US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title III — Miscellaneous

116th Congress · Approved Oct 30, 2020 · 134 Stat. 905

TITLE III Miscellaneous

SEC. 301. Study to Review Conservation Factors.

(a)
Definition of Secretaries.— In this section, the term “Secretaries” means—
(1)
the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2)
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service; and
(3)
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b)
Study.— To assess factors affecting successful conservation activities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Secretaries shall carry out a study—
(1)
(A)
to review any factors that threaten or endanger a species, such as wildlife disease, for which a listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) would not contribute to the conservation of the species; and
(B)
to identify additional conservation measures that can be taken to protect and conserve a species described in subparagraph (A);
(2)
to review any barriers to—
(A)
the delivery of Federal, State, local, or private funds for such conservation activities, including statutory or regulatory impediments, staffing needs, and other relevant considerations; or
(B)
the implementation of conservation agreements, plans, or other cooperative agreements, including agreements focused on voluntary activities, multispecies efforts, and other relevant considerations;
(3)
to review factors that impact the ability of the Federal Government to successfully implement the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
(4)
to develop recommendations regarding methods to address barriers identified under paragraph (2), if any;
(5)
to review determinations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) in which a species is determined to be recovered by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, but remains listed under that Act, including—
(A)
an explanation of the factors preventing a delisting or downlisting of the species; and
(B)
recommendations regarding methods to address the factors described in subparagraph (A); and
(6)
to review any determinations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) in which a species has been identified as needing listing or uplisting under that Act but remains unlisted or listed as a threatened species, respectively, including—
(A)
an explanation of the factors preventing a listing or uplisting of the species; and
(B)
recommendations regarding methods to address the factors described in subparagraph (A).
(c)
Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and make publicly available a report describing the results of the study under subsection (b).

SEC. 302. Study and Report on Expenditures.

(a)
Reports on Expenditures.—
(1)
Federal departments and agencies.—
(A)
In general.— At the determination of the Comptroller General of the United States (referred to in this section as the “Comptroller General”), to facilitate the preparation of the reports from the Comptroller General under paragraph (2), the head of each Federal department and agency shall submit to the Comptroller General data and other relevant information that describes the amounts expended or disbursed (including through loans, loan guarantees, grants, or any other financing mechanism) by the department or agency as a direct result of any provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) during—
(i)
with respect to the first report under paragraph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report; and
(ii)
with respect to the second report under paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report.
(B)
Requirements.— Data and other relevant information submitted under subparagraph (A) shall describe, with respect to the applicable amounts—
(i)
the programmatic office of the department or agency on behalf of which each amount was expended or disbursed;
(ii)
the provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) pursuant to which each amount was expended or disbursed; and
(iii)
the project or activity carried out using each amount, in detail sufficient to reflect the breadth, scope, and purpose of the project or activity.
(2)
Comptroller general.— Not later than 2 years and 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes—
(A)
the aggregate amount expended or disbursed by all Federal departments and agencies as a direct result of any provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) during—
(i)
with respect to the first report, the 3 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report; and
(ii)
with respect to the second report, the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report;
(B)
the provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) pursuant to which each such amount was expended or disbursed; and
(C)
with respect to each relevant department or agency—
(i)
the total amount expended or disbursed by the department or agency as described in subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
the information described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(B).
(b)
Report on Conservation Activities.—
(1)
Federal departments and agencies.— At the determination of the Comptroller General, to facilitate the preparation of the report under paragraph (2), the head of each Federal department and agency shall submit to the Comptroller General data and other relevant information that describes the conservation activities by the Federal department or agency as a direct result of any provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) during—
(A)
with respect to the first report under paragraph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report; and
(B)
with respect to the second report under paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report.
(2)
Comptroller general.— Not later than 2 years and 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that—
(A)
describes the conservation activities by all Federal departments and agencies for species listed as a threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as reported under paragraph (1), during—
(i)
with respect to the first report, the 3 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report; and
(ii)
with respect to the second report, the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of submission of the report;
(B)
is organized into categories with respect to whether a recovery plan for a species has been established;
(C)
includes conservation outcomes associated with the conservation activities; and
(D)
as applicable, describes the conservation activities that required interaction between Federal agencies and between Federal agencies and State and Tribal agencies and units of local government pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

SEC. 303. Use of Value of Land for Cost Sharing.

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating section 13 as section 14; and
(2)
by inserting after section 12 the following:

“SEC. 13. VALUE OF LAND.

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any institution eligible to receive Federal funds under the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.) shall be allowed to use the value of any land owned by the institution as an in-kind match to satisfy any cost sharing requirement under this Act.”