American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 48 To amend the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 4, 2021 Mr. BIGGS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Sovereignty 4 and Species Protection Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:33 Jan 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H48.IH H48 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 48 IH SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON LISTING OF NOT NATIVE SPECIES 1 AND PROVISION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL AS- 2 SISTANCE. 3 (a) LIMITATION ON LISTING OF NOT NATIVE SPE- 4 CIES.—Section 4(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 5 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the 6 end the following: 7 ‘‘(D) NOT NATIVE SPECIES.—The Secretary 8 may not determine that a species is an endangered 9 species or a threatened species pursuant to section 10 4 if such species is not native to the United 11 States.’’. 12 (b) LIMITATION ON PROVISION OF CERTAIN FINAN- 13 CIAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 8(a) of the Endangered Spe- 14 cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1537(a)) is amended— 15 (1) by striking ‘‘As a demonstration of’’ and in- 16 serting the following: 17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As a demonstration of’’; 18 (2) by striking ‘‘(which includes, but is not lim- 19 ited to, the acquisition, by lease or otherwise, of 20 lands, waters, or interests therein)’’; and 21 (3) by adding at the end the following: 22 ‘‘(2) PROHIBITION ON PURCHASING LAND IN A 23 FOREIGN COUNTRY.—No financial assistance pro- 24 vided under paragraph (1) may be used to acquire, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:33 Jan 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H48.IH H48 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 48 IH by lease or otherwise, lands, waters, or other inter- 1 ests in a foreign country.’’. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:33 Jan 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H48.IH H48 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS