IB 
Union Calendar No. 397 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1771 
[Report No. 110–635] 
To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and providing, through 
projects of persons and organizations with expertise in crane conserva-
tion, financial resources for the conservation programs of countries the 
activities of which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystems 
of cranes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 29, 2007 
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. KIND, Mr. 
OBERSTAR, Mr. SNYDER, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
MAY 13, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mr. GRIJALVA and Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida 
MAY 13, 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 29, 2007] 
A BILL 
To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and 
providing, through projects of persons and organizations 
with expertise in crane conservation, financial resources 
for the conservation programs of countries the activities 
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of which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the eco-
systems of cranes. 
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 ‘‘Crane Conservation Act 
of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to perpetuate healthy populations of cranes; 
(2) to assist in the conservation and protection 
of cranes by supporting— 
(A) conservation programs in countries in 
which endangered and threatened cranes occur; 
and 
(B) the efforts of private organizations com-
mitted to helping cranes; and 
(3) to provide financial resources for those pro-
grams and efforts. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONSERVATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 
means the use of any method or procedure to im-
prove the viability of crane populations and the 
quality of the ecosystems and habitats on which 
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the crane populations depend to help the species 
achieve sufficient populations in the wild to en-
sure the long-term viability of the species. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 
includes the carrying out of any activity associ-
ated with scientific resource management, such 
as— 
(i) protection, restoration, and man-
agement of habitat; 
(ii) research and monitoring of known 
populations; 
(iii) the provision of assistance in the 
development of management plans for man-
aged crane ranges; 
(iv) enforcement of the Convention; 
(v) law enforcement and habitat pro-
tection through community participation; 
(vi) reintroduction of cranes to the 
wild; 
(vii) conflict resolution initiatives; and 
(viii) community outreach and edu-
cation. 
(2) CONVENTION.—The term ‘‘Convention’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 3 of the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532). 
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(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Crane 
Conservation Fund established by section 5(a). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. CRANE CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations and in consultation with other appropriate Fed-
eral officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund 
to provide financial assistance for projects relating to the 
conservation of cranes for which project proposals are ap-
proved by the Secretary in accordance with this section. 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.— 
(1) APPLICANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An applicant described 
in subparagraph (B) that seeks to receive assist-
ance under this section to carry out a project re-
lating to the conservation of cranes shall submit 
to the Secretary a project proposal that meets the 
requirements of this section. 
(B) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—An applicant 
described in this subparagraph is— 
(i) any relevant wildlife management 
authority of a country that— 
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(I) is located within the African, 
Asian, European, or North American 
range of a species of crane; and 
(II) carries out 1 or more activi-
ties that directly or indirectly affect 
crane populations; 
(ii) the Secretariat of the Convention; 
and 
(iii) any person or organization with 
demonstrated expertise in the conservation 
of cranes. 
(2) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—A project proposal 
submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include— 
(A) a concise statement of the purpose of the 
project; 
(B)(i) the name of each individual respon-
sible for conducting the project; and 
(ii) a description of the qualifications of 
each of those individuals; 
(C) a concise description of— 
(i) methods to be used to implement 
and assess the outcome of the project; 
(ii) staff and community management 
for the project; and 
(iii) the logistics of the project; 
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(D) an estimate of the funds and the period 
of time required to complete the project; 
(E) evidence of support for the project by 
appropriate government entities of countries in 
which the project will be conducted, if the Sec-
retary determines that such support is required 
to ensure the success of the project; 
(F) information regarding the source and 
amount of matching funding available for the 
project; and 
(G) any other information that the Sec-
retary considers to be necessary for evaluating 
the eligibility of the project to receive assistance 
under this Act. 
(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving a 
final project proposal, provide a copy of the pro-
posal to other appropriate Federal officials; and 
(B) review each project proposal in a timely 
manner to determine whether the proposal meets 
the criteria described 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 
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appropriations, the Secretary, after consulting with 
other appropriate Federal officials, shall— 
(A) consult on the proposal with the govern-
ment of each country in which the project is to 
be carried out; 
(B) after taking into consideration any 
comments resulting from the consultation, ap-
prove or disapprove the proposal; and 
(C) provide written notification of the ap-
proval or disapproval to— 
(i) the applicant that submitted the 
proposal; 
(ii) other appropriate Federal officials; 
and 
(iii) each country described in sub-
paragraph (A). 
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may 
approve a project proposal under this section if the Sec-
retary determines that the proposed project will enhance 
programs for conservation of cranes by assisting efforts to— 
(1) implement conservation programs; 
(2) address the conflicts between humans and 
cranes that arise from competition for the same habi-
tat or resources; 
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(3) enhance compliance with the Convention and 
other applicable laws that— 
(A) prohibit or regulate the taking or trade 
of cranes; or 
(B) regulate the use and management of 
crane habitat; 
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or 
methods for monitoring— 
(A) the condition of crane habitat; 
(B) crane population numbers and trends; 
or 
(C) the current and projected threats to 
crane habitat and population numbers and 
trends; 
(5) promote cooperative projects on the issues de-
scribed in paragraph (4) among— 
(A) governmental entities; 
(B) affected local communities; 
(C) nongovernmental organizations; or 
(D) other persons in the private sector; 
(6) carry out necessary scientific research on 
cranes; 
(7) provide relevant training to, or support tech-
nical exchanges involving, staff responsible for man-
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aging cranes or habitats of cranes, to enhance capac-
ity for effective conservation; or 
(8) reintroduce cranes successfully back into the 
wild, including propagation of a sufficient number of 
cranes required for this purpose. 
(e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY; MATCHING FUNDS.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, in determining wheth-
er to approve a project proposal under this section, the Sec-
retary shall give preference to a proposed project— 
(1) that is designed to ensure effective, long-term 
conservation of cranes and habitats of cranes; or 
(2) for which matching funds are available. 
(f) PROJECT REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each person that receives as-
sistance under this section for a project shall submit 
to the Secretary, at such periodic intervals as are de-
termined by the Secretary, reports that include all in-
formation that the Secretary, after consulting with 
other appropriate government officials, determines to 
be necessary to evaluate the progress and success of 
the project for the purposes of— 
(A) ensuring positive results; 
(B) assessing problems; and 
(C) fostering improvements. 
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(2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—Each report 
submitted under paragraph (1), and any other docu-
ments relating to a project for which financial assist-
ance is provided under this Act, shall be made avail-
able to the public. 
SEC. 5. CRANE CONSERVATION FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Mul-
tinational Species Conservation Fund established by the 
matter under the heading ‘‘MULTINATIONAL SPECIES 
CONSERVATION FUND’’ in title I of the Department of 
the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 
(112 Stat. 2681–237; 16 U.S.C. 4246) a separate account 
to be known as the ‘‘Crane Conservation Fund’’, consisting 
of— 
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the 
Treasury for deposit into the Fund under subsection 
(e); 
(2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under 
section 7; and 
(3) any interest earned on investment of 
amounts in the Fund under subsection (c). 
(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and 
(3), upon request by the Secretary, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Sec-
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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 3 percent, 
or $150,000, whichever is greater, to pay the adminis-
trative expenses necessary to carry out this Act. 
(3) LIMITATION.—Not more than 20 percent of 
the amounts made available from the Fund for any 
fiscal year may be used for projects relating to the 
conservation of North American crane species. 
(c) INVESTMENTS 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 
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. 
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(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. 
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may accept 
and use donations to provide assistance under section 
4. 
(2) TRANSFER
OF
DONATIONS.—Amounts re-
ceived by the Secretary in the form of donations shall 
be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for de-
posit in the Fund. 
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SEC. 6. ADVISORY GROUP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To assist in carrying out this Act, 
the Secretary may convene an advisory group consisting 
of individuals representing public and private organiza-
tions actively involved in the conservation of cranes. 
(b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The advisory group shall— 
(A) ensure that each meeting of the advisory 
group is open to the public; and 
(B) provide, at each meeting, an oppor-
tunity for interested persons to present oral or 
written statements concerning items on the agen-
da. 
(2) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide to the 
public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory 
group. 
(3) MINUTES.—Minutes of each meeting of the 
advisory group shall be kept by the Secretary and 
shall be made available to the public. 
(c) 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. 7. FUNDING. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to 
remain available until expended. 
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