H.R. 8069 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8069 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 18, 2020 Mr. Cook (for himself and Mr. Gosar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To prohibit the Secretaries of Commerce and of the Interior from issuing grants for the conservation of a species that is listed as endangered under a State law that is not consistent with certain Federal standards, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect Conservation Funds Act of 2020. 2. Restrictions on conservation grants (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior may only issue a grant for the conservation of a species or the habitat of a species that is listed as threatened or endangered under State law if— (1) such listing meets the requirements described for listing a species in section 424.11(d) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations; or (2) such species is listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). (b) Certification The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall require the recipient of any grant subject to subsection (a) to submit a certification that such recipient will not use funds received from such grant to conserve a species or the habitat of a species if such species does not meet the requirements described in such subsection. (c) Misuse of funds A grant recipient that uses funds in a manner inconsistent with the certification described in subsection (b) shall be required to return funds used in such manner to the Federal Government.