,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ehcf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,grijalva 7for himself and ,mr4 ,jones7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rare ,cats and ,canids ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are to provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation-- 7#a7 to restore and perpetuate healthy populations of rare felids and rare canids in the wild2 and 7#b7 to assist in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations worldwide4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,cites ,the term ,,cites means the ,convention on ,international ,trade in ,endangered ,species of ,wild ,fauna and ,flora1 done at ,washington ,march #c1 #aigc 7#bg ,,ust #ajhg2 ,,tias #hbdi71 including its appendices4 7#b7 ,conservation ,the term conservation-- 7,a7 means the methods and procedures necessary to bring a population1 subspecies1 species1 or taxon of rare felid or rare canid to the point at which there are sufficient populations in the wild to ensure its long-term viability2 and 7,b7 includes all activities associated with protection and management of a population1 subspecies1 species1 or taxon of rare felid or rare canid1 including-- 7i7 maintenance1 management1 protection1 and restoration of rare felid or rare canid habitat2 7ii7 research and monitoring2 7iii7 law enforcement2 7iv7 community outreach and education2 7v7 conflict resolution initiatives2 and 7vi7 strengthening the capacity of local communities1 governmental agencies1 nongovernmental organizations and other institutions to implement conservation programs4 7#c7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,rare ,cats and ,canids ,conservation ,fund established by section #e4 7#d7 ,,iucn ,red ,list ,the term ,,iucn ,red ,list means the ,red ,list of ,threatened ,species ,maintained by the ,world ,conservation ,union4 7#e7 ,rare canid 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the term rare canid means any population1 subspecies1 species1 or taxon in the family ,canidae that is listed in the ,,iucn ,red ,list as near threatened1 vulnerable1 endangered1 or critically endangered4 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term rare canid does not include any subspecies or population that is native to the area comprised of the ,united ,states and ,canada4 7#f7 ,rare ,felid 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the term rare felid means any population1 subspecies1 species1 or taxon in the family ,felidae that is listed in the ,,iucn ,red ,list as near threatened1 vulnerable1 endangered1 or critically endangered4 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term rare felid does not include-- 7i7 any subspecies or population that is native to the area comprised of the ,united ,states and ,canada2 and 7ii7 any tiger 7,panthera tigris74 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #d4 ,financial assistance 7a7 ,in ,general ,subject to the availability of funds and in consultation with other appropriate ,federal officials1 the ,secretary shall use amounts in the ,fund to provide financial assistance for projects for the conservation of rare felid and rare canids for which project proposals are approved by the ,secretary in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,project ,proposals 7#a7 ,eligible applicants ,a proposal for a project for the conservation of rare felid and canids may be submitted to the ,secretary by-- 7,a7 any wildlife management authority of a country that has within its boundaries any part of the range of a rare felid or rare canid1 respectively2 and 7,b7 any person or group with the demonstrated expertise required for the conservation in the wild of rare felids or rare canids1 respectively4 7#b7 ,project proposals ,to be considered for financial assistance for a project under this ,act1 an applicant shall submit a project proposal that includes-- 7,a7 a concise statement of the purposes of the project2 7,b7 the name of the individual responsible for conducting the project2 7,c7 a description of the qualifications of the individuals who will conduct the project2 7,d7 a concise description of-- 7i7 methods for project implementation and outcome assessment2 7ii7 staffing for the project2 7iii7 the logistics of the project2 and 7iv7 community involvement in the project2 7,e7 an estimate of funds and time required to complete the project2 7,f7 evidence of support for the project by appropriate governmental entities of the countries in which the project will be conducted1 if the ,secretary determines that such support is required for the success of the project2 7,g7 information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project2 and 7,h7 any other information that the ,secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under this ,act4 7c7 ,project ,review and ,approval 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 not later than #cj days after receiving a project proposal1 provide a copy of the proposal to the appropriate ,federal officials2 and 7,b7 review each project proposal in a timely manner to determine if the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,consultation2 approval or disapproval ,not later than #ahj days after receiving a project proposal1 and subject to the availability of funds1 the ,secretary1 after consulting with other appropriate ,federal officials1 shall-- 7,a7 ensure the proposal contains assurances that the project will be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities and other appropriate government officials with jurisdiction over the resources addressed by the project2 7,b7 approve or disapprove the proposal2 and 7,c7 provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the person who submitted the proposal1 other appropriate ,federal officials1 and each country within whose borders the project will take place4 7d7 ,criteria for ,approval ,the ,secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will contribute to conservation of rare felids or rare canids in the wild by assisting efforts to-- 7#a7 implement conservation programs2 7#b7 address the conflicts between humans and rare felids or rare canids1 respectively1 that arise from competition for the same habitat or resources2 7#c7 enhance compliance with ,,cites1 the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq471 and other applicable laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rare felids and rare canids or regulate the use and management of rare felid and rare canid habitat2 7#d7 develop sound scientific information on1 or methods for monitoring-- 7,a7 the condition and health of rare felid or rare canid habitat2 7,b7 rare felid or rare canid population numbers and trends2 and 7,c7 the ecological characteristics and requirements of populations of rare felids or rare canids for which there are little or no data2 7#e7 promote cooperative projects among government entities1 affected local communities1 nongovernmental organizations1 and other persons in the private sector2 or 7#f7 funds will not be appropriated for the purchase or lease of lands to be used as suitable habitat for felids or canids4 7e7 ,project ,sustainability ,in approving project proposals under this section1 the ,secretary shall give preference to conservation projects that are designed to ensure effective1 long-term conservation of rare felids and rare canids and their habitats4 7f7 ,matching ,funds ,in determining whether to approve project proposals under this section1 the ,secretary shall give preference to projects for which there exists some measure of matching funds4 7g7 ,project ,reporting 7#a7 ,in general ,each person that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the ,secretary periodic reports 7at such intervals as the ,secretary considers necessary7 that include all information that the ,secretary1 after consultation with other appropriate government officials1 determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results1 assessing problems1 and fostering improvements4 7#b7 ,availability to the public ,reports under paragraph 7#a71 and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this ,act1 shall be made available to the public4 7h7 ,limitations on ,use for ,captive ,breeding or ,display ,amounts provided as a grant under this ,act may not be used for captive breeding unless as part of an accredited reintroduction or restoration program4 7i7 ,advisory ,group 7#a7 ,in general ,to assist in carrying out this ,act1 the ,secretary may convene an advisory group consisting of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of felids and canids4 7#b7 ,public participation 7,a7 ,meetings ,the advisory group shall-- 7i7 ensure that each meeting of the advisory group is open to the public2 and 7ii7 provide1 at each meeting1 an opportunity for interested persons to present oral or written statements concerning items on the agenda4 7,b7 ,notice ,the ,secretary shall provide to the public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory group1 including the meeting agenda4 7,c7 ,minutes ,minutes of each meeting of the advisory group shall be kept by the ,secretary and shall be made available to the public4 7#c7 ,exemption from ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the advisory group4 #e4 ,rare ,cats and ,canids ,conservation ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established1 in the ,multinational ,species ,conservation ,fund established in title ,i of the ,department of the ,interior and ,related ,agencies ,appropriations ,act1 #aiii under the heading ,,multinational ,,species ,,conservation ,,fund1 a separate account to be known as the ,rare ,cats and ,canids ,conservation ,fund1 consisting of-- 7#a7 amounts transferred to the ,secretary of the ,treasury for deposit into such account under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 amounts appropriated to such account under section #f4 7b7 ,expenditures ,from ,fund 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 upon request by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer from the ,fund to the ,secretary1 without further appropriation1 such amounts as the ,secretary determines are necessary to provide assistance under section #d4 7#b7 ,administrative expenses ,of the amounts in the ,fund available for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary may expend not more than three percent1 or up to #ajj1jjj1 whichever is greater1 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this ,act4 7c7 ,acceptance and ,use of ,donations ,the ,secretary may accept and use donations to provide assistance under section #d1 and may make public on the ,internet ,web site and in publications of the ,department of the ,interior that the ,secretary is authorized to accept and use such donations4 ,amounts received by the ,secretary in the form of such donations shall be transferred to the ,secretary of the ,treasury for deposit into the ,fund4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,fund1 #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjae through #bjai to carry out this ,act4