§ 6601. Findings and purposes

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 2004

   Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004

   Pub. L. 108–266 § 2 · 118 Stat. 791

   Enacted · 16 U.S.C. § 6601

   Pub. L. 108–266, § 2, July 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 791

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Pub. L. 108–266, § 2, July 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 791

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) marine turtle populations have declined to the point that the long-term survival of the loggerhead, green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, and leatherback turtle in the wild is in serious jeopardy; (2) 6 of the 7 recognized species of marine turtles are listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and all 7 species have been included in Appendix I of CITES; (3) because marine turtles are long-lived, late-maturing, and highly migratory, marine turtles are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of human exploitation and habitat loss; (4) illegal international trade seriously threatens wild populations of some marine turtle species, particularly the hawksbill turtle; (5) the challenges facing marine turtles are immense, and the resources available have not been sufficient to cope with the continued loss of nesting habitats caused by human activities and the consequent diminution of marine turtle populations; (6) because marine turtles are flagship species for the ecosystems in which marine turtles are found, sustaining healthy populations of marine turtles provides benefits to many other species of wildlife, including many other threatened or endangered species; (7) marine turtles are important components of the ecosystems that they inhabit, and studies of wild populations of marine turtles have provided important biological insights; (8) changes in marine turtle populations are most reliably indicated by changes in the numbers of nests and nesting females; and (9) the reduction, removal, or other effective addressing of the threats to the long-term viability of populations of marine turtles will require the joint commitment and effort of— (A) countries that have within their boundaries marine turtle nesting habitats; and (B) persons with expertise in the conservation of marine turtles. (b) Purpose.— The purpose of this Act is to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign countries by supporting and providing financial resources for projects to conserve the nesting habitats, conserve marine turtles in those habitats, and address other threats to the survival of marine turtles.

2. 2019

   John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act

   Pub. L. 116–9 title VII § 7001(c)(3)(A) · 133 Stat. 580

   1. Added · 16 U.S.C. § 6601(b)

      Pub. L. 116–9 added subsec. (b)

   2. Struck · 16 U.S.C. § 6601(b)

      Pub. L. 116–9 struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this chapter is to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign countries by supporting and providing financial resources for projects to conserve the nesting habitats, conserve marine turtles in those habitats, and address other threats to the survival of marine turtles.”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–9 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this chapter is to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign countries by supporting and providing financial resources for projects to conserve the nesting habitats, conserve marine turtles in those habitats, and address other threats to the survival of marine turtles.”

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (A) Purpose.— Section 2 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: “(b) Purpose.— The purpose of this Act is to assist in the conservation of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises and the habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises in foreign countries and territories of the United States by supporting and providing financial resources for projects— “(1) to conserve marine turtle, freshwater turtle, and tortoise habitats under the jurisdiction of United States Fish and Wildlife Service programs; “(2) to conserve marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises in those habitats; and “(3) to address other threats to the survival of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises, including habitat loss, poaching of turtles or their eggs, and wildlife trafficking.” .

3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision