Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6023) to require the United States Postal Service to continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps are sold, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6023, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act is led by my friend and colleague on the Committee on Natural Resources, Representative Jim Costa.

The Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamps are a unique way for Americans to contribute to important conservation projects. Semipostal stamps are postage stamps sold at higher rates than standard stamps. When purchasing this type of stamp, Americans elect to contribute the extra charge to a specific fund or cause--in this case, the conservation of threatened species worldwide.

African and Asian elephants, great apes, turtles, rhinos, and tigers are threatened from decades of habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and climate change. These stamps support efforts to tackle poaching, improve community engagement and outreach, restore habitat, and raise public awareness about wildlife trafficking. In fact, between 2011 and 2017, these stamps raised almost $4 million for conservation projects.

However, the U.S. Postal Service has had to stop selling them when the program's authorization ran out. Approximately 49 million stamps remained. Annual appropriations bills have been directing the Postal Service to continue selling the stamps but in a piecemeal fashion. This bill would fix it once and for all.

The bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to sell all the rest of these stamps. In doing so, we can continue to support the ongoing conservation efforts for endangered species around the world.

Let me thank Representative Costa for his work on the legislation, urge support for it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Oversight and Reform,

Washington, DC, February 28, 2022.

Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Grijalva: I write concerning H.R. 6023, the

Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp

Reauthorization Act. This bill contains provisions within the

jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. As a

result of your having consulted with me concerning the

provisions of the bill that fall within our Rule X

jurisdiction, I agree to forgo consideration of the bill, so

the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.

The Committee takes this action with our mutual

understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6023,

we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter

contained in this or similar legislation, and we will be

appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar

legislation moves forward so we may address any remaining

issues within our Rule X jurisdiction. Further, I request

your support for the appointment of conferees from the

Committee on Oversight and Reform during any House-Senate

conference on this or related legislation.

Finally, I would appreciate a response confirming this

understanding and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters

on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the

Committee on Natural Resources as well as in the

Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof.

Sincerely,

Carolyn B. Maloney,

Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight

and Reform.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2022, was prepared by my staff on the Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended. This information allows the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation.

The report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through September 15, 2022, as compared to the levels the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. Since my last scorekeeping report on April 28, seven laws with significant budgetary effects have been signed by the President, and I have revised the levels in the budget resolution two times for legislation.

The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared tables 1 and 2. Table 1 compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows 10 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted or the legislation qualified under the budget resolution for an allocation adjustment. Most of the spending above allowable levels is attributed to either the CHIPS Act of 2022 or the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.

Table 2 shows the Senate pay-as-you-go--PAYGO--scorecard tallying enacted legislation with significant effects on mandatory spending and revenues. The scorecard shows a savings of $4.7 billion in 2022, a deficit of $174 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and a deficit of $528 billion over the 2022-2031 period. When compared to the allowable amounts on the PAYGO scorecard last adjusted on September 12, there is a deficit of $1.3 billion on the scorecard for 2022, $185 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and $667 billion over the 2022-2031 period.

In addition to these tables, I am submitting a letter from the Congressional Budget Office with further detail. For fiscal year 2022, current budgetary levels are within allowed amounts. Current law budget authority is $2.6 billion below the maximum allowed in the revised budget resolution, outlays are $17 billion below the allowed maximum, and revenues are $68 million above the allowed minimum. The tables also show that there has been no net change for Social Security.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter and accompanying tables from CBO be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6023, a bipartisan bill sponsored by

Representative Jim Costa of California to reauthorize the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2013 and to require the U.S. Postal Service to sell all remaining Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamps.

The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 first directed the Postal Service to issue this stamp to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Multinational Species Conservation Fund, which provides grants, as previously outlined by the previous speaker.

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, stamp sales have raised more than $5.7 million for the fund as of 2019. The authorization for offering the stamp expired in 2017, at which point the Postal Service suspended the sale, despite having more than 49 million printed and unsold stamps on hand.

H.R. 6023 would direct the Postal Service to sell the remainder of these stamps and report to Congress when all have been sold.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Costa for his leadership on this legislation. I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 6023, which was received from the House.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Madam President, I know of no further debate on the bill.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.