H.R. 599House109th Congress (2005-2007)In Committee

Federal Lands Restoration, Enhancement, Public Education, and Information Resources Act of 2005

Legislative Activity

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17 earlier actions

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2536)

December 14, 2005

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 2, 2005

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E141-142)

February 2, 2005

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on 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.

Natural Resources Committee

February 2, 2005

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

February 15, 2005

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

February 15, 2005

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.

February 15, 2005

HouseCommittee

Executive Comment Requested from USDA, Interior.

Natural Resources Committee

February 15, 2005

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee

March 15, 2005

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

March 16, 2005

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

May 18, 2005

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

May 18, 2005

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 18, 2005

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on National Parks Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 18, 2005

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 18, 2005

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 109-129, Part I.

Natural Resources Committee

June 14, 2005

HouseCommittee

Committee on Agriculture discharged.

Agriculture Committee

June 14, 2005

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 74.

June 14, 2005

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2536)

December 14, 2005

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 599 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2 · Dec 14, 2005

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and congratulate my Colorado colleague, Mr. Tancredo, for his leadership in introducing it. I joined as a cosponsor of this bill because I also want to…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and congratulate my Colorado colleague, Mr. Tancredo, for his leadership in introducing it.

I joined as a cosponsor of this bill because I also want to improve the ability of the land-managing agencies to adequately enforce the rules that apply to uses of the federal lands.

That is why in the 108th Congress I introduced a related bill--the Responsible Off-road Vehicle Enforcement and Response Act, or ``ROVER.'' That bill was narrow, dealing only with enforcement of the regulations for use of vehicles on National Forest lands and public lands managed by BLM. This bill goes much further. In addition to the forests and BLM lands, it also applies to lands managed by the National Park Service and the refuges managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. And it addresses the enforcement of all regulations, not just those related to use of vehicles.

Last year, Mr. Tancredo and I worked with Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall, and other Members of the Resources Committee, to develop the broader measure.

That bill passed the House, but the Senate did not complete action on it. So, Representative Tancredo and I joined in reintroducing it as H.R. 975, the bill now before the House.

I urge its approval, because legislation for better and more consistent enforcement of regulations is needed. However, we need to recognize that it is only one part of a bigger picture.

Even more than new legislation, it seems to me, the land-managing agencies need more resources--more money and more people--if we want them to do a better job.

That was why I introduced a related bill--H.R. 599--which the Resources Committee has also reported. It would allow the agencies to use money from fines to help pay for some of the restoration work caused by violations of regulations, as well as for offsetting the administrative costs involved in enforcement of those regulations.

This is something that I think should be addressed in the future, and I will seek to work with other Members to do that. Today, however, we can take an important step forward by passing this bill, and I urge the House to approve it.

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued June 14, 2005

Union Calendar No. 74

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 599

[Report No. 109–129, Part I]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2005

Mr. Udall of Colorado (for himself and Mr. Tancredo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 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

June 14, 2005

Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

June 14, 2005

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 2, 2005

A BILL

To provide a source of funds to carry out restoration activities on Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

Short title and findings

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Lands Restoration, Enhancement, Public Education, and Information Resources Act of 2005.

(b)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Violations of laws and regulations applicable to the use of Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture often result in damages to those lands that require expenditures for restoration activities to mitigate the damages.

(2)

Increased public information and education regarding the laws and regulations applicable to the use of these Federal lands can help to reduce the frequency of unintentional violations.

(3)

It is appropriate that fines and other monetary penalties paid as a result of violations of laws and regulations applicable to the use of these Federal lands be used to defray the costs of such restoration activities and to provide such public information and education.

Use of fines from violations of laws and regulations applicable to public lands for restoration and informational activities

(a)

Lands under jurisdiction of Bureau of Land Management

Section 305 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1735), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)

Use of collected fines

(1)

Availability and authorized use

Any moneys received by the United States as a result of a fine imposed under section 3571 of title 18, United States Code, for a violation of a regulation prescribed under section 303(a) shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation and until expended, for the following purposes:

(A)

To cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on the public lands rendered necessary by the action which led to the fine or by similar actions.

(B)

To increase public awareness of regulations and other requirements regarding the use of the public lands.

(2)

Treatment of excess funds

Moneys referred to in paragraph (1) that the Secretary determines are excess to the amounts necessary to carry out the purposes specified in such paragraph shall be transferred to the Crime Victims Fund established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601).

(b)

National Park System lands

Section 3 of the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 3), is amended—

(1)

by striking That the Secretary the first place it appears and inserting (a) Regulations for use and management of national park system; enforcement.—The Secretary;

(2)

by striking He may also the first place it appears and inserting the following:

(b)

Special management authorities

The Secretary of the Interior may

;

(3)

by striking He may also the second place it appears and inserting The Secretary may;

(4)

by striking No natural, and inserting the following:

(c)

Lease and permit authorities

No natural

; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)

Use of collected fines

(1)

Availability and authorized use

Any moneys received by the United States as a result of a fine imposed under section 3571 of title 18, United States Code, for a violation of a rule or regulation prescribed under this section shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation and until expended, for the following purposes:

(A)

To cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on the National Park System lands rendered necessary by the action which led to the fine or by similar actions.

(B)

To increase public awareness of rules, regulations, and other requirements regarding the use of such lands.

(2)

Treatment of excess funds

(c)

National wildlife refuge System lands

Subsection (f) of section 4 of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(3)

Use of collected fines

Any moneys received by the United States as a result of a fine imposed under section 3571 of title 18, United States Code, for a violation of this Act or a regulation issued thereunder shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation and until expended, for the following purposes:

(A)

To cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on the System lands rendered necessary by the action which led to the fine or by similar actions.

(B)

To increase public awareness of rules, regulations, and other requirements regarding the use of System lands.

(4)

Treatment of excess funds

Moneys referred to in paragraph (3) that the Secretary determines are excess to the amounts necessary to carry out the purposes specified in such paragraph shall be transferred to the Crime Victims Fund established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601).

(d)

National Forest System lands

The eleventh undesignated paragraph under the heading surveying the public lands of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C. 551), is amended——

(1)

by inserting before the first sentence the following:

551.

Protection of National Forest System lands; regulations

(a)

Regulations for use and protection of National Forest System

;

(2)

by striking destruction; and any violation and inserting the following:

destruction.

(b)

Violations; penalties

Any violation

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c)

Use of collected fines

(1)

Availability and authorized use

Any moneys received by the United States as a result of a collateral payment in lieu of appearance or a fine imposed under section 3571 of title 18, United States Code, for a violation of a regulation issued under subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture, without further appropriation and until expended, for the following purposes:

(A)

To cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on National Forest System lands rendered necessary by the action which led to the fine or payment.

(B)

To increase public awareness of rules, regulations, and other requirements regarding the use of such lands.

(2)

Treatment of excess funds

Moneys referred to in paragraph (1) that the Secretary of Agriculture determines are excess to the amounts necessary to carry out the purposes specified in such paragraph shall be transferred to the Crime Victims Fund established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601).

June 14, 2005

Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment

June 14, 2005

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed