,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dcda ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ag1 #bjai,mr4 ,huffman 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,buchanan1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,van ,drew1 ,mr4 ,king of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,wild1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,mr4 ,beyer1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 and ,mr4 ,hastings7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to assist in the conservation of critically endangered species in foreign countries1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,critically ,endangered ,animals ,conservation ,act of #bjai 4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,convention ,the term ,convention means the ,convention on ,international ,trade in ,endangered ,species of ,wild ,fauna and ,flora 7#bg ,,ust #ajhg2 ,,tias #hbdi74 7#b7 ,conservation ,the term conservation means the protection and restoration of species and the habitat of such species4 7#c7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,critically ,endangered ,animals ,conservation ,fund established by section #e4 7#d7 ,critically endangered species 7,a7 ,in general ,the term critically endangered species means-- 7i7 any animal species categorized on the ,international ,union ,conservation of ,nature ,red ,list of ,threatened ,species as either ,endangered or ,critically ,endangered2 and 7ii7 any other animals species categorized on the ,international ,union ,conservation of ,nature ,red ,list of ,threatened ,species as ,data ,deficient or under a threat category lower than ,endangered if the ,secretary determines that-- 7,i7 the most recent ,international ,union ,conservation of ,nature ,red ,list assessment indicates that the population is decreasing2 or 7,,ii7 such species is facing new or emerging threats4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term critically endangered species includes-- 7i7 any part1 product1 egg1 offspring or live specimen of a species described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 a carcass of such a species4 7#e7 ,multinational species conservation fund ,the term ,multinational ,species ,conservation ,fund means the fund established under the heading multinational species conservation fund in title ,i of the ,department of the ,interior and ,related ,agencies ,appropriations ,act1 #aiii 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dbdf74 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,critically endangered animals conservation assistance 7a7 ,in general ,in consultation with other ,federal officials1 the ,secretary shall use amounts in the ,fund to carry out a competitive grant program to provide financial assistance for the conservation of critically endangered species4 7b7 ,project proposals 7#a7 ,eligible applicants ,a proposal for a grant under subsection 7a7 may be submitted to the ,secretary by-- 7,a7 any wildlife management authority of a foreign country that has within its boundaries natural habitat of the critically endangered species if the activities of the authority directly or indirectly benefit that species' conservation2 or 7,b7 any other person or group with the demonstrated expertise and capacity required for the conservation of a critically endangered species4 7#b7 ,required elements ,a project proposal shall include-- 7,a7 evidence of support for the project by appropriate governmental entities of the country in which the project will be conducted1 if the ,secretary determines that such support is required for the success of the project2 7,b7 evidence of sensitivity to local historic and cultural resources and compliance with applicable laws2 7,c7 evidence of free1 prior1 and informed consent by indigenous peoples and local communities in the areas the project will be conducted1 if the ,secretary1 based on the nature of the project1 determines that such consent is required for the success of the project2 7,d7 information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project2 and 7,e7 any other information that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7c7 ,evaluation and ,approval 7#a7 ,goals ,the ,secretary may approve a proposal under this section if the project will-- 7,a7 help recover and sustain viable populations in the wild of a critically endangered species with a range that is1 in whole or in part1 outside of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 enhance compliance with provisions of the ,convention and laws of the ,united ,states or a foreign country related to the conservation of a critically endangered species2 or 7,c7 develop sound scientific information on that species' habitat1 population numbers and trends1 reproduction1 mortality1 and other threats to survival4 7#b7 ,methods ,the ,secretary may approve a proposal under this section if the proposal would achieve one of the goals set forth in paragraph 7#a7 through-- 7,a7 protection1 restoration1 and management of habitat2 7,b7 in situ research and monitoring of populations1 habitats1 annual reproduction1 and species population trends2 7,c7 development1 implementation1 and improvement of national and regional management plans for a critically endangered species and the habitat of such species2 7,d7 enforcement and implementation of the ,convention or the law of a foreign country to-- 7i7 protect and manage a critically endangered species or the habitat of such species2 7ii7 prevent illegal or