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Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992

Public Law 102-440 · H.R. 5013 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 23, 1992 · Animals

Sponsor: Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA-10)

Cosponsors (10): Rep. Robert Wise,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Title I: Wild Exotic Bird Conservation - Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 - States that the purpose of this title is to promote exotic bird conservation by: (1) assisting country of origin conservation programs; (2) ensuring that all trade in such species involving the United States is biologically sustainable and nondetrimental; (3) limiting or prohibiting imports of wild birds when necessary; and (4) encouraging implementation of the Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Convention) and the Appendices thereto.

Prohibits the importation into the United States of any exotic bird species (species) listed as category B in a specified report until the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary): (1) determines that appropriate country of origin remedial conservation measures have been taken; and (2) makes specified findings and includes the species in a specified list as provided for by this Act.

Authorizes the Secretary to suspend imports of certain listed species if: (1) suspension might be necessary for the species' conservation; and (2) trade is or might be detrimental to the species or certain remedial conservation methods have not been implemented.

Prohibits the importation of any species that is listed in any Appendix to the Convention unless included in the list required by this Act, beginning one year after enactment of this Act.

Limits the number of exotic birds from any species that may be imported into the United States during the one-year period beginning with the enactment of this Act to the number that were imported during the most recent year for which the Secretary has complete import data.

Directs the Secretary, one year after enactment of this Act and periodically thereafter, to list in the Federal Register species approved for U.S. importation. Requires the list to include: (1) the permissible countries of origin; and (2) qualifying breeding facilities in the case of captive bred species.

Directs the Secretary to list a species if: (1) it is regularly bred in captivity and not wild-caught; or (2) it is bred in a qualifying facility.

Sets forth the criteria for list inclusion of non-captive species, including whether the country of origin is implementing the Convention with regard to: (1) creation of a scientific or similar authority; (2) implementation of a conservation management plan; and (3) humane capture, transport, and maintenance methods.

Directs the Secretary to determine whether an exotic bird breeding facility is a qualifying facility pursuant to specified criteria. Makes such determination valid for up to three years.

Directs the Secretary to review periodically the trade in non-Convention species and establish an import moratorium or quota on: (1) any species if the list criteria are not being met and the moratorium is necessary for species conservation or otherwise consistent with the purpose of this title; or (2) all species from a particular country if no conservation management plan is in effect and the moratorium is necessary for species conservation or otherwise consistent with the purpose of this title.

Directs the Secretary to issue a call for information from each exporting country regarding its wild bird conservation program.

Sets forth the procedures by which the Secretary shall respond to petitions for import status, list inclusion, or facility status.

Makes it unlawful to: (1) import an exotic bird in violation of any prohibition, suspension, or quota; (2) import an exotic captive-bred bird not bred at a qualifying facility; or (3) violate any regulation issued pursuant to this Act. Sets forth related civil and criminal penalties.

Authorizes the Secretary to allow, through the issuance of import permits, the importation of any exotic bird upon determination that such importation is not detrimental to the species' survival and that the bird is being imported for one of the following reasons: (1) scientific research; (2) a personal pet; (3) zoological display or breeding; or (4) cooperative breeding programs.

Establishes in the Treasury the Exotic Bird Conservation Fund to provide financial and technical assistance for projects to conserve exotic birds in their native countries.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) review opportunities for a voluntary program of bird labeling, retail outlet and breeding facilities certification, and privately run foreign technical assistance; and (2) require marking and recordkeeping.

Authorizes FY 1993 through 1995 appropriations.

Title II: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Tissue Bank - Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Tissue Bank Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to: (1) coordinate existing facilities for the storage, preparation, examination, and archiving of tissues from selected Great Lakes fish and wildlife, to be known as the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Tissue Bank; (2) maintain a central data base to track and assess data from the Bank; and (3) establish criteria for data base access by the public. Authorizes FY 1993 and 1994 appropriations.

Title III: Miscellaneous - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1990 to extend authorization of appropriations through FY 1998.

Amends the African Elephant Conservation Act to extend authorization of appropriations through FY 1998.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make certain technical revisions to specified maps (including areas in Virginia and North Carolina) within 30 days of enactment of this Act.

Authorizes the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to continue to draw down Federal funds when matching requirements have been met. Exempts certain subgrantees from specified audit requirements. Requires subgrantees to comply with all applicable Federal laws and regulations.

Amends the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1980 as amended to require: (1) completion of Alaska wetland inventories by September 30, 2000; and (2) the creation of a digital wetlands data base for the United States by September 30, 2004, including the archiving and dissemination of such material as it becomes available.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee
  • Ways and Means Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Trade Subcommittee
  • Environment and Public Works Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 32 actions.

  1. Oct 23, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-440.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 15, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 5, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Studds asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
  7. Sep 30, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3355 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3354 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3353 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  11. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  13. Aug 12, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  14. Aug 11, 1992FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  15. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  17. FloorFloor · Mr. Studds moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  18. Jul 31, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  19. Jul 29, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Ways and Means Committee
  21. Jul 23, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  22. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  23. Jul 1, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  24. Jun 25, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  26. Jun 16, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  28. May 4, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  30. Apr 29, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.