zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation Act - Amends P.L. 99-548, commonly known as the Mesquite Lands Act of 1986, to require proceeds from sales in the fourth area to be used for the implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan for the Virgin River in Clark County, Nevada, including any associated groundwater monitoring plan.

Amends the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000 to require implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan in Lincoln County, Nevada.

Extends, until November 29, 2021, withdrawal and purchase authority with respect to the fifth and sixth areas.

Date: 2013-04-25
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Cormorant Management and Natural Resources Protection Act - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to delegate the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under such Act with respect to double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) to a state on the date the Secretary approves a cormorant management plan submitted by such state.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) approve or disapprove a management plan within 60 days of the plan's submission, (2) approve such plan if it is in accordance with U.S. obligations under treaties and federal law, (3) provide to the relevant governor the reasons for disapproving a plan and an opportunity to revise and resubmit the plan, (4) review each approved state management plan every five years, and (5) revoke such approval and delegation if the plan or the governor's exercise of delegated authority is not in accordance with such Act or any treaty implemented by such Act. Deems a management plan approved if the Secretary doesn't approve or disapprove it within 60 days after submission.

Applies an approved management plan in lieu of regulations issued under such Act.

Requires the Secretary to conduct educational and informational activities for the owners and operators of aquaculture facilities to improve their efforts to prevent cormorants from consuming aquatic species being reared in such facilities.

Date: 2013-04-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act of 2013 - Designates specified lands in Maine within the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Cross Island Wilderness, and within the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness, as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Date: 2013-04-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2013 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue a permit for the importation of any polar bear part (other than an internal organ) from a polar bear taken in a sport hunt in Canada to any person who submits proof that the polar bear was legally harvested before May 15, 2008 (currently by February 18, 1997), when polar bears were listed as a threatened species by the Department of the Interior.

Date: 2013-04-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Restoration of the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Conservation Fund Act of 2013 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the importation of polar bear parts taken legally in sport hunts in Canada.

Date: 2013-04-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Protecting Lakes Against Quaggas Act of 2013 or the PLAQ Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the importation or shipment of the species of mussels of the genus Dreissena (thus covering quagga mussels). (Currently, the prohibition applies to only the zebra mussel of the species Dreissena polymorpha.)

Date: 2013-04-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Enhancement of Species Survival Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to define the term "enhancement of propagation or survival" to mean directly or indirectly improving a species' sustainability in the wild.

Requires the Secretary (Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of Agriculture, as the case may be) (who under existing law is already authorized) to allow certain prohibited acts for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered species of fish or wildlife or plants, including, but not limited to, acts necessary for the establishment and maintenance of experimental populations of such species.

Authorizes the appropriate Secretary to allow the otherwise prohibited taking of any such species within the United States or the U.S. territorial sea if it is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity.

Directs the appropriate Secretary to permit the importation of a sport-hunted trophy or other specimen that was legally taken from a population of a species not native to the United States (including a domestic population of such species), if it is listed as an endangered or threatened species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and all trade in the trophy or specimen is in accordance with Convention requirements and relevant resolutions and quotas adopted by the Convention.

 Requires also permission to import a sport-hunted trophy or other specimen of a marine mammal that has been legally taken from a depleted population stock listed as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Date: 2013-05-07
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
More Water and Security for Californians Act - Deems requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 relating to operations of the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project to be satisfied with regard to the species and their critical habitat covered by the biological opinions for the operations of such Projects issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) if:

 the alternatives described in that portion of the biological opinions entitled "Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives" are implemented; and the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce ensure that: (1) between December 1 and June 30, neither such biological opinion shall restrict flow in Old and Middle Rivers to a 14-day average of the mean daily flow to achieve flow less negative than -5,000 cubic feet per second; (2) between April 1 and May 31, rates of pumping at the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant and Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant shall not be reduced pursuant to such NMFS opinion, except as required to implement California State Water Resources Control Board Water Rights Decision 1641 or a superseding water rights decision; and (3) between September 1 and November 30, a monthly average x2 (salinity zone index) of no greater than 74 km from the Golden Gate shall be maintained only to the extent that such action does not diminish the capability of either the Central Valley Project or the California State Water Project to make water available for other authorized project purposes. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to modify such mandates  upon recommendations of the National Research Council Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta, if such modifications would: (1) provide greater benefits to the species covered by such biological opinions, and (2) not reduce the water delivery capability of such Projects more than their delivery capability allowed under such mandates.

Requires such Secretaries to: (1) establish a fish hatchery program or refuge to preserve and restore the delta smelt in collaboration with the governor of California; (2) implement a habitat program under which each Secretary shall identify, prioritize, and implement key ecosystem restoration and fish passage projects in the ecosystem of, and on tributaries to, the California Bay-Delta to help ensure the viability of at-risk species and  threatened or endangered species; and (3) install the Head of Old River Barrier during the April-May pulse flow, as set forth in California State Water Resources Control Board Water Rights Decision 1641.

Preempts any state law that authorizes the imposition of restrictions on the operation of the Projects in a manner that is more restrictive than this Act.

Terminates this Act on March 1, 2020.

Date: 2013-05-09
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Water resources development
Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit any person from importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, purchasing in interstate or foreign commerce, breeding, or possessing any prohibited wildlife species (current law prohibits importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing such a species in interstate or foreign commerce). Includes among exemptions to such prohibition the breeding transportation, or possession of such species by authorized persons.

Defines "breeding" as facilitating the propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or failing to prevent the propagation or reproduction, of a prohibited wildlife species or other animal.

Removes from the list of persons authorized to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase, breed, or possess such species a person that is licensed or registered, and inspected, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or any other federal agency with respect to such species. Includes in such list:

 an institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) or certified related facilities that coordinate with an AZA Species Survival Plan for breeding of species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; a wildlife sanctuary that cares for such species, is a tax exempt corporation, does not commercially trade in or propagate such species, does not allow direct contact between the public and animals, and does not allow the transportation and display of such species off-site; a person that is in possession of animals of such species that were born before the date of this Act's enactment and that are registered with APHIS within 180 days after such regulations are promulgated; and a traveling circus that regularly travels in interstate commerce to conduct performances featuring live prohibited wildlife species and multiple trained human entertainers, that does not allow members of the public to be in direct contact with or unsafe proximity to a prohibited wildlife species of any age, and that, during the three years preceding this Act's enactment, has not been determined by the Secretary of Agriculture to have violated the Animal Welfare Act by reason of jeopardizing the health and well-being of a prohibited wildlife species. Establishes civil and criminal penalties and forfeiture requirements for violations of this Act.

Date: 2013-05-15
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Transparency for Lethal Control Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, to submit an annual report to Congress (and make such report publicly available on the Internet) on the animals killed during the preceding year under the wildlife services program or by a state or local entity acting in cooperation with or on behalf of such program.

Date: 2013-05-21
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Expedited Departure of Certain Snake Species Act - Eases restrictions on transporting invasive animals under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 for the transport of the Burmese python, Indian python, Northern African python, Southern African python, and Yellow anaconda. Allows an intermediate stop during the transport of those snakes if: (1) the stop is made in a designated airport in the course of transport that begins at a designated airport and ends at a place outside of the United States no later than 48 hours after the transport begins, (2) the transport does not include a stop in Hawaii, or (3) the snake is in a qualified secure container during transport between aircraft used to transport the snake outside of the United States.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish a program to provide loans and loan guarantees to enable state political subdivisions  to acquire interests in real property pursuant to habitat conservation plans approved by the Secretary of the Interior under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Requires the Secretary to: (1) submit loan applications for the Secretary of the Interior's review, which shall include a determination that the subdivision has adopted a complementary plan for sustainable infrastructure development that provides for the mitigation of environmental impacts; and (2) give preference to such subdivisions located in biologically rich regions in which rapid growth and development threaten successful implementation of approved habitat conservation plans.

Date: 2013-06-06
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to: (1) authorize a state to pay up to 90% of the costs of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range; (2) authorize a state to elect to allocate 10% of a specified amount apportioned to it from the federal aid to wildlife restoration fund for such costs; (3) limit the federal share of such costs under such Act to 90%; and (4) require amounts provided for such costs under such Act to remain available for expenditure and obligation for five fiscal years.

Shields the United States from any civil action or claim for money damages for injury to or loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by an activity occurring at a public target range that is funded by the federal government pursuant to such Act or located on federal land, except to the extent provided under the Federal Tort Claims Act with respect to the exercise or performance of a discretionary function.

 Urges the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to cooperate with state and local authorities and other entities to carry out waste removal and other activities on any federal land used as a public target range to encourage its continued use for target practice or marksmanship training.

Date: 2013-06-20
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Wildlife Veterinarians Employment and Training Act or the Wildlife VET Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to wildlife or veterinary institutions to create additional clinical and research positions for wildlife and zoological veterinarians, with preference to institutions that will create positions in areas of need, including wildlife disease research and training, disease surveillance, ecology and wildlife population management, and conservation and management of the health of endangered, threatened, and sensitive species.

Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment Program to repay educational loans of applicants who have received a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine or a graduate degree in veterinary medicine after receiving such doctoral degree, or who are enrolled in an accredited program that leads to such a degree, and who agree to serve for at least four consecutive years at a wildlife or veterinary institution as a wildlife or zoological veterinarian; and (2) the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Scholarship Program to award students enrolled in an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine scholarships in exchange for entering a contract to serve for at least four consecutive years as wildlife or zoological veterinarians at wildlife or veterinary institutions.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a pilot program to award competitive grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine to develop or improve new or existing curricula that specialize in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine; and (2) award competitive grants to eligible wildlife or veterinary institutions to establish or expand, for traineeship candidates, training programs (including externship, internship, fellowship, or residency programs) that will enhance the ability of a trainee to practice as a wildlife or zoological veterinarian.

Date: 2013-07-23
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Sportsmen's Heritage And Recreational Enhancement or SHARE Act - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture (USDA) on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting.

Requires the Advisory Committee to report annually to the Secretaries and to Congress.

Exempts the Advisory Committee from the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Abolishes the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.

Date: 2013-07-23
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Captive Primate Safety Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to add nonhuman primates to the definition of "prohibited wildlife species" for purposes of the prohibition against the sale or purchase of such species in interstate or foreign commerce.

Makes it unlawful for a person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase a live animal of any prohibited wildlife species in interstate or foreign commerce (i.e., for pet trade purposes). Modifies exceptions to such prohibition, including by making it inapplicable to a person who is: (1) a licensed and inspected person who does not allow direct contact between the public and prohibited wildlife species, and (2) transporting a single primate of the genus Cebus that was obtained from and trained by a charitable organization to assist a permanently disabled individual with a severe mobility impairment.

Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2013-07-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Aquaculture Risk Reduction Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to exclude from the meaning of the term "fish or wildlife” any animal accidentally included in a shipment of an aquatic species produced in commercial aquaculture for human consumption or for use for recreational or ornamental purposes.

Date: 2013-09-17
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Limitation Act of 2013 - Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from expanding any national wildlife refuge, except as expressly authorized by a law enacted after January 3, 2013.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Pinyon-Juniper Related Projects Implementation Act - Amends the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000 (the Act) to require implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan in Lincoln County, Nevada.

Amends the Act and the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 to make certain amounts available for: (1) pinyon-juniper dominated landscape restoration projects within the county, consistent with the Ely Resource Management Plan; and (2) completing specified plans and activities.

Declares that establishment and funding of cooperative agreements between the BLM and Lincoln County shall be required for certain county-provided law enforcement and planning related activities.

Requires the use of a portion of proceeds from land sales under both Acts for economic development in Lincoln County.

Excludes specified public land within certain utility corridors in Lincoln and Clark Counties, Nevada, from being withdrawn from public land, mining, and mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act - Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to prohibit the use or possession of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Imposes on persons who possess or use such traps in the System: (1) for a first offense, a civil fine of up to $500 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; and (2) for subsequent offenses, a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both such a civil fine and imprisonment.

