Washington, D.C., March 15 - The U.S. House Committee on Resources today unanimously approved legislation authored by Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) designed to stop wasteful spending and mismanagement of wildlife and sport fish trust funds.
The legislation - "The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000" - (H.R. 3671) was approved by an overwhelming 36 to 0 vote.
H.R. 3671 was authored by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the Resources Committee, U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) and others after three oversight hearings last year uncovered numerous spending improprieties involving wildlife and sport fish administrative funds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Federal Aid.
During the hearings, officials from the non-partisan General Accounting Office were critical of the management of administrative funds by the Division of Federal Aid, stating that "this is, if not the worst, one of the worst managed programs we have encountered."
"Don't take our word for why this bill is so badly needed to restore responsibility and honesty to the management of these funds," Chairman Young said during the markup. "Listen to what the Deputy Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, John Rogers, said recently about our reform efforts: 'We don't want legislation to put us in a tighter box. If another need for this money comes up in the future, we want to be able to direct money to it.' - Deputy Director John Rogers
"In other words," said Young, "they are saying 'stop me before I steal again'."
Congress is serious about stopping this curious spending - Rep. Dingell
"Today's bipartisan approval by the Resources Committee should send a strong signal to the Fish and Wildlife Service that Congress is serious about stopping, once and for all, a pattern of curious spending practices in the Federal Aid program," said U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), whose father sponsored the original Dingell-Johnson legislation. "Hunters and fisherman pay a handsome price to support conservation for the benefit of all Americans. I hope the hardworking people of the Fish and Wildlife Service understand the importance of fixing this serious problem."
Congress Acts to Protect Fish and Wildlife Funds
"This Committee's three oversight hearings on the wildlife and sport fish trust accounts uncovered slush funds, unnecessary foreign travel to Paris, Florence, and Rio de Janeiro, unreasonable overhead costs, and other examples of mal-administration," Young told the Committee. "These gross spending abuses took money directly from the wildlife and sport fish projects that could have been conducted by the states.
"The cosponsors of this legislation and I decided to fix the loopholes that the Fish and Wildlife Service try to use to justify the expenditures to 'administer' the trust funds.
"In this legislation, we cap the amount of administrative expenditures at $10 million total. We spell out exactly what expenses are authorized to administer the program. We add reporting and auditing requirements. We create a multi-state grant program with $5 million of the funds that were used improperly on unauthorized costs. We use some of the savings to enhance hunter safety and education. We create an Assistant Director for these wildlife and sport fish trust funds to raise the profile of these important conservation activities.
"Lean" Administration Means More Funds For States
"Fewer dollars wasted on administering these trust accounts means more dollars available for projects needed by states that help sport fish and wildlife," Young said. "It is the sportsmen who pay the tax into the trust funds, and the sportsmen should get the benefit.
"This does not choke the administration of the wildlife and fish trust accounts. It makes them lean and makes their managers accountable. "This bill will ensure that millions of excise tax dollars paid by sportsmen and women on guns, ammo, archery equipment and fishing equipment will go to the States to improve opportunities for enjoying hunting and fishing, enhancing hunting safety, providing conservation projects to improve habitat, and a variety of other wildlife and sport fish restoration projects."
One Of The Most Flagrant Examples Of Abuse - Rep. Radanovich
"The Chairman has done a remarkable job uncovering numerous examples of abuse within the Department of Interior," said U.S. Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), the Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. "This is one of the most flagrant. I was a county supervisor in Mariposa, California, and if we had misdirected tax money the way the Clinton/Gore Administration does - every day - they would have thrown us in prison. I do support Chairman Young's bill, but an honest Administration wouldn't have done something like this. Trying to legislate integrity in this Administration is like trying to push water up a hill."
New Bill Ensures Funds Remain In Proper Place - Rep. Chenoweth-Hage
"This money was given in good faith by American sportsmen to help perpetuate and preserve our nation's habitats and wildlife," said U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage (R-ID), the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. "It has been illegally diverted to line the pockets of federal officials and redirected to fund unrelated federal programs. This bill ensures that these funds remain in their proper place and restores the sacred trust of the American taxpayer."
Bill Ensures Conservation Of Wildlife Remains A Priority - Rep. Tancredo
"The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has violated the trust of the American people," said U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO). "This legislation takes a large step in ending the abuse within this federal agency, and ensures that the conservation of wildlife will continue to be a priority for this Committee and Congress."
Sportsman Taxes Should Be Used For Intended Purpose - Rep. Simpson
"Using the excise taxes paid by sportsman to advance the Administration's political agenda is unjustifiable," said U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID). "When the American people are taxed, the money should be used for its intended purpose. HR 3671 ensures that taxpayers aren't paying for something they didn't authorize."