*EPF512 12/21/2001
Senate Passes Bills to Preserve Asian Elephants, Rhinos and Tigers
(H.R. 645 and H.R. 700 clear Senate December 18) (360)

By Steve La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The Senate has passed by unanimous consent two bills that would reauthorize through September 30, 2007 the funding of projects to preserve endangered Asian wildlife and habitat.

The Senate on December 18 approved H.R. 645, a bill to reauthorize the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994. The bill now goes to the White House for signature by the President.

H.R. 645, titled the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2001, amends the original legislation to provide for the Multinational Species Conservation Fund through fiscal year 2007 (September 30, 2007).

The proposed law would require the Secretary of State, in approving projects supported by the Fund, "to give consideration to projects that will enhance sustainable conservation programs to ensure long-term conservation of rhinoceros and tigers," according to a legislative summary.

The Senate on the same day also approved H.R. 700, the bill that would reauthorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997. However, the Senate added an amendment in the form of technical corrections to the bill, and sent a message to the House December 19 on the action it took.

The Senate and House of Representatives will now have to reach agreement on the final language of H.R. 700, and take up the bill one more time before the legislation can go to the President for his signature.

As with H.R. 645, H.R. 700 would amend the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 by authorizing appropriations through fiscal year 2007 to fund projects to help preserve the Asian elephant in its native habitat.

Representative Wayne Gilchrest (Republican of Maryland) introduced H.R. 645 to the House of Representatives February 14. The bill passed the House June 25, and was received in the Senate the following day.

Representative James Saxton (Republican of New Jersey) submitted H.R. 700 to the House of Representatives on the same day fellow Republican Gilchrest presented H.R. 645. The bill passed the House June 12 and was received in the Senate June 13.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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