Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1998
Public Law 105-312 · H.R. 2807 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 30, 1998 · Animals
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ-3)
Cosponsors (44): Rep. George Miller, Rep. Patrick Kennedy,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateUnanimous consent
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Migratory Bird Treaty Reform
Title II: National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement
Title III: Wetlands and Wildlife Enhancement
Title IV: Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation
Title V: Chesapeake Bay Initiative
Title I: Migratory Bird Treaty Reform - Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1998 - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to make it unlawful for persons to: (1) take migratory birds by the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, if such persons know or should know that the area is a baited area; or (2) place or direct the placement of bait on or adjacent to an area for purposes of causing, inducing, or allowing any person to take or attempt to take any migratory bird by the aid of baiting on or over the baited area.
Increases penalties for violations of the Act.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to specified congressional committees on the effect of the amendments regarding baiting made by this Act and the general practice of baiting on migratory bird conservation and law enforcement efforts under the Act.
Title II: National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement - National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1998 - Transfers to the Corps of Engineers, without reimbursement, certain land of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Minnesota.
Terminates the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over: (1) the Killcohook Coordination Area in New Jersey and Delaware; and (2) Lake Elsie National Wildlife Refuge in Richland County, North Dakota. Revokes Executive Orders 6582, 8648, and 8152.
Renames the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge as the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1996 to specify the periods of imprisonment for knowing violations of the Act (not more than one year) and for other violations (not more than 180 days).
Title III: Wetlands and Wildlife Enhancement - Wetlands and Wildlife Enhancement Act of 1998 - Amends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act to extend the authorization of appropriations to carry out such Acts through FY 2003.
(Sec. 4) Revises the composition of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council during FY 1999 through 2002 to include: (1) the Group Manager for Conservation Programs of Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; and (2) two (currently, three) individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) who represent charitable and nonprofit organizations participating in wetlands conservation projects.
Requires the Secretary to publish a policy in the Federal Register for making appointments to the Council from such organizations.
Title IV: Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation - Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1998 - Amends the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (the Act) to prohibit the sale, import, or export, or the attempted sale, import, or export, of any product, item, or substance (product) intended for human consumption or application containing, or labeled or advertised as containing, any substance derived from any species of rhinoceros or tiger. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) criminal and civil penalties, including seizure and forfeiture of such products; (2) enforcement activities; and (3) use of penalty amounts.
(Sec. 406) Directs the Secretary to develop and implement an educational outreach program in the United States for the conservation of rhinoceros and tiger species.
(Sec. 407) Authorizes appropriations.
Title V: Chesapeake Bay Initiative - Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to: (1) identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; (2) identify and utilize the collective resources as Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites for enhancing public education of and access to the Bay; (3) link the Gateways sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections as determined by the Secretary; (4) develop and establish Bay Watertrails comprising water routes and connections to Gateways sites and other land resources within the Watershed; and (5) create a network of Bay Gateways sites and Watertrails.
Directs the Secretary to establish a Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. Sets forth provisions regarding grant eligibility, prioritization, and review criteria and matching funds. Authorizes appropriations.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
Environment and Public Works Committee · Senate · discharged from, hearings by (full committee), 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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.
- Oct 30, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-312.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 20, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 15, 1998Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Oct 14, 1998Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree with amendments to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Young (AK) asked unanimous consent that the House agree with amendments to the Senate amendment.
- Oct 13, 1998FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of H.R. 2863 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jul 7, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- May 21, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Apr 28, 1998FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Saxton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 11, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 12, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Feb 5, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 10, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 4, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.