I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5145 

To provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate level students engaged 

in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and anadromous 

fish, wildlife, or conservation biology, or related natural resource management, to provide expertise and to gain policy experience in Federal 

executive agencies or the Congress. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 

Mr. PALLONE (for himself, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. SHAW, Mr. 

GREENWOOD, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. EHLERS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. 

MCDERMOTT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. 

FARR, Mr. BELL, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. FORD, 

Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. KIND, and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL 

To provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate level 

students engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, or conservation biology, or related natural resource management, to provide expertise and to gain policy experience 

in Federal executive agencies or the Congress. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Fish and 

3 Wildlife Policy Fellowship Program Act of 2004’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 The Congress finds the following: 

6 (1) Nearly one-third of the population of the 

7 United States participates in fish and wildlife-related 

8 recreation annually. In 2001, 82 million people par9 ticipated in wildlife-related recreation, including 

10 sport angling, hunting, birding, photography, and 

11 other activities. 

12 (2) Vibrant, healthy, and well-managed natural 

13 living resources are essential to obtaining the eco14 nomic benefits derived from them. Wildlife-related 

15 recreation contributes significantly to the United 

16 States economy. In 2001, the economic impact of 

17 fishing and hunting was $116,000,000,000 and 

18 $68,000,000,000, respectively. In addition, approxi19 mately 1,000,000 jobs were created as a result of 

20 such recreation. 

21 (3) There are over 50 university programs, doz22 ens of State and Federal agencies, and over $1 bil23 lion dedicated to fisheries and wildlife research, 

24 management, and conservation. 

25 (4) Expertise in freshwater and anadromous 

26 fisheries and wildlife policy is paramount to the fu-
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1 ture effective management of the Nation’s fish and 

2 wildlife resources. 

3 (5) The National Sea Grant John A. Knauss 

4 Fellowship has been successful in promoting stew5 ardship of the Nation’s natural marine and coastal 

6 resources. Since 1979, over 528 marine scientists 

7 have been awarded fellowships that have enabled 

8 them to bring their scientific expertise to the Fed9 eral agencies and the Congress while obtaining valu10 able policy experience. Many of the fellows continue 

11 to serve as marine policy professionals in the Fed12 eral Government, the private sector, and the univer13 sity research community. 

14 (6) Currently no formal mechanism exists to se15 cure individuals with specific expertise in freshwater 

16 and anadromous fisheries, wildlife, or conservation 

17 biology, or related natural resource management, 

18 while simultaneously providing valuable policy expe19 rience within the Federal Government and the Con20 gress. Such a mechanism would support and en21 hance stewardship of the Nation’s fish and wildlife. 

22 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

23 In this Act: 
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1 (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

2 the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

3 Service. 

4 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE POLICY 

7 FELLOWSHIPS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award fellow9 ships to qualified graduate and post-graduate level stu10 dents engaged in advanced degree programs concerning 

11 freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, conservation 

12 management, or biology. 

13 (b) OBJECTIVES.—In awarding fellowships under 

14 subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to achieve, with 

15 respect to fish and wildlife conservation, the following edu16 cational and training objectives: 

17 (1) To provide qualified graduate and post18 graduate level individuals opportunities for participa19 tion in the policy process within the executive and 

20 legislative branches of the Federal Government. 

21 (2) To provide Federal agencies and the Con22 gress with specific expertise in fish and wildlife man23 agement and conservation biology to aid in the effec24 tive management of the Nation’s natural living re25 sources. 
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1 (c) GUIDELINES FOR AWARD OF FELLOWSHIPS.— 

2 The fellowships shall be awarded pursuant to guidelines 

3 established by the Secretary. 

4 (d) TERM OF FELLOWSHIPS.—A fellowship under 

5 subsection (a) shall be for a period of not more than 1 

6 year. 

7 (e) EQUAL ACCESS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall strive to 

9 ensure equal access for minority and economically 

10 disadvantaged students to the program carried out 

11 under subsection (a). 

12 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

13 date of the enactment of this section, and every 2 

14 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report 

15 to the Congress describing— 

16 (A) the efforts by the Secretary to ensure 

17 equal access for minority and economically dis18 advantaged students to the fellowship carried 

19 out under subsection (a); and 

20 (B) the results of such efforts. 

21 (f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Director shall administer 

22 fellowships under subsection (a). 

23 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this section 

25 there is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
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1 retary $1,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 

2 through 2009. 

3 (2) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EX4 PENSES.—Of amounts available to carry out this 

5 section each fiscal year, no more than 5 percent may 

6 be expended for administrative costs. 

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