I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1707 
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 
APRIL 19, 2005 
Mr. SHAW (for himself, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. ROYCE, and Mr. TAN-
NER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Resources 
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 2005.’’
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-
tion under the IUCN Red List, the lists of species 
in CITES appendices I, II, and III, or the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973. Of the 35 wild canid spe-
cies 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 
ecological 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. Meas-
ures taken to benefit these keystone species will ulti-
mately 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 
range countries for those species do not have ade-
quate infrastructure to protect species of concern. 
Those countries that do provide assistance to threat-
ened populations need further assistance in imple-
menting 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 popu-
lations and their habitat, those efforts can be signifi-
cantly strengthened and enhanced by increased co-
ordination 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 popu-
lations 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: 
(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 
‘‘conserva-
tion’’— 
(A) means the methods and procedures 
necessary 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 in-
stitutions to implement conservation pro-
grams. 
(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Great 
Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund estab-
lished 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 En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1532(c)); and
(B) includes such a subspecies or popu-
lation of dhole (Cuon alpinus), gray wolf (Canis 
lupus), ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), african 
wild dog (Lycaon pictus), or maned wolf 
(Chrysocyon brachyurus). 
(6) RARE FELID.—The term ‘‘rare felid’’— 
(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 En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1532(c)); 
(B) includes such a subspecies or popu-
lation of lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera 
pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), snow leopard 
(Uncia 
uncia), 
clouded 
leopard 
(Neofelis 
nebulosa), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), or ibe-
rian lynx (Lynx pardina); and 
(C) does not include any tiger (Panthera 
tigris).
(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 
officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to 
provide financial assistance for projects for the conserva-
tion of rare felid and rare canids for which project pro-
posals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with 
this section. 
(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 conserva-
tion in the wild of rare felids or rare canids, re-
spectively. 
(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— 
(i) methods for project implementa-
tion 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 
required 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 pro-
posal to the appropriate Federal officials; and 
(B) review each project proposal in a time-
ly 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 assur-
ances that the project will be implemented in 
consultation with relevant wildlife management 
authorities and other appropriate government 
officials with jurisdiction over the resources ad-
dressed 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— 
(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 En-
dangered 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 
management 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. 
(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 
approve 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 
assistance under this section for a project shall sub-
mit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such inter-
vals as the Secretary considers necessary) that in-
clude all information that the Secretary, after con-
sultation with other appropriate government offi-
cials, 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 re-
lating to projects for which financial assistance is 
provided under this Act, shall be made available to 
the public. 
(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 spe-
cies for release into the wild only if no other con-
servation method for the species is biologically fea-
sible. 
(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 private organizations actively involved in the 
conservation of felids and canids. 
(2) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 
(A) 
MEETINGS.—The 
advisory 
group 
shall— 
(i) ensure that each meeting of the 
advisory 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 agen-
da. 
(C) MINUTES.—Minutes of each meeting 
of the advisory group shall be kept by the Sec-
retary and shall be made available to the public.
(3) EXEMPTION
FROM
FEDERAL
ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE 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 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 under the heading 
‘‘MULTINATIONAL 
SPECIES 
CONSERVATION 
FUND’’, a separate account to be known as the ‘‘Great 
Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund’’, consisting 
of— 
(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 $80,000, 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 Treas-
ury 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 
purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obliga-
tions 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 obli-
gations 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 esti-
mates made by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall 
be made in amounts subsequently transferred to the 
extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than 
the amounts required to be transferred. 
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.—The 
Secretary may accept and use donations to provide assist-
ance under section 4. Amounts received by the Secretary 
in the form of donations shall be transferred to the Sec-
retary 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 fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to 
carry out this Act. 
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