IB 
Union Calendar No. 414 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1464 
[Report No. 110–657] 
To assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting 
and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of na-
tions within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and 
projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of 
rare felid and rare canid populations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2007 
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. TANNER, Mr. ROGERS of Ken-
tucky, and Mr. ROYCE) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources 
MAY 19, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of 
California, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. STARK, Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. CHANDLER, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Min-
nesota, Mr. FARR, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
DELAHUNT, Mr. COHEN, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Ms. 
BORDALLO, Mr. CLAY, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. 
FRANK of Massachusetts, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. DELAURO, 
Mr. INSLEE, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. 
LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. MICHAUD, 
Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. MILLER of North Carolina, 
Mr. KIRK, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. NADLER, Mr. MEEKS of 
New York, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. KIND, Mr. KING of New 
York, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. HOLT, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. BISHOP of New York, 
Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. SESTAK, 
Mr. TERRY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. 
ENGEL, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. DAVIS 
of Illinois, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. CARNAHAN, 
Mr. BERMAN, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. 
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BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. 
GUTIERREZ, Mr. UPTON, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, and Ms. SUTTON 
MAY 19, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 9, 2007] 
A BILL 
To assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids 
by supporting and providing financial resources for the 
conservation programs of nations within the range of 
rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of 
persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation 
of rare felid and rare canid populations. 
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 ‘‘Great Cats and Rare 
Canids Act of 2008.’’ 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Many wild populations of felids and canids, 
once considered common, are in decline, and many 
have declined to the point that their long-term sur-
vival in the wild is in serious jeopardy. 
(2) Of the 37 wild felid species worldwide, all 
are currently recognized as species in need of protec-
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tion under the IUCN Red List, the lists of species in 
CITES appendices I, II, and III, or the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973. Of the 35 wild canid species 
worldwide, nearly 50 percent are recognized as in 
need of such protection. 
(3) In addition to their intrinsic value, felids 
and canids are important aesthetic, economic, and ec-
ological global resources that need to be conserved. 
(4) Large felids and canids are considered both 
umbrella and indicator species. Healthy populations 
of these species act as an important indicator of the 
integrity of entire ecosystems and, because they re-
quire large wild spaces to persist, benefit entire eco-
systems and a large number of other species. Measures 
taken to benefit these keystone species will ultimately 
benefit a great number of other species. 
(5) Rare felids and rare canids face an array of 
threats, including loss of habitat and natural prey, 
intentional and unintentional takings by humans, 
disease transmission, and a vast number of other 
threats. These threats need to be addressed in a co-
ordinated fashion. 
(6) Conservation of rare felid and rare canid 
populations requires global commitment. Adequate 
funding for conservation is sorely lacking, and many 
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range countries for those species do not have adequate 
infrastructure to protect species of concern. Those 
countries that do provide assistance to threatened 
populations need further assistance in implementing 
effective conservation strategies. 
(7) In particular, in developing nations with 
limited resources, poverty, population growth, and 
habitat loss all present significant challenges to con-
servation of rare felids and rare canids. 
(8) Although some protections and initiatives 
exist to conserve rare felid and rare canid populations 
and their habitat, those efforts can be significantly 
strengthened and enhanced by increased coordination 
and the infusion of targeted funding to benefit species 
of concern. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to provide financial re-
sources and to foster international cooperation— 
(1) to restore and perpetuate healthy populations 
of rare felids and rare canids in the wild; and 
(2) to assist in the conservation of rare felid and 
rare canid populations worldwide. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) CITES.—The term ‘‘CITES’’ ‘‘’’ means the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, done at Wash-
ington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249), 
including its appendices. 
(2) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘‘conservation’’— 
(A) means the methods and procedures nec-
essary to bring a species of rare felid or rare 
canid to the point at which there are sufficient 
populations in the wild to ensure the long-term 
viability of the species; 
(B) includes all activities associated with 
protection and management of a rare felid or 
rare canid population, including— 
(i) maintenance, management, protec-
tion, and restoration of rare felid or rare 
canid habitat; 
(ii) research and monitoring; 
(iii) law enforcement; 
(iv) community outreach and edu-
cation; 
(v) conflict resolution initiatives; and 
(vi) strengthening the capacity of local 
communities, governmental agencies, non-
governmental organizations and other insti-
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tutions to implement conservation pro-
grams. 
(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Great 
Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund established 
by section 6. 
(4) IUCN RED
LIST.—The term ‘‘IUCN Red 
List’’ means the Red List of Threatened Species 
Maintained by the World Conservation Union. 
(5) RARE CANID.—The term ‘‘rare canid’’— 
(A) means any canid species, subspecies, or 
population that— 
(i) is not native to the area comprised 
of the United States and Canada; and 
(ii) is included in the IUCN Red List, 
Appendix I, II, or III of CITES, or any list 
published under section 4(c) of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1532(c)); and 
(B) includes such a subspecies or population 
of dhole (Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis 
lupus), Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), bush 
dog (Speothos venaticus), African wild dog 
(Lycaon pictus), or maned wolf (Chrysocyon 
brachyurus). 
(6) RARE FELID.—The term ‘‘rare felid’’— 
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(A) subject to subparagraph (C), means any 
felid species, subspecies, or population that— 
(i) is not native to the area comprised 
of the United States and Canada; and 
(ii) is included in the IUCN Red List, 
Appendix I, II, or III of CITES, or any list 
published under section 4(c) of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1532(c)); 
(B) includes such a subspecies or population 
of lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera 
pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), snow leopard 
(Uncia 
uncia), 
clouded 
leopard 
(Neofelis 
nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), or Iberian 
lynx (Lynx pardina); and 
(C) does not include any tiger (Panthera ti-
gris). 
(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 offi-
cials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to pro-
vide financial assistance for projects for the conservation 
of rare felid and rare canids for which project proposals 
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are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this sec-
tion. 
(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 conservation 
in the wild of rare felids or rare canids, respec-
tively. 
(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— 
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(i) methods for project implementation 
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 re-
quired 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 proposal 
to the appropriate Federal officials; and 
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(B) review each project proposal in a timely 
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 assurances 
that the project will be implemented in consulta-
tion with relevant wildlife management authori-
ties and other appropriate government officials 
with jurisdiction over the resources addressed 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— 
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(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 Endan-
gered 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 man-
agement 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 
(C) the ecological characteristics and re-
quirements of populations of rare felids or rare 
canids for which there are little or no data; 
(5) promote cooperative projects among govern-
ment entities, affected local communities, nongovern-
mental organizations, and other persons in the pri-
vate sector; or 
(6) funds will not be appropriated for the pur-
chase or lease of lands to be used as suitable habitat 
for felids or canids. 
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(e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY.—In approving project 
proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give pref-
erence to conservation projects that are designed to ensure 
effective, long-term conservation of rare felids and rare 
canids and their habitats. 
(f) MATCHING FUNDS.—In determining whether to ap-
prove project proposals under this section, the Secretary 
shall give preference to projects for which there exists some 
measure of matching funds. 
(g) PROJECT REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each person that receives as-
sistance under this section for a project shall submit 
to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as 
the Secretary considers necessary) that include all in-
formation that the Secretary, after consultation with 
other appropriate government officials, determines is 
necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the 
project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, 
assessing problems, and fostering improvements. 
(2) AVAILABILITY
TO
THE
PUBLIC.—Reports 
under paragraph (1), and any other documents relat-
ing to projects for which financial assistance is pro-
vided under this Act, shall be made available to the 
public. 
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(h) LIMITATIONS ON USE FOR CAPTIVE BREEDING OR 
DISPLAY.—Amounts provided as a grant under this Act— 
(1) may not be used for captive breeding or dis-
play of rare felids and rare canids other than captive 
breeding for release into the wild; and 
(2) may be used for captive breeding of a species 
for release into the wild only if no other conservation 
method for the species is biologically feasible. 
