To provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate level students engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, or conservation biology, or related natural resource management, to provide expertise and to gain policy experience in Federal executive agencies or the Congress.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Fish and Wildlife Policy 
Fellowship Program Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Nearly one-third of the population of the United States 
        participates in fish and wildlife-related recreation annually. 
        In 2001, 82 million people participated in wildlife-related 
        recreation, including sport angling, hunting, birding, 
        photography, and other activities.
            (2) Vibrant, healthy, and well-managed natural living 
        resources are essential to obtaining the economic benefits 
        derived from them. Wildlife-related recreation contributes 
        significantly to the United States economy. In 2001, the 
        economic impact of fishing and hunting was $116,000,000,000 and 
        $68,000,000,000, respectively. In addition, approximately 
        1,000,000 jobs were created as a result of such recreation.
            (3) There are over 50 university programs, dozens of State 
        and Federal agencies, and over $1 billion dedicated to 
        fisheries and wildlife research, management, and conservation.
            (4) Expertise in freshwater and anadromous fisheries and 
        wildlife policy is paramount to the future effective management 
        of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources.
            (5) The National Sea Grant John A. Knauss Fellowship has 
        been successful in promoting stewardship of the Nation's 
        natural marine and coastal resources. Since 1979, over 528 
        marine scientists have been awarded fellowships that have 
        enabled them to bring their scientific expertise to the Federal 
        agencies and the Congress while obtaining valuable policy 
        experience. Many of the fellows continue to serve as marine 
        policy professionals in the Federal Government, the private 
        sector, and the university research community.
            (6) Currently no formal mechanism exists to secure 
        individuals with specific expertise in freshwater and 
        anadromous fisheries, wildlife, or conservation biology, or 
        related natural resource management, while simultaneously 
        providing valuable policy experience within the Federal 
        Government and the Congress. Such a mechanism would support and 
        enhance stewardship of the Nation's fish and wildlife.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

     In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE POLICY FELLOWSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award fellowships to qualified 
graduate and post-graduate level students engaged in advanced degree 
programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, 
conservation management, or biology.
    (b) Objectives.--In awarding fellowships under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall seek to achieve, with respect to fish and wildlife 
conservation, the following educational and training objectives:
            (1) To provide qualified graduate and postgraduate level 
        individuals opportunities for participation in the policy 
        process within the executive and legislative branches of the 
        Federal Government.
            (2) To provide Federal agencies and the Congress with 
        specific expertise in fish and wildlife management and 
        conservation biology to aid in the effective management of the 
        Nation's natural living resources.
    (c) Guidelines for Award of Fellowships.--The fellowships shall be 
awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the Secretary.
    (d) Term of Fellowships.--A fellowship under subsection (a) shall 
be for a period of not more than 1 year.
    (e) Equal Access.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall strive to ensure equal 
        access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to 
        the program carried out under subsection (a).
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing--
                    (A) the efforts by the Secretary to ensure equal 
                access for minority and economically disadvantaged 
                students to the fellowship carried out under subsection 
                (a); and
                    (B) the results of such efforts.
    (f) Administration.--The Director shall administer fellowships 
under subsection (a).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--To carry out this section there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,400,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
            (2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--Of amounts 
        available to carry out this section each fiscal year, no more 
        than 5 percent may be expended for administrative costs.

Summary: National Fish and Wildlife Policy Fellowship Program Act of 2004 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to award fellowships to qualified graduate and post-graduate level students engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, conservation management, or biology in order to: (1) provide such students with opportunities to participate in the policy process within executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government; and (2) provide Federal agencies and Congress with specific expertise to aid in the effective management of the nation's natural living resources.

Requires the Secretary to strive to ensure equal access to the fellowship program for minority and disadvantaged students and to report to Congress on such efforts.

States that the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall administer fellowships awarded under this Act.