CRS-131 



Government. By allowing the Governor to maintain his veto power 

 we insure that this will continue to take place. 184 / 



The legislation as finally enacted did not contain the House-approved change 



to the State approval process. It did require the Secretary of the Interior 



to consult with appropriate State and local agencies before entering into a 



land acquisition. This requirement for consultation had not existed in the 



Hunting Stamp Act previously. 



The second enactment also occurred in October 1978 when Congress passed 

 related legislation, the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act (P.L. 95-616), a 

 measure which amended several existing laws so as to improve administration 

 of the programs of the Fish and Wildlife Service. In particular, the law 

 contained amendments to broaden the Service's land acquisition authority 

 under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Migratory Bird Hunting and 

 Conservation Stamp Act. Previously under those laws, land acquisition had 

 been limited to the purchase of refuge lands, and other means of acquisition 

 (such as through accepting donations) had not been authorized. 



This 1978 law provided additional means to acquire lands. It authorized 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain partial interest in lands and waters 

 and authorized the Secretary of the Interior to accept gifts, devises, or be- 

 quests of real or personal property for the benefit of programs administered by 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service. In making these changes, Congress intended to 

 respond to "rising land costs and increased public pressures to provide wildlife 

 habitat for current and future public enjoyment by providing alternative means to 

 acquire lands . " 185 / 



184 / Remarks of Hon. Ted. Stevens. Congressional Record [daily edition], 

 v. 124, Oct. 7, 1978. p. S17673. 



185 / U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. 

 Administration of Fish and Wildlife Programs. Report to accompany H.R. 2329. 

 House Report No. 95-29, 95th Cong., 1st sess. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. 

 Off., 1977. p. 4. 