unsustainable removal of a critically endangered species from the wild1 including as marine bycatch2 or 7iii7 prevent illegal trade of a critically endangered species2 7,e7 training and capacity building for local law enforcement officials in the interdiction and prevention of the illegal killing1 removal from the wild1 or trade of a critically endangered species2 7,f7 an initiative to resolve a conflict between humans and a critically endangered species2 7,g7 research and implementation of projects to address disease and threats to the health of a critically endangered species2 7,h7 community outreach and education on conservation of a critically endangered species and the habitat of such species2 or 7,i7 strengthening the ability of local communities to implement a conservation program4 7#c7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall1 prior to approving any proposal under this section1 consult with each of the following with respect to such proposal3 7,a7 ,the ,government of each country in which such proposal will be carried out4 7,b7 ,any other ,federal agency the ,secretary determines is appropriate4 7#d7 ,preferential consideration ,in determining whether to approve a proposal1 the ,secretary shall give preference to a proposal that-- 7,a7 is designed to ensure effective1 long-term conservation of critically endangered species and their habitats2 and 7,b7 has matching funds available4 7#e7 ,approval ,the ,secretary shall1 within #ahj days of receiving a proposal under this section1 approve or disapprove of the proposal and provide written notification of such approval or disapproval to-- 7,a7 the person who submitted such proposal2 7,b7 any ,federal agency the ,secretary determines appropriate2 and 7,c7 the foreign country in which such proposal would be carried out4 7d7 ,project reporting 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall require each person that receives assistance under this section to submit periodic reports including such information as the ,secretary may require in order to evaluate the progress and success of each grant issued under this section4 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 ,act except for documents that the ,secretary determines to be confidential in nature1 shall be made available to the public4 7e7 ,limitations on use for captive breeding ,amounts provided as a grant under this ,act-- 7#a7 may not be used for captive breeding of critically endangered species other than for captive breeding designed for release into the wild2 and 7#b7 may be used for captive breeding of a species for release into the wild only if no other conservation method for the species is biologically or technically feasible4 #d4 ,critically ,endangered ,animals ,conservation fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,multinational ,species ,conservation ,fund a separate account to be known as the ,critically ,endangered ,animals ,conservation ,fund1 consisting of-- 7#a7 amounts transferred to the ,secretary of the ,treasury for deposit into the ,fund under subsection 7e72 7#b7 amounts appropriated to the ,fund under section #f2 and 7#c7 any interest earned on investment of amounts in the ,fund under subsection 7c74 7b7 ,expenditures from fund 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 at the request of 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 carry out section #d4 7#b7 ,administrative expenses ,of the amounts in the account available for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary may expend not more than #c percent1 or up to #aej1jjj1 whichever is greater1 to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this ,act4 7c7 ,investment of amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall invest such portion of the ,fund as is not1 in the judgment of the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 required to meet current withdrawals4 ,investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,acquisition of obligations ,for the purpose of investments under paragraph 7#a71 obligations may be acquired-- 7,a7 on original issue at the issue price2 or 7,b7 by purchase of outstanding obligations at market price4 7#c7 ,sale of obligations ,any obligation acquired by the ,fund may be sold by the ,secretary of the ,treasury at market price4 7#d7 ,credits to fund ,the interest on1 and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of1 any obligations held in the ,fund shall be credited to and form a part of the ,fund4 7d7 ,transfers of amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,the amounts required to be transferred to the ,fund under this section shall be transferred at least monthly from the general fund of the ,treasury to the ,fund on the basis of estimates made by the ,secretary of the ,treasury4 7#b7 ,adjustments ,proper adjustment shall be made in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be transferred4 7e7 ,acceptance and use of donations ,the ,secretary may accept and use donations to provide assistance under section #d4 ,amounts received by the ,secretary in the form of donations shall be transferred to the ,secretary of the ,treasury for deposit in the ,fund4 ,the ,secretary may reject a gift under this section when the rejection is in the interest of the ,government4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,fund #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4 #f4 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the results and effectiveness of the program carried out under this ,act4