(i) LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN SPE-
CIES.—Of amounts available for a fiscal year for providing 
financial assistance under this section, the Secretary may 
not use more than 25 percent to provide assistance for 
projects that target rare canid and rare felid species that 
are not listed in paragraph (5)(B) or (6)(B), respectively, 
of section 4. 
(j) ADVISORY GROUP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To assist in carrying out this 
Act, the Secretary may convene an advisory group 
consisting of individuals representing public and pri-
vate organizations actively involved in the conserva-
tion of felids and canids. 
(2) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 
(A) 
MEETINGS.—The 
advisory 
group 
shall— 
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(i) ensure that each meeting of the ad-
visory group is open to the public; and 
(ii) provide, at each meeting, an op-
portunity for interested persons to present 
oral or written statements concerning items 
on the agenda. 
(B) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide 
to the public timely notice of each meeting of the 
advisory group, including the meeting agenda. 
(C) MINUTES.—Minutes of each meeting of 
the advisory group shall be kept by the Secretary 
and shall be made available to the public. 
(3) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory 
group. 
SEC. 6. GREAT CATS AND RARE CANIDS CONSERVATION 
FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, in the 
Multinational Species Conservation Fund established in 
title I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agen-
cies Appropriations Act, 1999 under the heading ‘‘MULTI-
NATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND’’, a sepa-
rate account to be known as the ‘‘Great Cats and Rare 
Canids Conservation Fund’’, consisting of— 
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(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the 
Treasury for deposit into such account under sub-
section (e); 
(2) amounts appropriated to such account under 
section 7; and 
(3) any interest earned on investment of 
amounts in the account under subsection (c). 
(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
upon request by the Secretary, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Sec-
retary, without further appropriation, such amounts 
as the Secretary determines are necessary to provide 
assistance under section 4. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Of 
the 
amounts in the Fund available for each fiscal year, 
the Secretary may expend not more than three per-
cent, or up to $100,000, whichever is greater, to pay 
the administrative expenses necessary to carry out 
this Act. 
(c) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the 
judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to 
meet current withdrawals. Investments may be made 
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only in interest-bearing obligations of the United 
States. 
(2) ACQUISITION OF OBLIGATIONS.—For the pur-
pose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations 
may be acquired— 
(A) on original issue at the issue price; or 
(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations 
at the market price. 
(3) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation ac-
quired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of 
the Treasury at the market price. 
(4) CREDITS TO FUND.—The interest on, and the 
proceeds from the sale or redemption of any obliga-
tions held in the Fund shall be credited to and form 
a part of the Fund. 
(d) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts required to be 
transferred to the Fund under this section shall be 
transferred at least monthly from the general fund of 
the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates 
made by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall be 
made in amounts subsequently transferred to the ex-
tent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the 
amounts required to be transferred. 
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(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.—The Sec-
retary may accept and use donations to provide assistance 
under section 4, and may make public on the Internet 
website and in publications of the Department of the Inte-
rior that the Secretary is authorized to accept and use such 
donations. Amounts received by the Secretary in the form 
of such donations shall be transferred to the Secretary of 
the Treasury for deposit into the Fund. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OR APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to 
carry out this Act. 
SEC. 8. INELIGIBLE COUNTRIES. 
Amounts provided as a grant under this Act may not 
be spent on projects in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan and North 
Korea. 
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Union Calendar No. 414 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1464 
[Report No. 110–657] 
A BILL 
To assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare 
canids by supporting and providing financial re-
sources for the conservation programs of nations 
within the range of rare felid and rare canid pop-
ulations and projects of persons with dem-
onstrated expertise in the conservation of rare 
felid and rare canid populations. 
MAY 19, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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