US Congress House Bill 556 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-1)
Status: Engrossed on July 29 2009 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2009-07-29 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act - (Sec. 2) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), to carry out a Recovery and Research Program for southern sea otter populations along the coast of California that includes: (1) monitoring, analysis, and assessment of population demographics, health, mortality, and life history parameters; and (2) implementation of measures to reduce or eliminate potential factors limiting populations that are related to marine ecosystem health or human activities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint persons to a southern sea otter recovery implementation team as authorized under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 within a year; (2) establish a peer-reviewed, merit-based process to award competitive grants for research regarding such otters and for projects assisting the recovery of otter populations; and (3) establish a peer review panel to provide scientific advice and guidance to prioritize proposals for grants. Authorizes research grant topics to include: (1) causes of sea otter mortality; (2) southern sea otter demographics and natural history; (3) effects and sources of pollutants, nutrients, and toxicants on such otters and sequestration of contaminants; (4) effects and sources of infectious diseases and parasites affecting such otters; (5) limitations on the availability of food resources for such otters and the impacts of food limitation on southern sea otter carrying capacity; (6) interactions between southern sea otters and coastal fisheries and other human activities in the marine environment; (7) assessment of the keystone ecological role of sea otters in southern and central California's coastal marine ecosystems; and (8) assessment of the adequacy of emergency response and contingency plans. Authorizes funded recovery projects to include projects to: (1) protect and recover southern sea otters; (2) reduce, mitigate, or eliminate potential factors limiting southern sea otter populations that are related to human activities; and (3) implement emergency response and contingency plans. Requires the Secretary, within 12 months, to report to Congress on: (1) the status of southern sea otter populations; (2) implementation of the research and grant programs; and (3) endangered species consultations regarding southern sea otters. Requires the Secretary, within 24 months and every five years thereafter, to report to Congress and the public on: (1) an evaluation of southern sea otter health, causes of southern sea otter mortality, and the interactions of southern sea otters with California's coastal marine ecosystems; (2) an evaluation of actions taken to improve otter health, reduce mortality, and improve southern sea otter habitat; (3) recommendation for actions to improve otter health, reduce the occurrence of human-related mortality, and improve the health of such coastal marine ecosystems; and (4) recommendations for funding to implement this Act. (Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2010-FY2015. (Sec. 5) Terminates this Act on the date the Secretary publishes a determination that the southern sea otter should be removed from the endangered species and threatened species lists.

Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act

Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]	Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]	Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]	Rep. Gerald Connolly [D-VA]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]	Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]	Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]	Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]	Rep. Jane Harman [D-CA]	Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]	Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
Rep. Paul Hodes [D-NH]	Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]	Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]	Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]	Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]	Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA]	Rep. Jerry McNerney [D-CA]
Rep. George Miller [D-CA]	Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]	Rep. Richard Neal [D-MA]	Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]	Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]	Rep. Joe Sestak [D-PA]	Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]
Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D-CA]	Sen. Chris Van Hollen [D-MD]	Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]	Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2009-07-29		Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2009-07-28		Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2009-07-28		On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 316 - 107 (Roll no. 651). (text: CR 7/28/2009 H8930)
2009-07-28		Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8933-8934)
2009-07-27		At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Hastings (WA) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
2009-07-27		DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 556.
2009-07-27		Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8830-8831)
2009-07-27		Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2009-06-23		Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.
2009-06-23		Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-175.
2009-06-10		Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2009-06-10		Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2009-06-10		Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Discharged.
2009-05-05		Subcommittee Hearings Held.
2009-02-04		Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
2009-01-15		Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

SB1748 (Related) 2010-12-10 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 686.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/556/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr556/BILLS-111hr556ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr556/BILLS-111hr556rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr556/BILLS-111hr556eh.pdf