Topic:  Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act

Update 17 September 2005:

On 20 July 2000, President Clinton signed the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act  (Public Law 106-247). The Act authorizes (but does not appropriate) $5 millionfunding in the form of matching funds for projects to promote the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds in Latin America or the Caribbean. 

No money  was appropriated for this legislation in the FY 2001 Interior budget signed by President Clinton on 11 October 2000. In FY2002, $3.5 million was appropriated and $4 million was appropriated in FY2003 and 2004.

This legislation is slated for reauthorization in 2005. Congress considered reauthorizing this legislation in 2004, but it was combined with the legislation pertaining to non-native species (H.R.4114; see explanation of the legislation on Mute Swans and other non-native species) and that legislation was held up in the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water as the result of opposition from the animal rights organizations. When the provisions related to non-native species were enacted as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2005, the provisions regarding the reauthorization of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act were omitted.

Proponents working for re-authorization of this legislation hope to persuade Congress to lower the match requirements for projects outside the United States, to increase the amount of the authorization (an authorization is "permission to appropriate"), and make other adjustments

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