IIB 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4973 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 14, 2010 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works 
AN ACT 
To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize 
volunteer programs and community partnerships for na-
tional wildlife refuges, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 14, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4973.RFS
H4973
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
HR 4973 RFS
(1) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘PROJECTS’’ and inserting ‘‘NATIONAL VOLUNTEER 
COORDINATION PROGRAM’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, and in conformance with the 
strategy developed under paragraph (2) and con-
sistent with the authorities regarding gifts, volunteer 
services, community partnerships, and refuge edu-
cation enhancement under section 7 of the Fish and 
Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 741f), the Secretary 
of the Interior, through the Director of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall carry out a 
National Volunteer Coordination Program within the 
National Wildlife Refuge System to— 
‘‘(A) augment and support the capabilities 
and efforts of Federal employees to implement 
resource management, conservation, and public 
education programs and activities across the 
National Wildlife Refuge System; 
‘‘(B) provide meaningful opportunities for 
volunteers to support the resource management, 
conservation, and public education programs 
and activities of national wildlife refuges or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 14, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4973.RFS
H4973
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
HR 4973 RFS
complexes of geographically related national 
wildlife refuges in each United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service region; and 
‘‘(C) fulfill the purpose and mission of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System under the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System Administration 
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) VOLUNTEER COORDINATION STRATEGY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—No later than one 
year after date of enactment of this paragraph, 
the Director shall publish in the Federal Reg-
ister a national strategy for the coordination 
and utilization of volunteers within the National 
Wildlife Refuge System. 
‘‘(B) 
CONSULTATION
REQUIRED.—The 
strategy shall be developed in consultation with 
State fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, 
refuge friends groups or similar volunteer orga-
nizations, and other relevant stakeholders. 
‘‘(C) VOLUNTEER
COORDINATORS.—The 
Director shall provide, subject to the availability 
of appropriations, no less than one regional vol-
unteer coordinator for each United States Fish 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 14, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4973.RFS
H4973
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
HR 4973 RFS
and Wildlife Service region to implement the 
strategy published under this paragraph. Such 
coordinators may be responsible for assisting 
partner organizations in developing and imple-
menting volunteer projects and activities under 
cooperative agreements under section 7(d) of 
the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 
742f(d)).’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘for for each 
fiscal year through fiscal year 2009’’ and inserting 
‘‘for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2014’’. 
SEC. 4. VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND 
EDUCATION PROGRAMS REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife 
Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(e)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) (as amended 
by this Act) as subsection (g); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this subsection and every 5 years there-
after, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report 
to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 14, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4973.RFS
H4973
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
HR 4973 RFS
‘‘(1) evaluating the accomplishments of the vol-
unteer program, the community partnerships pro-
gram, and the refuge education programs authorized 
under this section, and of the National Volunteer 
Coordination Program and volunteer coordination 
strategy under section 4(a) of the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partner-
ship Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f–1); 
and 
‘‘(2) making recommendations to improve the 
effectiveness of such programs, including regarding 
implementing subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
paragraph (1) of subsection (e).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4(a) of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Commu-
nity Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 
742f–1) is further amended by striking paragraph (3), 
and by redesignating paragraph (4) (as amended by this 
Act) as paragraph (3). 
Passed the House of Representatives July 13, 2010. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 14, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4973.RFS
H4973
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS