A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to exclude non-native migratory bird species from the application of that Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-2547
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2004-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal breeding
Authorization
Canada
Caribbean area
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
East Asia
Economic assistance
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Europe
Exotic animals
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Guam
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Migratory bird conservation
Non-native species
Russia
Treaties
United Kingdom
Virgin Islands
Wildlife reintroduction

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-18
text: 
 Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004 - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) to clarify that the MBTA's prohibition on taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds applies only to native migratory bird species whose occurrence in the United States results from natural biological or ecological conditions.
 
 Excludes from coverage under the MBTA bird species occurring as the result of human-assisted introduction unless the species: (1) was native to the United States and extant in 1918; (2) became extinct throughout its range thereafter; and (3) was reintroduced as part of a Federal program.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish a list of all nonnative, human introduced bird species to which the MBTA does not apply that belong to biological families of migratory birds covered under any migratory bird conventions with Great Britain (for Canada), Mexico, Russia, or Japan.
 
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2004 -Amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to increase the Federal share of costs for projects funded under that Act. Provides that the non-Federal share shall be paid in cash for projects undertaken in the United States or Canada, but may be paid in cash or in kind for projects in Latin America or the Caribbean.
 
Establishes the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.

action_date: 2004-08-25
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 

Title I: Exclusion of Nonnative Species from Migratory Bird Treaty Act 
- Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004 - (Sec. 102) Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) to clarify that the MBTA's prohibition on taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds applies only to native migratory bird species whose occurrence in the United States results from natural biological or ecological conditions.
 
 Excludes from coverage under the MBTA bird species occurring as the result of human-assisted introduction unless the species: (1) was native to the United States and extant in 1918; (2) became extinct throughout its range thereafter; and (3) was reintroduced as part of a Federal program.
 
(Sec. 103) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish a list of all nonnative, human introduced bird species to which the MBTA does not apply that belong to biological families of migratory birds covered under any migratory bird conventions with Great Britain (for Canada), Mexico, Russia, or Japan.
 

Title II: Conservation of Neotropical Migratory Birds
 - Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2004 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to increase the Federal share of costs for projects funded under that Act. Provides that the non-Federal share shall be paid in cash for projects undertaken in the United States or Canada, but may be paid in cash or in kind for projects in Latin America or the Caribbean.
 
Establishes the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. Authorizes appropriations to the Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-08-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 671.
action_date: 2004-08-25
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/22/04 without amendment. With written report No. 108-313.
action_date: 2004-08-25
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/22/04 without amendment. With written report No. 108-313.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2004-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2004-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate