretaries to provide to the Advisory Committee the administrative support, technical services, and advice that the 

Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate. 

‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

‘‘(1) REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30 of each year, the Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the Secretaries, the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and 

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. If circumstances arise in which 

the Advisory Committee cannot meet the September 30 deadline in any year, 

the Secretaries shall advise the Chairpersons of each such Committee of the 

reasons for such delay and the date on which the submission of the report is 

anticipated. 

‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall describe— 

‘‘(A) the activities of the Advisory Committee during the preceding year; 

‘‘(B) the reports and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee 

to the Secretaries during the preceding year; and 

‘‘(C) an accounting of actions taken by the Secretaries as a result of the 

recommendations. 

‘‘(g) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Advisory Committee shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

‘‘(h) ABOLISHMENT OF THE EXISTING WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Effective on the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council formed in furtherance 

of section 441 of the Revised Statutes (43 U.S.C. 1457), the Fish and Wildlife Act 

of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a), and other Acts applicable to specific bureaus of the Department of the Interior is hereby abolished.’’. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 2799 is to establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise 

the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. 


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BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

On August 17, 2007, President George W. Bush signed Executive 

Order 13443, Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation. The order directs federal agencies to ‘‘facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.’’ 

On February 4, 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and 

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the creation of a 

new Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council. This 

Council was administratively established under the authorities of 

the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976, the National Forest Management Act of 

1976, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 

1997 and Executive Order 13443. It is comprised of 18 discretionary members and six ex officio members (the Association of 

Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service). 

The discretionary members are appointed by the Secretaries of the 

Interior and Agriculture to serve three-year terms. The Council 

meets twice a year, the members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem, the annual operating costs are 

estimated at $300,000 per year, their meetings are open to the public under the terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and 

their duties are strictly advisory. 

No council member may have a direct financial interest in an 

agreement, claim, contract, lease, or engage in litigation with the 

Departments of the Interior or Agriculture. In addition, individuals 

currently registered as federal lobbyists may not be appointed to 

serve on the Council. The Council held its inaugural meeting on 

October 4–5, 2010, in Washington, DC. At the recent meeting on 

September 17–18, 2013, the agenda included discussions about 

wildlife health and disease, the Farm Bill, the Sportsmen’s Act, 

and wild horses and burros on public lands. 

H.R. 2799 would statutorily establish the Wildlife and Hunting 

Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee whose duties 

would include implementing Executive Order 13443 and providing 

advice to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on policies 

to conserve agricultural lands, forest lands, grasslands, rangelands 

and wetlands; to promote opportunities to hunt on federal lands; to 

recruit new hunters and shooters; to increase public awareness of 

the importance of wildlife conservation; and encourage coordination 

among the hunting and shooting sports community with the states, 

tribes and federal government. 

The key differences between this measure and the existing Conservation Council are: a maximum of 16 rather than 18 discretionary members, and seven rather than six ex officio members by 

adding the Director of the National Park Service. The discretionary 

members shall include at least one representative from a state fish 

and wildlife agency, game bird hunting organization, wildlife conservation organization, big game hunting organization, tourism, 

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try, tribal resources management organization, agriculture industry and ranching industry. 

In addition, members would be appointed by the Secretaries for 

a term of four rather than three years, no officer or employee of 

the federal government can be named as a discretionary member, 

and the existing Advisory Committee is abolished. 

During consideration of H.R. 2799, the Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment by voice vote offered by Congressman John Fleming. The amendment increased the number of discretionary members by adding a representative of a waterfowl 

hunting organization and stipulating that non-governmental representatives may rather than shall be reimbursed for certain expenses such as travel and lodging to attend a Council meeting. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2799 was introduced on July 23, 2013, by Congressman 

Robert E. Latta (R–OH). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. The bill was 

also referred to the Committee on Agriculture. On August 2, 2013, 

the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing on the bill. On October 30, 2013, the Natural 

Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee 

on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs was discharged 

by unanimous consent. Congressman John Fleming (R–LA) offered 

an amendment designated .001 to the bill; the amendment was 

adopted by voice vote. No further amendments were offered and 

the bill, as amended, was then adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. 

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 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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. 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: 

H.R. 2799—Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement 

Act 

H.R. 2799 would establish a committee to advise the Secretaries 

of the Interior and Agriculture on issues related to wildlife conVerDate Mar 15 2010 06:28 Jan 30, 2014 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR336P1.XXX HR336P1

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servation and hunting. The bill also would abolish the Wildlife and 

Hunting Heritage Conservation Council (WHHCC), an existing 

body that performs similar activities to those that would be performed by the committee established under the bill. CBO estimates 

that implementing the legislation would have no significant net impact on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 2799 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 

not apply. 

Based on information provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service regarding the costs of administering the WHHCC, CBO estimates that administering the advisory committee established 

under the bill would cost roughly $300,000 a year, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Those funds would be used to 

hire a full-time employee to handle administrative duties for the 

committee and to reimburse members of the committee for travel 

and lodging expenses related to committee activities. CBO also estimates that any costs associated with administering the committee 

would be offset by reductions in spending subject to appropriation 

to fund activities of the WHHCC, which would be abolished under 

the bill. 

H.R. 2799 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. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of 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. CBO estimates that implementing the legislation 

would have no significant net impact on the federal budget. 

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 establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of 

the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, 

hunting, and recreational shooting. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4 

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5 

Directed Rule Making. The Chairman does not believe that this 

bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific 

rule-making proceedings. 


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Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not establish or 

reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was not included in 

any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 

pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or identified in the 

most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Public Law 95–220, 

as amended by Public Law 98–169) as relating to other programs. 

However, this bill replaces an existing administratively created advisory council with a reformulated statutory advisory council. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized in 

the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed by one 

or more agencies. This bill establishes by statute and modifies an 

advisory council created by executive action. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

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

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italics): 

FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 10. WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Wildlife and 

Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (in this 

section referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’) to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. 

(b) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Advisory Committee shall advise the Secretaries with regard to— 

(1) implementation of Executive Order No. 13443: Facilitation 

of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation, which directs 

Federal agencies ‘‘to facilitate the expansion and enhancement 

of hunting opportunities and the management of game species 

and their habitat’’; 

(2) policies or programs to conserve and restore wetlands, agricultural lands, grasslands, forest, and rangeland habitats; 

(3) policies or programs to promote opportunities and access 

to hunting and shooting sports on Federal lands; 

(4) policies or programs to recruit and retain new hunters 

and shooters; 

(5) policies or programs that increase public awareness of the 

importance of wildlife conservation and the social and economic 

benefits of recreational hunting and shooting; and 

(6) policies or programs that encourage coordination among 

the public, the hunting and shooting sports community, wildlife 


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conservation groups, and States, tribes, and the Federal Government. 

(c) MEMBERSHIP.— (1) APPOINTMENT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall consist 

of no more than 16 discretionary members and 7 ex officio 

members. 

(B) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The ex officio members are— 

(i) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or a designated representative of the Director; 

(ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management 

or a designated representative of the Director; 

(iii) the Director of the National Park Service or a 

designated representative of the Director; 

(iv) the Chief of the Forest Service or a designated 

representative of the Chief; 

(v) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service or a designated representative of the Chief; 

(vi) the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency or 

a designated representative of the Administrator; and 

(vii) the Executive Director of the Association of Fish 

and Wildlife Agencies. 

(C) DISCRETIONARY MEMBERS.—The discretionary members shall be appointed jointly by the Secretaries from at 

least one of each of the following: 

(i) State fish and wildlife agencies. 

(ii) Game bird hunting organizations. 

(iii) Wildlife conservation organizations. 

(iv) Big game hunting organizations. 

(v) The tourism, outfitter, or guiding industry. 

(vi) The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry. 

(vii) The hunting or shooting equipment retail industry. 

(viii) Tribal resource management organizations. 

(ix) The agriculture industry. 

(x) The ranching industry. 

(xi) Waterfowl hunting organizations. 

(D) ELIGIBILITY.—Prior to the appointment of the discretionary members, the Secretaries shall determine that all 

individuals nominated for appointment to the Advisory 

Committee, and the organization each individual represents, actively support and promote sustainable-use hunting, wildlife conservation, and recreational shooting. 

(2) TERMS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed 

for a term of 4 years. Members shall not be appointed for 

more than 3 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. 

(B) TERMS OF INITIAL APPOINTEES.—As designated by the 

Secretary at the time of appointment, of the members first 

appointed— 

(i) 6 members shall be appointed for a term of 4 

years; 


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(ii) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 

years; and 

(iii) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 

years. 

