109 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERffiS, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES 



STATEMENT OF 



MARSHALL MEYERS 



ON BEHALF OF THE 



PET INDUSTRY JOINT ADVISORY COUNCIL 



CONCERNING 



THE WILD BIRD CONSERVATION ACT OF 1992 



PL. 102-440 



SEPTEMBER 28, 1995 



Mr. Chairman, and members of the Subcommittee, I am Marshall Meyers, 

 Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council 

 (PIJAC). I appreciate the opportunity to testify on the implementation, or lack thereof, of 

 the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA). 



PUAC has been involved with this issue since its genesis some eight years ago. 

 PIJAC has been, and remains, supportive of the underlying intent of the WBCA. 

 Unfortunately, however, several of PIJAC 's reservations expressed during the original 

 Congressional deliberations have become a reality. At the same time, PIJAC remains 

 actively involved in the Department's implementation process as regulations needed to 

 implement the Act languish in the recesses of the Fish and Wildlife Service. 



Despite these implementation problems, PUAC remains hopeful that the WBCA 

 can become an effective conservation tool. The future success of the WBCA, however, 

 will require several amendments and far greater Congressional oversight than has existed 

 during the past three years. 



If the WBCA is to meet its objectives, certain amendments, not repeal , are 

 required. PUAC respectfully urges the Committee to consider the following: 



1. Amend Section 1 13 to carry out the original Congressional intent 

 that CITES Appendix III birds are not covered by the WBCA 

 except for those birds located in the listing country. 



2. Reauthorize the WBCA with recommendations for adequate 

 funding to properly implement and enforce the Act. 



