Bill
Bill > S1769
summary
Introduced
07/15/2015
07/15/2015
In Committee
07/15/2015
07/15/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015 This bill revises and reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act through FY2020. Raw or worked ivory may be imported or exported under that Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 if: (1) the ivory is for a museum; (2) the ivory was lawfully importable into the United States on February 24, 2014, regardless of when it was acquired; or (3) the worked ivory was previously lawfully possessed in the United States. This bill authorizes: (1) commerce in African elephant ivory or in products containing African elephant ivory that have been lawfully imported or crafted in the United States; and (2) the importation of a sport-hunted African elephant trophy if the trophy was taken from certain elephants populations that at the time were not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may have become so unless trade was closely controlled. Interior may station one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officer in each African country that has a significant population of African elephants to assist local wildlife rangers in protecting the elephants and facilitating the apprehension of individuals who illegally kill them or assist in killing them. The President may embargo any products from a country if it is a significant transit or destination point for illegal ivory trade. In providing financial assistance under the African Elephant Conservation Act, Interior must prioritize projects for facilitating the acquisition of equipment and training to wildlife officials in ivory-producing countries to be used in anti-poaching efforts.
AI Summary
This bill, the African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015, revises and reauthorizes the African Elephant Conservation Act through fiscal year 2020, allowing for the import or export of raw or worked ivory under specific conditions, such as for museum purposes, if it was lawfully importable into the U.S. on February 24, 2014, or if it was previously lawfully possessed in the U.S. The bill also permits commerce in African elephant ivory or products containing it that have been lawfully imported or crafted in the U.S., and the importation of sport-hunted African elephant trophies from certain populations that were not necessarily threatened with extinction but could become so without controlled trade. To combat illegal ivory trade, the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) is authorized to station U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officers in African countries with significant elephant populations to assist local rangers in protecting elephants and apprehending poachers, and the President can embargo products from countries that are major transit or destination points for illegal ivory. Furthermore, when providing financial aid, Interior must prioritize projects that help wildlife officials in ivory-producing countries acquire equipment and training for anti-poaching efforts.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (on 07/15/2015)
Official Document
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