H. R. 3479—4
(5) For activities conducted through the United States
Geological Survey, Biological Resources, not more than
$1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
(d) PLANNING ASSISTANCE.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the
Interior such amounts as may be required to carry out subsection
(b)(10).
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS TO CONTROL
THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF THE BROWN TREE
SNAKE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS.—Not later
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, but
subject to the memorandum of agreement required by subsection
(b) with respect to Guam, the Secretaries shall establish and cause
to be operated at Federal expense a system of pre-departure quar-
antine protocols for cargo and other items being shipped from
Guam and any other United States location where the brown tree
snake may become established to prevent the introduction or spread
of the brown tree snake. The Secretaries shall establish the quar-
antine protocols system by regulation. Under the quarantine proto-
cols system, Federal quarantine, natural resource, conservation,
and law enforcement officers and inspectors may enforce State
and territorial laws regarding the transportation, possession, or
introduction of any brown tree snake.
(b) COOPERATION
AND CONSULTATION.—The activities of the
Secretaries under subsection (a) shall be carried out in cooperation
with other Federal agencies and the appropriate State and terri-
torial quarantine, natural resource, conservation, and law enforce-
ment officers. In the case of Guam, as a precondition on the
establishment of the system of pre-departure quarantine protocols
under such subsection, the Secretaries shall enter into a memo-
randum of agreement with the Government of Guam to obtain
the assistance and cooperation of the Government of Guam in
establishing the system of pre-departure quarantine protocols.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The system of pre-departure quarantine
protocols to be established under subsection (a) shall not be imple-
mented until funds are specifically appropriated for that purpose.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section the following amounts:
(1) To the Secretary of Agriculture, not more than
$3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
(2) To the Secretary of the Interior, not more than
$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF BROWN TREE SNAKES AS NONMAILABLE
MATTER.
A brown tree snake constitutes nonmailable matter under sec-
tion 3015 of title 39, United States Code.
SEC. 7. ROLE OF BROWN TREE SNAKE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP.
(a) PURPOSE.—The Technical Working Group shall ensure that
Federal, State, territorial, and local agency efforts concerning the
brown tree snake are coordinated, effective, complementary, and
cost-effective.
(b) SPECIFIC DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES.—The Technical Working
Group shall be responsible for the following:
H. R. 3479—5
(1) The evaluation of Federal, State, and territorial activi-
ties, programs and policies that are likely to cause or promote
the introduction or spread of the brown tree snake in the
United States or the Freely Associated States and the prepara-
tion of recommendations for governmental actions to minimize
the risk of introduction or further spread of the brown tree
snake.
(2) The preparation of recommendations for activities, pro-
grams, and policies to reduce and eventually eradicate the
brown tree snake in Guam or other areas within the United
States where the snake may be established and the monitoring
of the implementation of those activities, programs, and policies.
(3) Any revision of the Brown Tree Snake Control Plan,
originally published in June 1996, which was prepared to
coordinate Federal, State, territorial, and local government
efforts to control, interdict, eradicate or conduct research on
the brown tree snake.
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—
(1) REPORT.—Subject to the availability of appropriations
for this purpose, the Technical Working Group shall prepare
a report describing—
(A) the progress made toward a large-scale population
reduction or eradication of the brown tree snake in Guam
or other sites that are infested by the brown tree snake;
(B) the interdiction and other activities required to
reduce the risk of introduction of the brown tree snake
or other nonindigenous snake species in Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii,
American Samoa, and the Freely Associated States;
(C) the applied and basic research activities that will
lead to improved brown tree snake control, interdiction
and eradication efforts conducted by Federal, State, terri-
torial, and local governments; and
(D) the programs and activities for brown tree snake
control, interdiction, research and eradication that have
been funded, implemented, and planned by Federal, State,
territorial, and local governments.
(2) PRIORITIES.—The Technical Working Group shall
include in the report a list of priorities, ranked in high, medium,
and low categories, of Federal, State, territorial, and local
efforts and programs in the following areas:
(A) Control.
(B) Interdiction.
(C) Research.
(D) Eradication.
(3) ASSESSMENTS.—Technical Working Group shall include
in the report the following assessments:
(A) An assessment of current funding shortfalls and
future funding needs to support Federal, State, territorial,
and local government efforts to control, interdict, eradicate,
or conduct research on the brown tree snake.
(B) An assessment of regulatory limitations that hinder
Federal, State, territorial, and local government efforts to
control, interdict, eradicate or conduct research on the
brown tree snake.
(4) SUBMISSION.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions for this purpose, the Technical Working Group shall
H. R. 3479—6
submit the report to Congress not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) MEETINGS.—The Technical Working Group shall meet at
least annually.
(e) INCLUSION OF GUAM.—The Secretaries shall ensure that
adequate representation is afforded to the government of Guam
in the Technical Working Group.
(f) SUPPORT.—To the maximum extent practicable, the Secre-
taries shall make adequate resources available to the Technical
Working Group to ensure its efficient and effective operation. The
Secretaries may provide staff to assist the Technical Working Group
in carrying out its duties and functions.
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized
to be appropriated to each of the Secretaries not more than $450,000
for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this
section.
SEC. 8. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
(a) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated under this Act shall remain available until expended.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the amounts appropriated
to carry out this Act for a fiscal year, the Secretaries may expend
not more than five percent to cover the administrative expenses
necessary to carry out this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.