(1) There is a significant deficit in the capa-
bility of many developing countries to manage their 
natural resources sustainably, which is fundamental 
to achieving economic development, poverty allevi-
ation, conflict avoidance, good governance, and re-
gional security. 
(2) Developing countries with a great wealth of 
natural resources are facing a great risk of conflict. 
Issues that arise in these countries include corrup-
tion, disputes over control and distribution of the re-
sources and resulting wealth, fighting over and de-
struction of resources and resource-rich areas, and 
human rights abuses. 
(3) Developing countries that successfully man-
age their natural resource wealth, however, continue 
to benefit from these resources without resulting 
conflict. 
(4) It is in the security interest of the United 
States to share the vast experience and proven meth-
odologies that the United States has achieved over 
many decades with developing countries struggling 
to establish their own successful natural resource 
management programs and policies. 
(5) The many United States senior profes-
sionals retiring from both the public and private sec-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tor with extensive experience and expertise in the 
field of natural resource management, acting in a 
voluntary capacity, presents a unique and important 
opportunity to help other countries develop the ca-
pacity 
to 
manage 
their 
natural 
resources 
sustainably. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish a pro-
gram to provide grants to qualifying nonprofit organiza-
tions to enable such organizations to assign and support 
volunteers to assist foreign countries identified under sec-
tion 4 in the administration of their natural resources in 
an environmentally sustainable manner. 
(b) DETAILS
OF
THE PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
shall develop and implement the program such that it in-
cludes providing professional, scientific, and technical as-
sistance and training to aid foreign countries in their ef-
forts to— 
(1) develop, manage, and protect national 
parks, natural and cultural heritage sites, and other 
protected areas; 
(2) protect wildlife; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) develop capacity to sustainably manage 
their natural resources. 
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development, shall— 
(1) identify foreign countries as appropriate for 
participation in the program; 
(2) notify such foreign countries of the pro-
gram; and 
(3) encourage such foreign countries to seek to 
participate in the program. 
SEC. 5. AWARD OF GRANTS TO QUALIFYING NONPROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
(a) APPLICATION.— 
(1) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—To be eligible to 
receive a grant under the program, a qualifying non-
profit organization shall submit to the Secretary an 
application including information regarding the ex-
pertise, past experience, and demonstrated capacity 
of the organization, as well as such other informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. 
(2) TIME, FORM, AND MANNER OF APPLICA-
TION.—The application described in paragraph 1 
shall be submitted to the Secretary at such time, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
and in such form and manner, as the Secretary may 
require. 
(3) SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall solicit from qualifying nonprofit organi-
zations applications for grants in accordance with 
this section. 
(b) APPROVAL PROCESS.—As soon as is practicable 
after the date of receipt of an application by the Secretary 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall approve or dis-
approve the application. 
(c) PROVISION OF GRANT.—As soon as is practicable 
after the date on which the Secretary approves an applica-
tion of a qualifying nonprofit organization under sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall provide a grant to such 
organization. 
SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS. 
Any organization that receives a grant under section 
5 shall use funds received under such grant to— 
(1) recruit highly skilled and experienced volun-
teers to participate in the program; and 
(2) place such volunteers with foreign countries 
participating in the program to work in appropriate 
projects in the program, subject to section 8. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 7. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
(a) SUBMISSION OF PERIODIC REPORTS.—At times 
specified by the Secretary, any organization that receives 
a grant under section 5 shall submit to the Secretary peri-
odic reports that include all information that the Secretary 
determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and suc-
cess of projects in the program for the purposes of ensur-
ing positive results, assessing problems, and fostering im-
provements. 
(b) INTERNET PUBLICATION
OF REPORTS.—The 
Secretary shall make reports under subsection (a) avail-
able to the public through the Internet Web site of the 
Department of the Interior. 
SEC. 8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE. 
(a) ASSIGNMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.—Except as oth-
erwise provided in this Act, the assignment of volunteers 
in appropriate projects in the program shall be on such 
terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine. 
(b) COMPENSATION
OF VOLUNTEERS.—Volunteers 
selected for participation in projects in the program shall 
not be compensated except for a stipend to cover travel 
costs, health and travel insurance costs, living costs, and 
accommodations, awarded in such amounts as the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the program established pursuant to section 3. 
(2) QUALIFYING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘qualifying nonprofit organization’’ means 
an entity described in section 501(c) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
section 501(a) of such Code. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:18 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1195.IH
H1195
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS