Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act

Bill: 115-s-2942
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2018-05-23
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: 2018-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
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>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2942 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 23, 2018 Mrs. Hyde-Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 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. .