Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1446) 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.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1446

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION; REQUIREMENT TO SELL ALL STAMPS.

(a) In General.--Section 2(c) of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 (39 U.S.C. 416 note; Public Law 111-241) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (2)--

(A) by striking ``of at least 6 years,''; and

(B) by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``and ending not earlier than the date on which the United States Postal Service provides notice to Congress under paragraph (5)''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

``(5) Requirement to sell all stamps printed.--

``(A) In general.--The United States Postal Service shall sell each copy of the Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp that the United States Postal Service prints under this Act.

``(B) Notification of congress.--The United States Postal Service shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives when all copies of the Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp printed under this Act have been sold.''.

(b) Retroactive Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted on the day after the date of enactment of the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-165; 128 Stat. 1878). SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1446. It is a bill that would require the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp. It would require those continued sales until such time as the remaining stamps are sold.

Now, since 2010, these stamps have been sold by the U.S. Postal Service to support international conservation efforts, but the authorization for these sales has expired, leaving 49 million stamps unsold--printed, but unsold. Americans care deeply about wildlife, and by purchasing these stamps, they can support the Multinational Species Conservation Fund, which includes five grant programs that support the conservation of African and Asian elephants, great apes, marine turtles, rhinos and tigers.

Between 2011 and 2017, the stamp sales from this program generated $3.9 million, and that money went to conservation projects related to antipoaching, capacity building, community engagement and outreach, habitat restoration, and raising public awareness of wildlife trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, 49 million stamps have already been printed. They are sitting and waiting to be sold. This bill doesn't authorize the printing of any new stamps, but it does direct the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling the stamps it has printed until they are exhausted.

At a time when so many species are threatened with extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, and exploitation, we must do more to protect wildlife.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have another speaker at this point, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, September 30, 2019. Hon. Elijah E. Cummings, Chair, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, Washington DC.

Dear Chair Cummings: I write to you concerning H.R. 1446 the, ``Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019.''

I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. I acknowledge that your Committee will not formally consider H.R. 1446 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your Committee's Rule X jurisdiction.

I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva, Chair, House Natural Resources Committee. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Reform, Washington, DC, October 16, 2019. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Grijalva: I am writing to you concerning the bill H.R. 1446, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019. There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this Committee's right to consider the bill. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this Committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions.

Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 1446 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock). It is good to have bipartisan support for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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