I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1593 
To establish the National Invasive Species Council, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 13, 2005 
Mr. EHLERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the National Invasive Species Council, and for 
other purposes. 
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 ‘‘National Invasive Spe-
cies Council Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING FEDERAL DU-
TIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No Federal agency may author-
ize, fund, or carry out any action that would likely cause 
or promote the introduction or spread of an invasive spe-
cies in the United States or any other location, unless the
head of the Federal agency, at his or her sole discretion 
and pursuant to guidelines developed under subsection (b), 
determines that— 
(1) the benefits of the action under consider-
ation clearly outweigh the potential harm to the en-
vironment, economy, or human health caused by the 
introduction or spread of the invasive species; and 
(2) all feasible and prudent measures to mini-
mize risk of harm to the environment, economy, or 
human health will be taken in carrying out the ac-
tions. 
(b) GUIDELINES.—The Council for Environmental 
Quality, in conjunction with the Invasive Species Council, 
shall develop guidelines for Federal agencies to analyze ac-
tions pursuant to this section. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established as an 
independent entity within the executive branch the Na-
tional Invasive Species Council. The Council shall provide 
leadership and coordination among Federal agencies, and 
between the Federal Government and State and local gov-
ernments, with respect to effort to minimize the economic, 
ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species 
cause and reduce the threat of further invasions. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall consist of 
the following members: 
(A) The Secretary of the Interior. 
(B) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(C) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(D) The Secretary of State. 
(E) The Secretary of the Treasury. 
(F) The Secretary of Defense. 
(G) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(H) The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services. 
(I) The Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(J) The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development. 
(K) Such additional members as may be 
appointed under paragraph (2). 
(2) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—With the concur-
rence of a majority of the members of the Council, 
the Chair of the Council may appoint additional 
members to the Council from among individuals who 
are officers or employees of the Federal Government 
with significant responsibilities concerning invasive 
species.
(c) CHAIR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall serve 
as chair of the Council for the three-year period beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. Thereafter, the 
chair shall rotate every three years among the following 
members, in the order stated: 
(1) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(2) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(3) The Secretary of the Interior. 
(d) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet at least 
semiannually, at the call of chair. 
(e) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The President shall ap-
point the Executive Director of the Council, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—Before appointing an in-
dividual under paragraph (1), the President shall 
consult with the Secretary of the Interior, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Com-
merce. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—An individual appointed 
under this subsection must have legal or scientific 
experience and training in the area of natural re-
sources, ecology, or agriculture, and experience in 
dealing with public policy matters regarding aquatic 
and terrestrial invasive species.
(4) TERM.—The Executive Director of the 
Council shall serve a term of six years, unless re-
moved earlier by the President. 
(5) COMPENSATION.—The Executive Director 
shall be paid at the maximum rate of basic pay for 
GS–15 of the General Schedule. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall ensure that 
Federal agency efforts concerning invasive species are co-
ordinated, effective, complementary, and cost-efficient. 
(b) SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS.—To carry out subsection 
(a) the Council shall perform the following functions: 
(1) Coordinate with existing organizations ad-
dressing invasive species, such as the Aquatic Nui-
sance Species Task Force, the Federal Interagency 
Committee for the Management of Noxious and Ex-
otic Weeds, regional panels established under the 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and 
Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.), and 
the White House Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, to implement the National Management 
Plan. 
(2) Develop recommendations for international 
cooperation between Federal and State Governments 
and other nations on tools, policies, and methods to