I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4442
To establish a commission to promote awareness of the National Wildlife
Refuge System among the American public as the System celebrates
its centennial anniversary in 2003, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 11, 2000
Mr. SAXTON (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of
California, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. DINGELL, and Mr. CUNNINGHAM)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Re-
sources
A BILL
To establish a commission to promote awareness of the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System among the American pub-
lic as the System celebrates its centennial anniversary
in 2003, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Wildlife Ref-
uge System Centennial Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) President Theodore Roosevelt began the
National Wildlife Refuge System by establishing the
first refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, on March 14,
1903.
(2) The National Wildlife Refuge System is
comprised of more than 93,000,000 acres of Federal
lands managed by the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service in more than 520 individual refuges and
thousands of waterfowl production areas located in
all 50 States and the territories of the United
States.
(3) The System is the only network of Federal
lands dedicated singularly to wildlife conservation
and where wildlife dependent recreation and environ-
mental education are priority public uses.
(4) The System serves a vital role in the con-
servation of millions of migratory birds, endangered
species and threatened species, fish, marine mam-
mals, and the habitats on which these species de-
pend.
(5) Each year the System provides millions of
Americans with opportunities to participate in wild-
life-dependent recreation, including hunting, fishing,
and wildlife observation.
(6) Public visitation to National Wildlife Ref-
uges is growing, with more than 35,000,000 visitors
annually. It is essential that visitor centers and pub-
lic use facilities be properly constructed, operated,
and maintained.
(7) The National Wildlife Refuge System Vol-
unteer and Community Partnership Enhancement
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–242) significantly en-
hances the ability to incorporate volunteers and
partnerships in refuge management.
(8) The System currently has an unacceptable
backlog in critical operations and maintenance
needs.
(9) The centennial anniversary of the System in
2003 offers an historic opportunity to appreciate
these natural resources and expand public enjoyment
of these lands.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol-
lowing:
(1) To establish a commission to promote
awareness of the National Wildlife Refuge System
among the American public as the System celebrates
its centennial anniversary in 2003.
(2) To develop a long-term plan to meet the
priority operations, maintenance, and construction
needs of the System.
(3) To improve public use programs and facili-
ties of the System to meet the increasing needs of
the public for wildlife-dependent recreation in the
21st century.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established
the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Commis-
sion (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) MEMBERS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be
composed of the following members:
(A) The Director of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service.
(B) Up to 10 persons recommended by the
Secretary of the Interior and appointed by the
President.
(C) The chairman and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Resources of the
House of Representatives and of the Committee
on Environment and Public Works of the Sen-
ate, the congressional representatives of the Mi-
gratory Bird Conservation Commission, and the
Secretary of the Interior, who shall be ex-officio
members.
(2) APPOINTMENTS.—Persons appointed by the
President as members of the Commission may not
otherwise be officers or employees of the Federal
Government and shall, in the judgment of the Presi-
dent, represent the diverse beneficiaries of the Sys-
tem and have outstanding knowledge or appreciation
of wildlife, natural resource management, or wildlife-
dependent recreation. In making such appointments,
the President shall make every effort to ensure that
the views of the hunting, fishing, and wildlife obser-
vation communities are represented on the Commis-
sion.
(3) 
VACANCIES.—Any 
vacancy 
in 
the
Commission—
(A) shall not affect its power or functions;
and
(B) shall be expeditiously filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(c) CHAIRPERSON.—The President shall appoint one
of the members as the Chairperson of the Commission.
(d) BASIC PAY.—The members of the Commission
shall receive no compensation for their service on the Com-
mission.
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—
(1) LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
MEMBERS.—Mem-
bers of the Commission from the legislative branch
of the Government shall be allowed necessary travel
expenses otherwise authorized by law for official
travel.
(2) EXECUTIVE BRANCH MEMBERS.—Members
of the Commission from the executive branch of the
Government shall be allowed necessary travel ex-
penses in accordance with section 5702 of title 5,
United States Code.
(3) OTHER MEMBERS AND STAFF.—Members of
the Commission appointed by the President and
staff of the Commission may be allowed necessary
travel or transportation expenses as authorized by
section 5702 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) FUNCTIONS.—The Commission shall—
(1) prepare, in cooperation with Federal, State,
local, and nongovernmental partners, a plan to com-
memorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of
the National Wildlife Refuge System on March 14,
2003;
(2) coordinate the activities of such partners
undertaken pursuant to such plan; and
(3) plan and host, in cooperation with such
partners, a conference on the National Wildlife Ref-
uge System, and assist in the activities of such a
conference.
(g) STAFF.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Commission may employ staff as necessary to
carry out its functions.
(h) DONATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, in ac-
cordance with criteria established under paragraph
(2), accept and use donations of money, personal
property, or personal services.
(2) CRITERIA.—The Commission shall establish
written criteria to be used in determining whether
the acceptance of gifts or donations under paragraph
(1) would—
(A) reflect unfavorably upon the ability of
the Commission or any employee of the Com-
mission to carry out its responsibilities or offi-
cial duties in a fair and objective manner; or
(B) compromise the integrity or the ap-
pearance of the integrity of any person involved
in those programs.
(i) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—Upon the request of
the Commission—
(1) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, may
provide to the Commission the administrative sup-
port services necessary for the Commission to carry
out its responsibilities under this Act, including serv-
ices related to budgeting, accounting, financial re-
porting, personnel, and procurement; and
(2) the head of any other appropriate Federal
department or agency may furnish to the Commis-
sion such advice and assistance, with or without re-
imbursement, to assist the Commission in carrying
out its functions.
(j) REPORTS.—
(1) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Con-
gress an annual report of its activities and plans to
Congress.
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than September
30, 2004, the Commission shall submit to the Con-
gress a final report of its activities, including an ac-
counting of all funds received and expended by the
Commission.
(k) TERMINATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall termi-
nate upon the submission of its final report under
subsection (j).
(2) DISPOSITION OF MATERIALS.—Upon termi-
nation of the Commission and after consultation
with the Archivist of the United States and the Sec-
retary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Secretary
of the Interior—
(A) may deposit all books, manuscripts,
miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, rel-
ics, and other similar materials of the Commis-
sion relating to the 100th anniversary of the
National Wildlife Refuge System in Federal,
State, or local libraries or museums or other-
wise dispose of such materials; and
(B) may use other property acquired by
the Commission for the purposes of the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System, or treat such
property as excess property.