Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act

Bill: 115-hr-6013
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1]
Introduced: 2018-06-06
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Birds

Department of the Interior

Hunting and fishing

Military personnel and dependents

National Guard and reserves

Veterans' organizations and recognition

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2018-09-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-06-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to revise requirements for hunting ducks, mergansers, and coots. Specifically, the bill establishes January 31 of each year as the closing date of the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots. In addition, the bill extends the hunting season for those birds by an extra weekend for youths, veterans, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty.</p> <p>The Department of the Interior may not decrease the length of the hunting season or bag limit, as compared to the 2017-2018 hunting season, in the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, or Pacific flyway.</p>

action_date: 2018-09-25
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to revise requirements for hunting ducks, mergansers, and coots. Specifically, the bill establishes January 31 of each year as the closing date of the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots. In addition, states may extend the hunting season for those birds by an extra weekend for youths, veterans, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6013 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2018 Mr. Bishop of Utah (for himself and Mr. Bergman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act . 2. Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 704 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots (1) In general In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to a framework for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date of the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots. (2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allow youths, veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots during the first weekend in February of each year. (3) Prohibition With respect to ducks, mergansers, and coots, the Secretary shall not decrease the length of the hunting season or bag limit, as compared to the length of the hunting season and bag limit for the 2017–2018 hunting season, in— (A) the Atlantic flyway; (B) the Mississippi flyway; (C) the Central flyway; or (D) the Pacific flyway. (4) Regulations (A) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection. (B) 2018–2019 migratory bird hunting season The Secretary shall modify the proposed rule entitled Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations (83 Fed. Reg. 4964 (February 2, 2018)), if, before the date of enactment of this subsection— (i) the proposed rule has been finalized; and (ii) the 2018–2019 duck hunting season has not commenced in— (I) the Atlantic flyway; (II) the Mississippi flyway; (III) the Central flyway; or (IV) the Pacific flyway. .

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6013 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act . 2. Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 704 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Federal framework closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots (1) In general In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to the Federal framework for outside dates within which the States may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots— (A) adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway council (as defined in section 20.152 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations) for the Federal framework if considered by the Secretary to be consistent with science-based and sustainable adaptive harvest management, but the framework closing date shall be January 31 of each year; and (B) allow the States to establish the closing date for the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework. (2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel (A) In general Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by the States. (B) Requirements In selecting days under subparagraph (A), a State shall ensure that— (i) the days selected— (I) do not fall within the regular hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots; (II) with regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday or other day in which schools are not in session; and (III) are not more than 14 days before or after the hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and (ii) the total number of days in a hunting season for ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days. (C) Limitation A State may combine the 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any purpose. (3) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6013 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 26, 2018 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works AN ACT To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act . 2. Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 704 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Federal framework closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots (1) In general In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to the Federal framework for outside dates within which the States may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots— (A) adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway council (as defined in section 20.152 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations) for the Federal framework if considered by the Secretary to be consistent with science-based and sustainable adaptive harvest management, but the framework closing date shall be January 31 of each year; and (B) allow the States to establish the closing date for the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework. (2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel (A) In general Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by the States. (B) Requirements In selecting days under subparagraph (A), a State shall ensure that— (i) the days selected— (I) do not fall within the regular hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots; (II) with regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday or other day in which schools are not in session; and (III) are not more than 14 days before or after the hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and (ii) the total number of days in a hunting season for ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days. (C) Limitation A State may combine the 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any purpose. (3) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 757 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6013 [Report No. 115–969] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2018 Mr. Bishop of Utah (for himself and Mr. Bergman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources September 25, 2018 Additional sponsor: Mr. Kelly of Mississippi September 25, 2018 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 6, 2018 A BILL To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act . 2. Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 704 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Federal framework closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots (1) In general In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to the Federal framework for outside dates within which the States may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots— (A) adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway council (as defined in section 20.152 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations) for the Federal framework, but the framework closing date shall be January 31 of each year; and (B) allow the States to establish the closing date for the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework. (2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel (A) In general Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by the States. (B) Requirements In selecting days under subparagraph (A), a State shall ensure that— (i) the days selected— (I) do not fall within the regular hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots; (II) with regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday or other day in which schools are not in session; and (III) are not more than 14 days before or after the hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and (ii) the total number of days in a hunting season for ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days. (C) Limitation A State may combine the 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any purpose. (3) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter. .

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes. .

September 25, 2018 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed