[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9964 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9964
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird
Treaty Program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 11, 2024
Mrs. Dingell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird
Treaty Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Urban Bird Treaty Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. URBAN BIRD TREATY PROGRAM.
(a) Urban Bird Treaty Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a program for
the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such
birds in urban areas, to be known as the ``Urban Bird Treaty
Program''.
(2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the
Director shall--
(A) work with and support covered entities to--
(i) protect, restore, or enhance urban
habitats for birds, including through the
control of invasive species and restoration of
native plant species;
(ii) reduce urban hazards to birds;
(iii) engage communities in scientific
activities involving the monitoring of birds
and the habitats of such birds in urban areas;
and
(iv) educate and engage communities in
caring about and conserving birds and the
habitats of such birds in urban areas;
(B) provide technical and financial assistance
through partnerships with covered entities to build
capacity for, plan, and carry out projects related to
activities described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) facilitate collaboration and information
sharing among covered entities and the public with
respect to best management practices for the
conservation, restoration, and enhancement of urban
bird habitats.
(3) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a
competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible
entities for the purposes of conducting research,
planning, assessments, management, building capacity,
monitoring, collaboration and information sharing,
workforce training, and accomplishing related
activities as described in paragraph (2) with respect
to the conservation, restoration, enhancement or
management of urban birds and the habitats of urban
birds.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under
this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the
Director an application in such form, at such time, and
containing such information as the Director determines
appropriate.
(C) Administration.--
(i) Agreement.--The Director shall enter
into an agreement with the Foundation for the
Foundation to administer the grant program
established under subparagraph (A) pursuant to
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(ii) Application of national fish and
wildlife foundation establishment act.--Section
10(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C.
3709(a)) shall not apply with respect to--
(I) an agreement entered into under
clause (i); or
(II) amounts made available to
carry out this section.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B) a nongovernmental organization;
(C) a community group; and
(D) an academic institution.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Secretary of
the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B) a nongovernmental organization;
(C) a community group; and
(D) an academic institution.
(4) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a) of the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16
U.S.C. 3701(a)).
(5) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Urban Bird
Treaty Program established under subsection (a)(1).
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Director to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2031.
(2) Adjustment for inflation.--Beginning in fiscal year
2026, and annually thereafter, the amount authorized to be
appropriated under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted to reflect
the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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