I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1914 
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension 
of each provision of the Act during periods of drought with respect 
to Federal and State agencies that manage Federal river basins that 
are located in each region affected by the drought. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2009 
Mr. DEAL of Georgia (for himself, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. LINDER, and 
Mr. WESTMORELAND) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide 
for the suspension of each provision of the Act during 
periods of drought with respect to Federal and State 
agencies that manage Federal river basins that are lo-
cated in each region affected by the drought. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS DURING PERIODS 
OF DROUGHT WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN 
FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES. 
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1539) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(k) SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS DURING PERIODS 
OF DROUGHT WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FEDERAL AND 
STATE AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENSION.—With 
respect to a Federal or State agency that manages 
a Federal river basin, each provision of this Act 
shall be suspended if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of the Army (acting 
through the Chief of Engineers) determines 
that— 
‘‘(i) a drought is in effect in a region 
in which there is located a Federal river 
basin that is managed by the Federal or 
State agency; and 
‘‘(ii) the drought described in clause 
(i) presents a threat to the health, safety, 
or welfare of the population that is located 
in the region; or 
‘‘(B) the Governor of the State (or des-
ignee) in which a Federal river basin that is 
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managed by the Federal or State agency is lo-
cated determines that— 
‘‘(i) a drought is in effect in a region 
in which there is located a Federal river 
basin that is managed by the Federal or 
State agency; and 
‘‘(ii) the drought described in clause 
(i) presents a threat to the health, safety, 
or welfare of the population that is located 
in the region. 
‘‘(2) TERMINATION OF SUSPENSION.—A tem-
porary suspension of each provision of this Act 
under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date on 
which, as appropriate— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of the Army (acting 
through the Chief of Engineers) determines 
that a drought is no longer in effect in the re-
gion in which the relevant Federal river basin 
is located; or 
‘‘(B) the Governor of the State (or des-
ignee) in which the Federal river basin that is 
managed by the Federal or State agency is lo-
cated determines that a drought is no longer in 
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effect in the region of the State in which the 
relevant Federal river basin is located.’’. 
Æ 
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