16 U.S.C. § 941 — Findings

Page 1555 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 941a Sec. 941e. Establishment of offices. 941f. Reports. 941g. Authorization of appropriations. 941h. Great Lakes monitoring, assessment, science, and research. § 941. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the Great Lakes have fish and wildlife communities that are structurally and func- tionally changing; (2) successful fish and wildlife management focuses on the lakes as ecosystems, and effec- tive management requires the coordination and integration of efforts of many partners; (3) additional actions and better coordina- tion are needed to protect and effectively manage the fish and wildlife resources, and the habitats on which the resources depend, in the Great Lakes Basin; and (4) this chapter allows Federal agencies, States, and Indian tribes to work in an effec- tive partnership by providing the funding for restoration work. (Pub. L. 101–537, title I, § 1002, as added Pub. L. 114–322, title III, § 3901(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1848.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 941, Pub. L. 101–537, title I, § 1002, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2370; Pub. L. 101–646, title II, § 2002, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4773; Pub. L. 104–332, § 2(h)(1), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4091; Pub. L. 105–265, § 3(b), Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2358, related to Congressional findings, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–322, title III, § 3901(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1848. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2022 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 117–287, § 1, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4363, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 941f and 941g of this title] may be cited as the ‘Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2022’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 2006 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 109–326, § 1, Oct. 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 1761, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 941b to 941g of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the ‘Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105–265, § 1, Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2358, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section and sec- tions 941 to 941g of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1998’.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 101–537, title I, § 1001, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2370, and Pub. L. 101–646, title II, § 2001, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4773, as amended by Pub. L. 104–332, § 2(h)(1), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4091, provided that: ‘‘This title [enact- ing this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990’.’’ Title II of Pub. L. 101–646 was repealed by Pub. L. 105–265, § 3(b), Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2358. CONTINUED MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF STUDY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Pub. L. 109–326, § 8, Oct. 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 1766, which required the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes Basin and to update findings and recommendations of the Great Lakes Fishery Re- sources Restoration Study, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–322, title III, § 3901(h), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1851. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS Pub. L. 109–326, § 2, Oct. 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 1761, pro- vided that: ‘‘Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) the Great Lakes have fish and wildlife commu- nities that are structurally and functionally chang- ing; ‘‘(2) successful fish and wildlife management fo- cuses on the lakes as ecosystems, and effective man- agement requires the coordination and integration of efforts of many partners; ‘‘(3) it is in the national interest to undertake ac- tivities in the Great Lakes Basin that support sus- tainable fish and wildlife resources of common con- cern provided under the recommendations of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration authorized under Executive Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043; relating to the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force) [33 U.S.C. 1268 note]; ‘‘(4) additional actions and better coordination are needed to protect and effectively manage the fish and wildlife resources, and the habitats upon which the resources depend, in the Great Lakes Basin; ‘‘(5) as of the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 2006], actions are not funded that are considered es- sential to meet the goals and objectives in managing the fish and wildlife resources, and the habitats upon which the resources depend, in the Great Lakes Basin; and ‘‘(6) the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act [of 1990] (16 U.S.C. 941 et seq.) allows Federal agencies, States, and tribes to work in an effective partnership by providing the funding for restoration work.’’ Pub. L. 105–265, § 2, Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2358, pro- vided that: ‘‘Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) the Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study, for which a report was submitted to Congress in 1995, was a comprehensive study of the status, and the assessment, management, and restoration needs, of the fishery resources of the Great Lakes Basin, and was conducted through the joint effort of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, State fish and wild- life resource management agencies, Indian tribes, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; and ‘‘(2) the study— ‘‘(A) found that, although State, Provincial, Na- tive American Tribal, and Federal agencies have made significant progress toward the goal of restor- ing a healthy fish community to the Great Lakes Basin, additional actions and better coordination are needed to protect and effectively manage the fisheries and related resources in the Great Lakes Basin; and ‘‘(B) recommended actions that are not currently funded but are considered essential to meet goals and objectives in managing the resources of the Great Lakes Basin.’’ § 941a. Purpose The purposes of this chapter are— (1) to develop and implement proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin; and (2) to provide assistance to the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage co- operative conservation, restoration and man- agement of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitat in the Great Lakes Basin. (Pub. L. 101–537, title I, § 1003, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2371; Pub. L. 101–646, title II, § 2003, Nov. 29,