(3) PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC ADVISORY STATUS.—No individual may be appointed as a discretionary member of the Advisory Committee while serving as an officer or employee of the 

Federal Government. 

(4) VACANCY AND REMOVAL.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

appointment was made. 

(B) REMOVAL.—Advisory Committee members shall serve 

at the discretion of the Secretaries and may be removed at 

any time for good cause. 

(5) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—Each appointed member 

may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of office 

to which such member was appointed until a successor has been 

appointed. 

(6) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a 3-year term by the Secretaries, 

jointly, from among the members of the Advisory Committee. An 

individual may not be appointed as Chairperson for more than 

2 consecutive or nonconsecutive terms. 

(7) PAY AND EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Committee 

shall serve without pay for such service, but each member of the 

Advisory Committee may be reimbursed for travel and lodging 

incurred through attending meetings of the Advisory Committee 

approved subgroup meetings in the same amounts and under 

the same conditions as Federal employees (in accordance with 

section 5703 of title 5, United States Code). 

(8) MEETINGS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall meet at 

the call of the Secretaries, the chairperson, or a majority of 

the members, but not less frequently than twice annually. 

(B) OPEN MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the Advisory 

Committee shall be open to the public. 

(C) PRIOR NOTICE OF MEETINGS.—Timely notice of each 

meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be published in 

the Federal Register and be submitted to trade publications 

and publications of general circulation. 

(D) SUBGROUPS.—The Advisory Committee may establish 

such workgroups or subgroups as it deems necessary for the 

purpose of compiling information or conducting research. 

However, such workgroups may not conduct business without the direction of the Advisory Committee and must report in full to the Advisory Committee. 

(9) QUORUM.—Nine members of the Advisory Committee shall 

constitute a quorum. 

(d) EXPENSES.—The expenses of the Advisory Committee that the 

Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate shall be 

paid by the Secretaries. 

(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TECHNICAL SERVICES, AND ADVICE.—A designated Federal Officer shall be jointly appointed by 

the Secretaries to provide to the Advisory Committee the adminisVerDate Mar 15 2010 06:28 Jan 30, 2014 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR336P1.XXX HR336P1

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trative support, technical services, and advice that the Secretaries 

determine to be reasonable and appropriate. 

(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— (1) REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30 of each year, the 

Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the Secretaries, the 

Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 

Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. If circumstances 

arise in which the Advisory Committee cannot meet the September 30 deadline in any year, the Secretaries shall advise the 

Chairpersons of each such Committee of the reasons for such 

delay and the date on which the submission of the report is anticipated. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 

describe— 

(A) the activities of the Advisory Committee during the 

preceding year; 

(B) the reports and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee to the Secretaries during the preceding 

year; and 

(C) an accounting of actions taken by the Secretaries as 

a result of the recommendations. 

(g) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Advisory Committee shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

U.S.C. App.). 

(h) ABOLISHMENT OF THE EXISTING WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HER- ITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Effective on 

the date of the enactment of this Act, the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council formed in furtherance of section 441 of 

the Revised Statutes (43 U.S.C. 1457), the Fish and Wildlife Act of 

1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a), and other Acts applicable to specific bureaus 

of the Department of the Interior is hereby abolished. 


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DISSENTING VIEWS 

H.R. 2799 would establish the Wildlife Hunting and Heritage 

Conservation Council Advisory Committee to serve as counsel to 

the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture on policies that 

benefit recreational hunting and wildlife resources. We have heard 

in testimony from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that this 

Council already exists: President Obama established the Wildlife 

and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council by executive order in 

2010. 

As the Fish and Wildlife Service mentioned in responding to a 

question for the record of the August 2 subcommittee hearing on 

this bill, the legislation dilutes the voice of hunters by dropping required representation from three hunting outreach and education 

groups, and sportsmen and women at-large, and replacing them 

with required representation from the firearms, ranching and agriculture industries. There are more than 50 Federal Advisory Councils that address agricultural and ranching issues, but the Council 

this bill seeks to replace is the only group that provides a voice 

solely for the hunting community. 

In addition to stacking the deck against conservation and exempting the Council from the Federal Advisory Committee Act’s 

transparency requirements, this bill would eliminate the flexibility 

this President or others in the future have to adjust the composition, structure, or function of the Committee to respond to the 

needs of hunting and conservation interests. For these reasons, we 

oppose H.R. 2799 as reported. 

PETER DEFAZIO, Ranking Member. 

GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO

SABLAN. 


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