Subjects to civil forfeiture any body-gripping traps that are possessed or used in violation of this Act, and any wildlife captured by the use of such traps, including the pelts and raw fur.

Requires persons found to be in violation of such prohibition to pay all associated court costs.

Date: 2013-11-15
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to require the consent of the governor of a state in which a species is present for: (1) a determination of endangered or threatened species status by regulation, and (2) listing of the species as endangered or threatened by the Secretary of the Interior upon a determination by the Secretary of Commerce.

Eliminates a rulemaking procedure involving the petitioning by an interested person for adding a species to, or removing a species from, the lists of endangered and threatened species.

Defines "best scientific and commercial data," for purposes of determinations, to include any scientific evidence made available by any state agency.

Subjects determinations by the Secretaries of the Interior and of Commerce to list species as endangered or threatened to congressional approval by joint resolution.

 Requires removal of each species listed on an approved list five years after the joint resolution is enacted. Provides a procedure for re-submission by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the governor of each state in which the endangered or threatened species is present, of a list including a species so removed and subjects that list to approval by joint resolution.

 Eliminates the requirement for guidelines concerning petitions.

Establishes a process for exclusive state regulation of endangered or threatened species determined by a state governor to be present only within that state. Precludes judicial review of any such action. Subjects the following to the process of intrastate regulation: (1) issuance of species conservation regulations, (2) recovery plan implementation, (3) species recovery monitoring, and (4) establishment of agency guidelines.

Requires the Administrators of the Bonneville, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western Area Power Administrations, except with respect to intrastate species regulation, to include in customer monthly billing statements information on the share of costs to the customer incurred as a result of ESA compliance.

Allows an owner or lessee of any real property to submit to the Secretary of the Interior an application that includes any proposed use of the real property for a determination of whether the use will violate ESA. Deems the use to be compliant if the Secretary fails to respond within 90 days. Allows the owner or lessee to seek compensation (150% of the property's fair market value) if the use is determined to violate ESA and an action of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service diminishes the fair market value of any real property by at least 50% with respect to the intended use.

Eliminates the award of attorney fees in citizen suits under ESA.

Date: 2013-11-19
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
Wild Game Donation Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the tax deduction for charitable contributions of qualified wild game meat by the processing fees paid with respect to such contributions, and (2) exclude from the gross income of meat processors processing fees paid by a charitable organization for the processing of donated wild game meat.

Defines "qualified wild game meat" as the meat of any animal typically used for human consumption but only if: (1) such animal is killed in the wild by the individual making the charitable contribution and is hunted or taken in accordance with all state and local laws, (2) the meat is processed for human consumption by a licensed processor, and (3) the meat is apparently wholesome as determined by regulations under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Taxation
Federal Lands Invasive Species Control, Prevention, and Management Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (respecting federal lands administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA], Bureau of Land Management [BLM], Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) (respecting federal lands administered through the U.S. Forest Service) to plan and carry out activities on lands directly managed by the Secretary concerned to control and manage invasive species in order to inhibit or reduce their populations and to effectuate restoration or reclamation efforts.

Requires the Secretary concerned to develop a strategic plan for the implementation of an invasive species program that endeavors to achieve an annual 5% net reduction of invasive species populations on lands managed by that Secretary.

Requires the Secretary concerned to use: (1) no less than 75% of funds each fiscal year for on-the-ground control and management of invasive species; (2) no more than 15% of such funds for investigations, development activities, and outreach and public awareness efforts to address invasive species control and management needs; and (3) no more than 10% for administrative costs.

Requires the Secretaries, in selecting the method or methods to control or manage an invasive species as part of a specific control or management project, to require the use of the least costly options necessary to perform effectively, based on sound scientific data and other commonly used cost-effective benchmarks in the area.

Date: 2014-02-05
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Defending Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out projects necessary to separate the hydrologic connection between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins to prevent the interbasin transfer of aquatic invasive species.

Requires the Secretary: (1) not later than 180 days after this Act's enactment, to undertake design activities necessary to carry out such projects; and (2) not later than 180 days after completion of such design activities, to begin construction of such projects.

Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to enter into agreements with non-federal interests to assist in carrying out such projects, and (2) a federal cost share for such projects of up to 100%.

Date: 2014-02-05
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Water resources development
Horse Protection Amendments Act of 2013 [sic] - Amends the Horse Protection Act to replace the Designated Qualified Persons program responsible for inspecting horses for soring with a new inspection system. (The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.)

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a single Horse Industry Organization (HIO) in order to establish a formal affiliation with the management of each horse sale, horse exhibition, and horse sale or auction, appoint inspectors to conduct inspections, and otherwise ensure compliance with the Horse Protection Act.

Directs the appointment of individuals by the Commissioners of Agriculture for Tennessee and Kentucky to govern the HIO. Requires those individuals to appoint individuals representing the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

Date: 2014-02-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Temporary Resources for Emergency Eradication Act of 2014 or TREE Act of 2014 - Makes FY2014 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for: (1) tree and wood pests activities of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and (2) cooperative land forest health management and urban and community forestry activities of the Forest Service.

Date: 2014-02-26
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Humane Cosmetics Act - Prohibits: (1) any entity from conducting or contracting for cosmetic animal testing in the United States, in or affecting interstate commerce, effective on the date that is one year after enactment of this Act; and (2) selling, offering for sale, or transporting in interstate commerce any cosmetic if the final product or any component was developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing conducted or contracted for after such date, effective three years after this Act's enactment.

Date: 2014-03-05
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Endangered Species Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to direct the Secretary of the Interior, in counting the number of a species in a state for the purposes of determining whether a species is an endangered or threatened species and whether a species has recovered, to count all of the species without regard to whether it is found on state, private, or tribal lands as determined by the state.

Date: 2014-03-14
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
ESA Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from adding a species to the list of endangered and threatened species: (1) if the Secretary has approved a State Protective Action (SPA) for such species, and (2) before the Secretary has made a final determination regarding approval of an SPA.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) notify each state of the opportunity to submit an SPA prior to proposing to add a species to the federal list of endangered and threatened species, and (2) provide guidance to states regarding the preparation of an SPA.

Establishes a process for approving or disapproving a proposed SPA.

Requires the Secretary to review the implementation and effectiveness of an SPA every five years and, if necessary, provide guidance on improvements or revisions that are required to maintain the Secretary's approval of the SPA.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) revoke approval of an SPA and propose adding a species to the federal list if the state has failed to implement the SPA or the SPA failed to make measurable progress toward meeting the recovery criteria for the species, and (2) terminate the effectiveness of an approved SPA if the recovery criteria for the species have been met.

Date: 2014-03-24
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, to make publicly available on the Internet the best scientific and commercial data available that are the basis for the determination of whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species, including each proposed regulation for the listing of a species.

Prohibits the appropriate Secretary from making the information publicly available when: (1) the public disclosure of the information is prohibited by a state law requiring the protection of personal information, and (2) the state requests that the information be withheld.

 Requires the appropriate Secretary to execute an agreement with the Department of Defense (DOD) that prevents the disclosure of classified information pertaining to DOD personnel, facilities, lands, or waters.

(Sec. 3) Requires the appropriate Secretary to: (1) provide to affected states all data that is used as the basis of a determination on whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species before making a determination; and (2) use data submitted by a state, tribal, or county government in making such a determination.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit an annual report detailing federal expenditures for civil actions brought under the ESA containing claims that are based on the actions of the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, or the Southeastern Power Administration. Requires Interior to make the information available online in a searchable database.

Requires the report to include the total funds expended to respond to ESA lawsuits, the number of full-time federal employees dedicated to ESA lawsuits, attorneys' fees awarded in the course of ESA lawsuits and settlements, and any federal funding used in bringing a claim under the ESA.

(Sec. 5) Replaces the current standard for awarding court costs, including attorney's fees, in citizen suits with the federal judicial code standard for awarding costs to a prevailing party.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
Endangered Species Recovery Transparency Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to require the Department of the Interior to submit an annual report detailing federal expenditures for civil actions brought under the ESA containing claims that are based on the actions of Interior, the Forest Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, or the Southeastern Power Administration. Requires Interior to make the information available online in a searchable database.

Requires the report to include the total funds expended to respond to ESA lawsuits, the number of full-time employees dedicated to ESA lawsuits, and attorneys' fees awarded in the course of ESA lawsuits and settlements.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

State, Tribal, and Local Species Transparency and Recovery Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, to provide to affected states all data that is used as the basis of a determination on whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species before making a determination.

Requires the appropriate Secretary to use data submitted by a state, tribal, or county government in making such a determination.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to replace the current standard for awarding court costs, including attorney fees, in citizen suits with the federal judicial code standard for awarding costs to a prevailing party.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
Common Sense in Species Protection Act of 2014 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce to exclude an area from designation as a critical habitat to conserve an endangered or threatened species if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of including the area, unless the failure to designate the area as critical habitat will result in the extinction of the species.

Requires the appropriate Secretary to make available for public comment with any proposed rule to designate a critical habitat a draft analysis that: (1) examines the incremental and cumulative economic effects of all actions to protect the species and its habitat upon each state and locality that is affected by the proposed designation; (2) includes consideration of economic effects on possible uses of land and property values, employment, revenues available for state and local governments, and the provision of water, power, or other public services; and (3) assesses those effects on a quantitative and qualitative basis.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Environmental protection
Sage-Grouse and Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to extend to five years the deadlines for determining whether there is substantial evidence in support of a petition to add or remove a species from the list of endangered or threatened species and the petition is warranted. Prohibits a petition from being considered for 10 years after either a determination is made that the petition is not warranted or a regulation to list a species is withdrawn.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce as appropriate (the Secretary) to make publicly available a cost-benefit analysis of listing the species when a petition is found to be warranted.

Prohibits the Secretary from adding to the list a species in a state in which the majority of lands are managed by the federal government, unless specified information is provided to the state.

Requires conservation measures to be conducted on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and National Forest System lands to address the habitat and viability of: (1) endangered or threatened species, and (2) other species to alleviate the need to list a species under such Act. Establishes a program to sell certain public land parcels to generate revenues for such measures.

Requires activities on BLM or forest land parcels of 10,000 acres or less and that are related to threats to protected species to be: (1) categorically excluded from the requirements relating to environmental assessments or environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act, and (2) exempt from the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and related requirements.

Requires the Secretary to use the best scientific and economic data available in conducting the five-year reviews of the status of listed species.

Deems a designation of critical habitat that restricts the uses of land to be a regulatory taking of property.

Date: 2014-04-08
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Animal Emergency Planning Act of 2014 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to require research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and carriers (covered persons) to develop, document, and follow a contingency plan to provide for the humane handling, treatment, transportation, housing, and care of their animals in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Requires the plan to:

 identify situations that the covered person might experience, including natural disasters and emergencies, that would trigger the need to implement the measures identified in the plan; outline tasks to be carried out in response to emergencies or disasters, including animal evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions and provisions for providing backup sources of food and water as well as sanitation, ventilation, bedding, and veterinary care; establish a chain of command and identify the individuals responsible for fulfilling the tasks; and address how response and recovery will be handled in terms of materials, resources, and training needed. Requires covered persons to review their plan at least annually to ensure compliance with this Act, and train personnel in their roles and responsibilities as outlined in the plan, and promptly provide training when the plan changes.

Prohibits this Act from preempting state law that provides greater protection for animals.

Date: 2014-04-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Sage Grouse Protection and Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) or the Secretary of the Interior to give effect to a statewide conservation and management plan for the protection and recovery of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) from either California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. Requires the appropriate Secretary to:

 hold for at least 10 years actions to list the species as endangered or threatened, the enforcement of the listing, and the designation of critical habitat for the species in that state; withdraw any land use planning activities related to federal management of the species on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land within the state; and amend federal land use plans with respect to that state to comply with a state plan. Applies these requirements to states that submit a plan or have a plan previously endorsed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Requires the appropriate Secretary to: (1) review statewide plans to determine if they are likely to conserve the species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 are no longer necessary; (2) approve or endorse, or make comments on, statewide plans; and (3) provide states with information and make personnel available to help with plans.

Prohibits any proposed action pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that occurs within one of those states from being denied or restricted solely on the basis of such sage-grouse if the action is consistent with a state plan that has been submitted to the appropriate Secretary.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Pollinator Protection Act - Authorizes as an eligible project cost for the construction of a federal-aid highway the cost of improving habitat and forage for pollinators (i.e. bees, birds, bats, Monarch butterflies, and other butterflies) on rights-of-way adjacent to such highways.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), in conjunction with willing states, to carry out programs that encourage: (1) integrated vegetation management practices on roadsides and other transportation rights-of-ways, including reduced mowing; (2) the development of habitat and forage for pollinators through planting of native forbs and grasses, including noninvasive, native milkweed species; and (3) research and demonstration projects on economic and environmental benefits and best practices for integrated vegetation management, reduced mowing, and planting of native forbs and grasses for pollinator habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for Monarch butterflies and other migrating pollinators.

Authorizes the use of federal funds for the provision of habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for Monarch butterflies, other native pollinators, and honey bees that is related to a federally-funded transportation project.

Date: 2014-05-30
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Clarification of Legal Enforcement Against Non-criminal Energy Producers Act of 2014 or the CLEAN Energy Producers Act of 2014 - Amends the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue or deny an eagle permit that authorizes the taking of a bald eagle or golden eagle that is incidental to, but not the purpose of, an otherwise lawful activity. Deems the permit as issued if the Secretary fails to act within a reasonable time (not exceeding one year).

Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to add an intent element to criminal liability for the taking, killing, or other harm to a migratory bird that is accidental or incidental to the presence or operation of an otherwise lawful activity.

Date: 2014-06-02
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Lesser Prairie Chicken Voluntary Recovery Act of 2014 - Removes the Department of the Interior's listing of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Prohibits further treatment of the species as threatened or endangered before January 31, 2020.

Requires Interior to monitor and submit an annual report on progress in the conservation of the lesser prairie chicken under:

 the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, all related Candidate Conservation Agreements (agreements to voluntarily undertake measures to conserve a covered species), Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances (agreements to voluntarily undertake measures to conserve a covered species with assurances that additional measures will not be imposed if the species becomes listed in the future), conservation programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), state conservation programs, and private conservation efforts. Prohibits the lesser prairie chicken from being treated as threatened or endangered beginning on January 31, 2020, unless Interior publishes a determination that conservation efforts under the Range-Wide Plan, agreements, programs, and efforts have not achieved the Plan's conservation goals.

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Lawful Ivory Protection Act of 2014 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit any regulation that goes in effect after February 24, 2014, from:

 prohibiting or restricting the possession, sale, delivery, receipt, shipping, or transportation of elephant ivory that has been lawfully imported; changing any methods of, or standards for, determining if ivory has been lawfully imported; or prohibiting or restricting the importation or possession of ivory that was lawfully importable or possessable on that date.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals
Wild Horse Oversight Act - Amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to direct the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), at the request of a state or an Indian tribe, to allow the state or tribe to assume all management and protection functions under the Act with regard to wild free-roaming horses and burros on land within the boundaries of the state or tribe.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on November 17, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act to increase the price of duck stamps, which are required to hunt migratory waterfowl, from $15 to $25.

Authorizes the Department of the Interior to reduce the price of stamps for a hunting year if the increase in the stamp price resulted in a reduction in revenues deposited in the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.

Establishes a subaccount in the Fund to be used by Interior to acquire easements for the conservation of migratory birds. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer all amounts in excess of $15 from the sale of each stamp to the subaccount.

(Sec. 3) Requires Interior to include in an annual report of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission an assessment of the status of wetlands conservation projects for migratory bird conservation purposes, including an accounting of all expenditures made for acquisition of federal lands and an analysis of whether refuge lands are opened or closed for hunting and fishing.

(Sec. 4) Allows rural Alaska residents to take migratory waterfowl for subsistence uses without a duck stamp.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Environment (Species & Forest)
Subject: Animals