,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbgf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #h1 #bjbe,mrs4 ,dingell 7for herself and ,mr4 ,cline7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish the ,urban ,bird ,treaty ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,local ,communities ,bird ,habitat ,stewardship ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,urban ,bird ,treaty ,program 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the #bjbe ,state of ,birds ,report1 bird populations continue to decline and have resulted in a #ej percent loss of tipping point bird population species in the last #ej years4 ,the report found that policies to reverse bird declines carry benefits such as healthier working lands1 cleaner water1 and more resilient landscapes that can withstand fires1 floods1 and drought4 7#b7 ,nearly #if million ,americans--more than a third of ,united ,states adults--engage in birdwatching every year1 generating #bgi1jjj1jjj1jjj in annual economic output from these birder expenditures--including spending #ajh1jjj1jjj1jjj annually on birding-related trips and equipment1 directly supporting local businesses and #a4d million ,american jobs4 7#c7 ,maintaining an abundance of healthy1 well-distributed green spaces and bird habitats in and near communities reduces the risk of cross-transmission between wild birds and domestic poultry by dispersing bird populations1 minimizing overlap at concentrated feeding or resting areas1 and enabling earlier disease detection and response through coordinated monitoring4 7#d7 ,enhancing bird habitat and stewardship in populated areas serves not only to conserve bird populations and connect people to nature1 but also to strengthen the ecological infrastructure necessary to mitigate the spread of wildlife-borne diseases such as ,highly ,pathogenic ,avian ,influenza4 7b7 ,urban ,bird ,treaty ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall establish a program for the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas1 to be known as the ,urban ,bird ,treaty ,program4 7#b7 ,program duties ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,director shall-- 7,a7 work with and support covered entities to-- 7i7 protect1 restore1 or enhance urban habitats for birds1 including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species2 7ii7 reduce urban hazards to birds2 7iii7 engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas2 and 7iv7 educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas2 7,b7 provide technical and financial assistance through partnerships with covered entities to build capacity for1 plan1 and carry out projects related to activities described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 facilitate collaboration and information sharing among covered entities and the public with respect to best management practices for the conservation1 restoration1 and enhancement of urban bird habitats4 7#c7 ,grant program 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities for the purposes of conducting research1 planning1 assessments1 management1 building capacity1 monitoring1 collaboration and information sharing1 workforce training1 and accomplishing related activities as described in paragraph 7#b7 with respect to the conservation1 restoration1 enhancement or management of urban birds and the habitats of urban birds4 7,b7 ,applications ,to be eligible for a grant under this paragraph1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,director an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,director determines appropriate4 7,c7 ,administration 7i7 ,agreement ,the ,director shall enter into an agreement with the ,foundation for the ,foundation to administer the grant program established under subparagraph 7,a7 pursuant to the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq474 7ii7 ,application of ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act ,section #aj7;a7 of the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgji7;a77 shall not apply with respect to-- 7,i7 an agreement entered into under clause 7i72 or 7,,ii7 amounts made available to carry out this section4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered entity ,the term covered entity means-- 7,a7 a ,federal1 ,tribal1 ,state1 or municipal agency2 7,b7 a nongovernmental organization2 7,c7 a community group2 and 7,d7 an academic institution4 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,tribal1 ,state1 or municipal agency2 7,b7 a nongovernmental organization2 7,c7 a community group2 and 7,d7 an academic institution4 7#d7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation established by section #b7;a7 of the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja7;a774 7#e7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,urban ,bird ,treaty ,program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#f7 ,urban ,the term urban has the meaning given the term urban area in section #aja7;a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,director to carry out this section #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcb4