Bill Summary
This bill, known as the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee Act of 2019, establishes a committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on matters related to wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. The committee, called the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee, will consist of ex officio members and discretionary members appointed by the Secretaries. The committee's duties include advising on the implementation of Executive Order 13443, promoting hunting and shooting sports on federal lands, and increasing public awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation. The bill also outlines the membership, terms, and procedures of the committee, as well as its reporting requirements and funding. This bill also abolishes the existing Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could potentially affect hunters and recreational shooters by influencing policies and programs that promote and increase access to hunting and shooting opportunities on federal lands.
2. The legislation could also potentially impact wildlife conservation efforts by advising and making recommendations to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on policies and programs related to the conservation and restoration of habitats.
3. Tribal resource management organizations may also be affected by the legislation, as they are listed as a potential member of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee. This could potentially involve collaboration and coordination with these organizations on wildlife conservation and hunting issues.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2105 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2105
To establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory
Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on
wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 4, 2019
Mr. Latta (for himself, Mr. Cole, Mr. Collins of New York, Mr. Johnson
of Ohio, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Austin Scott of
Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory
Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on
wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and
for other purposes.
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 ``Wildlife and Hunting Heritage
Conservation Advisory Committee Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C.
661 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 10. WILDLIFE AND HUNTING HERITAGE CONSERVATION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Wildlife and
Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee (in this section
referred to as the `Advisory Committee') to advise the Secretaries of
the Interior and Agriculture (in this section referred to as `the
Secretaries') on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and
recreational shooting.
``(b) Duties of the Advisory Committee.--The Advisory Committee
shall advise the Secretaries with regard to--
``(1) implementation of Executive Order 13443, entitled
`Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation',
signed on January 1, 2008, which directs Federal agencies `to
facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting
opportunities and the management of game species and their
habitat';
``(2) policies or programs to conserve and restore
wetlands, agricultural lands, grasslands, forest, and rangeland
habitats;
``(3) policies or programs to promote opportunities and
access to hunting and shooting sports on Federal lands;
``(4) policies or programs to recruit and retain new
hunters and shooters;
``(5) policies or programs that increase public awareness
of the importance of wildlife conservation and the social and
economic benefits of recreational hunting and shooting; and
``(6) policies or programs that encourage coordination
among the public, the hunting and shooting sports community,
wildlife conservation groups, and States, Tribes, and the
Federal Government.
``(c) Membership.--
``(1) Appointment.--
``(A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall
consist of 7 ex officio members and no more than 16
discretionary members.
``(B) Ex officio members.--The ex officio members
are--
``(i) the Director of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service or an individual
designated by the Director;
``(ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land
Management or an individual designated by the
Director;
``(iii) the Director of the National Park
Service or an individual designated by the
Director;
``(iv) the Chief of the Forest Service or
an individual designated by the Chief;
``(v) the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service or an individual
designated by the Chief;
``(vi) the Administrator of the Farm
Service Agency or an individual designated by
the Administrator; and
``(vii) the Executive Director of the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
``(C) Discretionary members.--The Secretaries shall
jointly appoint at least one discretionary member from
each of the following:
``(i) State fish and wildlife agencies.
``(ii) Game bird hunting organizations.
``(iii) Wildlife conservation
organizations.
``(iv) Big game hunting organizations.
``(v) The tourism, outfitter, or guiding
industry.
``(vi) The firearms or ammunition
manufacturing industry.
``(vii) The hunting or shooting equipment
retail industry.
``(viii) Tribal resource management
organizations.
``(ix) The agriculture industry.
``(x) The ranching industry.
``(xi) Waterfowl hunting organizations.
``(D) Eligibility.--The Secretaries may not appoint
an individual as a member of the Advisory Committee
unless the Secretaries determine that such individual,
and the organization such individual represents,
actively supports and promotes sustainable-use hunting,
wildlife conservation, and recreational shooting.
``(2) Terms.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), members of the Advisory Committee
shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. Members shall
not be appointed for more than 3 terms.
``(B) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated
by the Secretary at the time of appointment, of the
members first appointed--
``(i) 6 members shall be appointed for a
term of 4 years;
``(ii) 5 members shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years; and
``(iii) 5 members shall be appointed for a
term of 2 years.
``(3) Preservation of public advisory status.--No
individual may be appointed as a discretionary member of the
Advisory Committee while serving as an officer or employee of
the Federal Government.
``(4) Vacancy and removal.--
``(A) In general.--Any vacancy on the Advisory
Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the
original appointment was made.
``(B) Removal.--Discretionary members of the
Advisory Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the
Secretaries. The Secretaries may jointly remove such
members at any time for good cause.
``(5) Continuation of service.--Each discretionary member
may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of
office to which such member was appointed until a successor has
been appointed.
``(6) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Advisory
Committee shall be appointed for a 3-year term by the
Secretaries, jointly, from among the members of the Advisory
Committee. An individual may not be appointed as Chairperson
for more than 2 terms.
``(7) Pay and expenses.--Members of the Advisory Committee
shall serve without pay for such service, but each member of
the Advisory Committee may be reimbursed for travel and lodging
incurred through attending any meeting of the Advisory
Committee or any other meeting of members approved for
reimbursement by the Advisory Committee in the same amounts and
under the same conditions as Federal employees (in accordance
with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code).
``(8) Meetings.--
``(A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall
meet at the call of the Secretaries, the chairperson,
or a majority of the members, but not less frequently
than twice annually.
``(B) Open meetings.--Each meeting of the Advisory
Committee shall be open to the public.
``(C) Prior notice of meetings.--Timely notice of
each meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be
published in the Federal Register and be submitted to
trade publications and publications of general
circulation.
``(D) Workgroups and subgroups.--The Advisory
Committee may establish such workgroups or subgroups as
it considers necessary for the purpose of compiling
information or conducting research. However, such
workgroups may not conduct business without the
direction of the Advisory Committee and must report in
full to the Advisory Committee.
``(9) Quorum.--Nine members of the Advisory Committee shall
constitute a quorum.
``(d) Expenses.--The expenses of the Advisory Committee that the
Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate shall be paid by
the Secretaries.
``(e) Administrative Support, Technical Services, and Advice.--The
Secretaries shall jointly appoint a Federal officer to provide to the
Advisory Committee the administrative support, technical services, and
advice that the Secretaries determine to be reasonable and appropriate
to carry out this Act.
``(f) Annual Report.--
``(1) Required.--Not later than September 30 of each year,
the Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the
Secretaries, the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. If
circumstances arise in which the Advisory Committee cannot meet
the September 30 deadline in any year, the Secretaries shall
advise the Chair of each such Committee of the reasons for such
delay and the date on which the submission of the report is
anticipated.
``(2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
describe--
``(A) the activities of the Advisory Committee
during the preceding year;
``(B) the reports and recommendations made by the
Advisory Committee to the Secretaries during the
preceding year; and
``(C) an accounting of actions taken by the
Secretaries as a result of the recommendations.
``(g) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply with respect to the
Advisory Committee.''.
(b) Continuance and Abolishment of Existing Wildlife and Hunting
Heritage Conservation Council.--The Wildlife and Hunting Heritage
Conservation Council established pursuant to section 441 of the Revised
Statutes (43 U.S.C. 1457), section 2 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a), and other Acts applicable to specific bureaus of
the Department of the Interior--
(1) shall continue until the date of the first meeting of
the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Advisory
Committee established by the amendment made by subsection (a);
and
(2) is hereby abolished effective on that date.
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