Keeping Public Lands Open Act

Bill: 113-s-2327
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Walsh, John E. [D-MT]
Introduced: 2014-05-13
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations

Birds

Department of Agriculture

Department of the Interior

Executive agency funding and structure

Forests, forestry, trees

Government trust funds

Land transfers

Land use and conservation

Law enforcement administration and funding

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Wetlands

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2014-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-05-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Keeping Public Lands Open Act - Provides that if an appropriations measure for a covered account for a fiscal year is not enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year and a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for such account is not in effect, such sums as necessary shall be made available without further appropriation to continue any activity for which funds were provided from such account in the preceding fiscal year.</p> <p>Defines &quot;covered account&quot; to mean specified appropriation accounts of: (1) the Department of the Interior for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including amounts for activities of the National Wildlife Refuge System, habitat conservation, the Migratory Bird Conservation Account, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and land acquisition; (2) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), including amounts for the National Landscape Conservation System, land acquisition, and the activities of recreation management, resource protection, and maintenance; (3) the Department of the Interior for the National Park Service, including amounts for land acquisition and state assistance; and (3) the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the Forest Service, including amounts for land acquisition, law enforcement operations, and the activities of recreation, heritage, and wilderness.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2327 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2014 Mr. Walsh introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations A BILL To make continuing appropriations for certain programs that benefit sportsmen in the event of a lapse in appropriations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping Public Lands Open Act . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) units of the National Park System, units of the National Forest System, units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and other public land— (A) are an integral part of the conservation heritage of the United States; (B) provide many recreational opportunities; and (C) support jobs and economic activity in communities across the United States, including in many rural areas; and (2) it is critical that the public have uninterrupted access to the national treasures referred to in paragraph (1). 3. Automatic continuing appropriations for certain covered accounts (a) Definition of covered account In this section, the term covered account means each of the following appropriation accounts: (1) Within the Department of the Interior for the Fish and Wildlife Service, within the resource management appropriation, amounts made available for— (A) the activities of the National Wildlife Refuge System; and (B) habitat conservation. (2) Within the Department of the Interior for the Fish and Wildlife Service, the appropriation for the Migratory Bird Conservation Account. (3) Within the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service, within the National Forest System appropriation, amounts made available for— (A) the activities of recreation, heritage, and wilderness; and (B) law enforcement operations. (4) Within the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, within the management of land and resources appropriation, amounts made available for— (A) the activities of recreation management, resource protection, and maintenance; and (B) the National Landscape Conservation System. (5) Within the Department of the Interior for the National Park Service, the appropriation for the operation of the National Park System. (6) Within the Department of the Interior for the Fish and Wildlife Service, the appropriation for the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. (7) Within the Department of the Interior for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, within the resource management appropriation, under the activity of general operations, the amounts made available for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. (8) Within the Department of the Interior for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the appropriation for land acquisition. (9) Within the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service, the appropriation for land acquisition. (10) Within the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the appropriation for land acquisition. (11) Within the Department of the Interior for the National Park Service, the appropriation for land acquisition and State assistance. (b) Authorization for continuing appropriations If an appropriations measure for a covered account for a fiscal year is not enacted before the beginning of the applicable fiscal year and a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the covered account is not in effect, such sums as may be necessary shall be made available without further appropriation to continue any program, project, or activity for which funds were provided from the covered account in the preceding fiscal year. (c) Amount of appropriations and funds Appropriations and funds made available under this section for a program, project, or activity funded by a covered account shall be in an amount equal to a pro rata amount of the annual funding provided for the program, project, or activity in the preceding appropriations Act or, in the absence of a regular appropriations Act, a joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the preceding fiscal year. (d) Availability of amounts Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, under this section for a program, project, or activity funded by a covered account shall be available for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in appropriations and ending on the date of enactment of the applicable appropriations Act or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations until the end of the fiscal year, whether or not the Act or resolution provides for the program, project, or activity. (e) Requirements Amounts made available, or authority granted, for a program, project, or activity funded by a covered account for any fiscal year under this Act shall be subject to— (1) the terms and conditions imposed with respect to the program, project, or activity for the preceding fiscal year; and (2) the authority granted for the program, project, or activity funded by the covered account under applicable law. (f) Applicable accounts Expenditures made for a program, project, or activity funded by a covered account for any fiscal year under this Act shall be charged to the applicable covered account on the date of enactment of an appropriations Act or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations until the end of a fiscal year that provides funds for the program, project, or activity for the applicable period. (g) Exclusions This section shall not apply to a program, project, or activity funded by a covered account during a fiscal year if any other provision of law (other than a change in authorization of appropriations)— (1) makes an appropriation, makes funds available, or grants authority for the program, project, or activity to continue for the applicable period; or (2) specifically provides that no appropriation shall be made, no funds shall be made available, or no authority shall be granted for the program, project, or activity to continue for the applicable period.