(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ refers 
to the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
funds and in consultation with other appropriate Federal 
officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to 
provide financial assistance for projects for the conserva-
tion of rare felid and rare canids for which project pro-
posals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with 
this section. 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.—
(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—A proposal for a 
project for the conservation of rare felid and canids 
may be submitted to the Secretary by—
(A) any wildlife management authority of 
a country that has within its boundaries any 
part of the range of a rare felid or rare canid 
species, respectively; and 
(B) any person or group with the dem-
onstrated expertise required for the conserva-
tion in the wild of rare felids or rare canids, re-
spectively. 
(2) PROJECT
PROPOSALS.—To be considered 
for financial assistance for a project under this Act,
an applicant shall submit a project proposal that in-
cludes—
(A) a concise statement of the purposes of 
the project; 
(B) the name of the individual responsible 
for conducting the project; 
(C) a description of the qualifications of 
the individuals who will conduct the project; 
(D) a concise description of—
(i) methods for project implementa-
tion and outcome assessment; 
(ii) staffing for the project; 
(iii) the logistics of the project; and 
(iv) community involvement in the 
project; 
(E) an estimate of funds and time required 
to complete the project; 
(F) evidence of support for the project by 
appropriate governmental entities of the coun-
tries in which the project will be conducted, if 
the Secretary determines that such support is 
required for the success of the project; 
(G) information regarding the source and 
amount of matching funding available for the 
project; and
(H) any other information that the Sec-
retary considers to be necessary for evaluating 
the eligibility of the project for funding under 
this Act. 
(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall—
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving 
a project proposal, provide a copy of the pro-
posal to the appropriate Federal officials; and 
(B) review each project proposal in a time-
ly manner to determine if the proposal meets 
the criteria specified in subsection (d). 
(2) 
CONSULTATION; 
APPROVAL
OR
DIS-
APPROVAL.—Not later than 180 days after receiving 
a project proposal, and subject to the availability of 
funds, the Secretary, after consulting with other ap-
propriate Federal officials, shall—
(A) ensure the proposal contains assur-
ances that the project will be implemented in 
consultation with relevant wildlife management 
authorities and other appropriate government 
officials with jurisdiction over the resources ad-
dressed by the project; 
(B) approve or disapprove the proposal; 
and
(C) provide written notification of the ap-
proval or disapproval to the person who sub-
mitted the proposal, other appropriate Federal 
officials, and each country within whose borders 
the project will take place. 
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may 
approve a project proposal under this section if the project 
will contribute to conservation of rare felids or rare canids 
in the wild by assisting efforts to—
(1) implement conservation programs; 
(2) address the conflicts between humans and 
rare felids or rare canids, respectively, that arise 
from competition for the same habitat or resources; 
(3) enhance compliance with CITES, the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973, and other applicable 
laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of 
rare felids and rare canids or regulate the use and 
management of rare felid and rare canid habitat; 
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or 
methods for monitoring—
(A) the condition and health of rare felid 
or rare canid habitat; 
(B) rare felid or rare canid population 
numbers and trends; and