National Fish and Wildlife Policy Fellowship Program Act of 2004 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to award fellowships to qualified graduate and post-graduate level students engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife, conservation management, or biology in order to: (1) provide such students with opportunities to participate in the policy process within executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government; and (2) provide Federal agencies and Congress with specific expertise to aid in the effective management of the nation's natural living resources.
Requires the Secretary to strive to ensure equal access to the fellowship program for minority and disadvantaged students and to report to Congress on such efforts.
States that the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall administer fellowships awarded under this Act.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5145 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5145
To provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate level students
engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and
anadromous fish, wildlife, or conservation biology, or related natural
resource management, to provide expertise and to gain policy experience
in Federal executive agencies or the Congress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 23, 2004
Mr. Pallone (for himself, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Shaw, Mr.
Greenwood, Mr. Towns, Mr. Ehlers, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. McDermott, Mr.
Blumenauer, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Kucinich, Mr.
English, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Farr, Mr. Bell, Ms. McCarthy of
Missouri, Mr. Sandlin, Mr. Ford, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Kind, and Mrs.
Christensen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate level students
engaged in advanced degree programs concerning freshwater and
anadromous fish, wildlife, or conservation biology, or related natural
resource management, to provide expertise and to gain policy experience
in Federal executive agencies or the Congress.
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 ``National Fish and Wildlife Policy
Fellowship Program Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Nearly one-third of the population of the United States
participates in fish and wildlife-related recreation annually.
In 2001, 82 million people participated in wildlife-related
recreation, including sport angling, hunting, birding,
photography, and other activities.
(2) Vibrant, healthy, and well-managed natural living
resources are essential to obtaining the economic benefits
derived from them. Wildlife-related recreation contributes
significantly to the United States economy. In 2001, the
economic impact of fishing and hunting was $116,000,000,000 and
$68,000,000,000, respectively. In addition, approximately
1,000,000 jobs were created as a result of such recreation.
(3) There are over 50 university programs, dozens of State
and Federal agencies, and over $1 billion dedicated to
fisheries and wildlife research, management, and conservation.
(4) Expertise in freshwater and anadromous fisheries and
wildlife policy is paramount to the future effective management
of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources.
(5) The National Sea Grant John A. Knauss Fellowship has
been successful in promoting stewardship of the Nation's
natural marine and coastal resources. Since 1979, over 528
marine scientists have been awarded fellowships that have
enabled them to bring their scientific expertise to the Federal
agencies and the Congress while obtaining valuable policy
experience. Many of the fellows continue to serve as marine
policy professionals in the Federal Government, the private
sector, and the university research community.
(6) Currently no formal mechanism exists to secure
individuals with specific expertise in freshwater and
anadromous fisheries, wildlife, or conservation biology, or
related natural resource management, while simultaneously
providing valuable policy experience within the Federal
Government and the Congress. Such a mechanism would support and
enhance stewardship of the Nation's fish and wildlife.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE POLICY FELLOWSHIPS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award fellowships to qualified
graduate and post-graduate level students engaged in advanced degree
programs concerning freshwater and anadromous fish, wildlife,
conservation management, or biology.
(b) Objectives.--In awarding fellowships under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall seek to achieve, with respect to fish and wildlife
conservation, the following educational and training objectives:
(1) To provide qualified graduate and postgraduate level
individuals opportunities for participation in the policy
process within the executive and legislative branches of the
Federal Government.
(2) To provide Federal agencies and the Congress with
specific expertise in fish and wildlife management and
conservation biology to aid in the effective management of the
Nation's natural living resources.
(c) Guidelines for Award of Fellowships.--The fellowships shall be
awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the Secretary.
(d) Term of Fellowships.--A fellowship under subsection (a) shall
be for a period of not more than 1 year.
(e) Equal Access.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall strive to ensure equal
access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to
the program carried out under subsection (a).
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing--
(A) the efforts by the Secretary to ensure equal
access for minority and economically disadvantaged
students to the fellowship carried out under subsection
(a); and
(B) the results of such efforts.
(f) Administration.--The Director shall administer fellowships
under subsection (a).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this section there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,400,000 for
each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
(2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--Of amounts
available to carry out this section each fiscal year, no more
than 5 percent may be expended for administrative costs.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
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