To extend agricultural programs beyond March 15, 2008, to suspend permanent price support authorities beyond that date, and for other purposes. (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)[S.2745.ENR]

Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)[H.J.RES.20.ENR]

To amend Public Law 110-196 to provide for a temporary extension of programs authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 beyond May 16, 2008. (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)[H.R.6051.ENR]

Legislation of Interest Under Consideration

Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (Introduced in Senate)[S.1870.IS]

S.1870
Title: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the jurisdiction of the United States over waters of the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 7/25/2007) Cosponsors (20)
Related Bills: H.R.2421
Latest Major Action: 4/9/2008 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held.

National Aquatic Animal Health Act of 2007 (Introduced in Senate) [S.2299.IS]

S.2299
Title: A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an advisory committee to develop recommendations regarding the national aquatic animal health plan developed by the National Aquatic Animal Health Task Force, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 11/1/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/1/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

More information on S.2299

Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.2421.IH]

H.R.2421
Title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the jurisdiction of the United States over waters of the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (introduced 5/22/2007) Cosponsors (176)
Related Bills: S.1870
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2007 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide incentives to landowners to protect and improve streams and riparian habitat. (Introduced in Senate)[S.1029.IS]

S.1029
Title: A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide incentives to landowners to protect and improve streams and riparian habitat.
Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.889.IH]

H.R.889
Title: To amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish vessel ballast water management requirements, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] (introduced 2/7/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 2/15/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

National Landscape Conservation System Act (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.R.2016.EH]

H.R.2016
Title: To establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] (introduced 4/24/2007) Cosponsors (67)
Related Bills: H.RES.1084, S.1139
Latest Major Action: 4/10/2008 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 634.
House Reports: 110-561

Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.R.2381.EH]

H.R.2381
Title: To promote Department of the Interior efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/17/2007) Cosponsors (8)
Latest Major Action: 2/28/2008 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.

Statement by U.S. Rep. Ron Kind Regarding National Academy

of Sciences Report on Mississippi River Water Quality Washington, DC

Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act (Referred to Different or Additional Senate Committee) [H.R.767.RCS]

H.R.767
Title: To protect, conserve, and restore native fish, wildlife, and their natural habitats at national wildlife refuges through cooperative, incentive-based grants to control, mitigate, and eradicate harmful nonnative species, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 1/31/2007) Cosponsors (20)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Reports: 110-397

News release from U.S. Rep Ron Kind about H.R.767

Farm Bill

The 2007 farm bill has been passed by both House (318-106 vote) and Senate (85-15 vote) and is awaiting word of approval from the President. It is anticipated that the President will veto the bill by May 23rd.

Farm Bill links

Home page - http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdafarmbill?navtype=SU&navid=FARM_BILL_FORUMS

Conservation page - http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1UH?navtype=FB&navid=CONSERVATION_FB

Useful Links

Link to Bill Search Engine for both House and Senate

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c110query.htm

United States House of Representatives

http://www.house.gov/

United States Senate

http://www.senate.gov/

August 2, 2007

US Fish & Wildlife Service Publishes Final Rule on Silver Carp

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule July 10 to add all forms of live silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), gametes, viable eggs, and hybrids; and all forms of live largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi), gametes, viable eggs, and hybrids to the list of injurious fish, mollusks, and crustaceans under the Lacey Act. The best available information indicates that this action is necessary to protect the interests of human beings, and wildlife and wildlife resources, from the purposeful or accidental introduction, and subsequent establishment, of silver carp and largescale silver carp populations in ecosystems of the United States. Live silver carp and largescale silver carp, gametes, viable eggs, and hybrids can be imported only by permit for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes, or without a permit by Federal agencies solely for their own use; permits will also be required for the interstate transportation of live silver or largescale silver carp, gametes, viable eggs, or hybrids currently within the United States. Interstate transportation permits may be issued for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes.

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Injurious Wildlife Species; Black Carp - Final Rule