Public Law 1024.

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70 Stat. 1119 Public Law 1024 chapter 1036 AN ACT To establish a sound and comprehensive national policy with respect to fish and wildlife; to strengthen the fish and wildlife segments of the national economy; to establish within the Department of the Interior the position of Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife; to establish a United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and for other purposes. August 8, 1956[[S. 3275](/us/bill/84/s/3275)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That this Act may Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956. be cited as the “Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956”.

DECLARATION OF POLICY Sec. 2. The Congress hereby declares that the fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources of the Nation make a material contribution to our national economy and food supply, as well as a material contribution to the health, recreation, and well-being of our citizens; that such resources are a living, renewable form of national wealth that is capable of being maintained and greatly increased with proper management, but equally capable of destruction if neglected or unwisely exploited; that such resources afford outdoor recreation throughout the Nation and provide employment, directly or indirectly, to a substantial number of citizens; that the fishing industries strengthen the defense of the United States through the provision of a trained seafaring citizenry and action-ready fleets of seaworthy vessels; that the training and sport afforded by fish and wildlife resources strengthen the national defense by contributing to the general health and physical fitness of millions of citizens; and that properly developed, such fish and wildlife resources are capable of steadily increasing these valuable contributions to the life of the Nation.

The Congress further declares that the fishing industry, in its several branches, can prosper and thus fulfill its proper function in national life only if certain fundamental needs are satisfied by means that are consistent with the public interest and in accord with constitutional functions of governments. Among these needs are:

(1)Freedom of enterprise—freedom to develop new areas, methods, products, and markets in accordance with sound economic principles, as well as freedom from unnecessary administrative or legal restrictions that unreasonably conflict with or ignore economic needs;

(2)Protection of opportunity—maintenance of an economic atmosphere in which domestic production and processing can prosper; protection from subsidized competing products; protection of opportunity to fish on the high seas in accordance with international law;

(3)Assistance—assistance consistent with that provided by the Government for industry generally, such as is involved in promoting good industrial relations, fair trade standards, harmonious labor relations, better health standards and sanitation; and including, but not limited to—

(a)services to provide current information on production and trade, market promotion and development, and an extension service,

(b)research services for economic and technologic development and resource conservation, and

(c)resource management to assure the maximum sustainable production for the fisheries. The Congress further declares that the provisions of this Act are necessary in order to accomplish the objective of proper resource development, and that this Act shall be administered with due regard to the inherent right of every citizen and resident of the United States 70 Stat. 1120 to engage in fishing for his own pleasure, enjoyment, and betterment, and with the intent of maintaining and increasing the public opportunities for recreational use of our fish and wildlife resources, and stimulating the development of a strong, prosperous, and thriving fishery and fish processing industry. REORGANIZATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Sec. 3. Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife; Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. U. S. Fish and Wildlife service.

(a)There is hereby established within the Department of the Interior the position of Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, and the position of Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. Such Assistant Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be compensated at the same rate as other Assistant Secretaries. The Commissioner shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He shall receive compensation at the same rate as that provided for Grade GS–18. There is also established a United States Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department, consisting of two separate agencies, each of which shall have the status of a Federal bureau. There shall be a Director of each of said Bureaus appointed by the Secretary at Grades GS–17 each. One of the agencies shall be known as the “Bureau of Commercial Fisheries” and the other agency shall be known as the “Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife”. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, except as prescribed by this Act, shall succeed to and replace the presently existing Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department.

(b)The functions of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service hereby established shall be administered under the supervision of the said Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, who shall be subject to the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife.

(c)All functions and responsibilities placed in the Department of the Interior or any official thereof by this Act shall be included among the functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior, as the head of the Department, and shall be carried out under his direction pursuant to such procedures or delegations of authority as he may deem advisable and in the public interest.

(d)Distribution of duties, etc. In order to make a proper distribution between the two Bureaus of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service established by this Act, the previously existing functions, powers, duties, authority, liabilities, commitments, personnel, records, and other properties or matters previously handled by or administered through the former Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department, shall be distributed as follows:

(1)The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries shall be responsible for those matters to which this Act applies relating primarily to commercial fisheries, whales, seals, and sea-lions, and related matters;

(2)The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife shall be responsible for those matters to which this Act applies relating primarily to migratory birds, game management, wildlife refuges, sport fisheries, sea mammals (except whales, seals and sea-lions), and related matters; and the funds and allocations, appropriated or otherwise, relating to the matters covered by paragraphs

(1)and

(2)of this subsection shall be distributed between such Bureaus as the Secretary of the Interior shall determine.

(e)Except as changed by the terms of this Act or by subsequent laws or regulations, all laws and regulations now in effect relating to matters heretofore administered by the Department of the Interior through the former Fish and Wildlife Service as heretofore existing, shall remain in effect.

(f)Administrative procedures. In recognition of the need for authority to execute the purposes of this Act effectively, the Secretary of the Interior shall exercise such 70 Stat. 1121 general administrative authority consistently with the terms of this Act as he shall find to be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act effectively and in the public interest. In order to allow sufficient Publication of notice in FR. time to place the reorganizations under this Act into effect, the Secretary is authorized to establish an effective procedure and date of such reorganizations, notice of which shall be published in the Federal Register. Such reorganization shall be accomplished as soon as practicable after the approval of this Act, but not later than ninety

(90)calendar days after such approval. LOAN PROCEDURES Sec. 4.

(a)The Secretary is authorized under rules and regulations and under terms and conditions prescribed by him, to make loans for financing and refinancing of operations, maintenance, replacement, repair, and equipment of fishing gear and vessels, and for research into the basic problems of fisheries.

(b)Any loans made under the provisions of this section shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1)Bear an interest rate of not less than 3 per centum per annum;

(2)Mature in not more than ten years;

(3)No financial assistance shall be extended pursuant to this section unless reasonable financial assistance applied for is not otherwise available on reasonable terms.

(c)There is hereby created a fisheries loan fund, which shall be used by the Secretary as a revolving fund to make loans for financing and refinancing under this section. Any funds received by the Secretary on or before June 30, 1965, in payment of principal or interest on any loans so made, shall be deposited in the fund and be available for making additional loans under this section. Any funds so received after June 30, 1965, and any balance remaining in the fund at the close of June 30, 1965 (at which time the fund shall cease to exist), shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the fund the sum of $10,000,000 to provide initial capital.

(d)The Secretary, subject to the specific limitations in this section, may consent to the modification, with respect to the rate of interest, time of payment of any installment of principal, or security, of any loan contract to which he is a party. INVESTIGATIONS, INFORMATION, REPORTS Sec. 5.

(a)The Secretary shall conduct continuing investigations, prepare and disseminate information, and make periodical reports to the public, to the President, and to Congress, with respect to the following matters:

(1)The production and flow to market of fish and fishery products domestically produced, and also those produced by foreign producers which affect the domestic fisheries;

(2)The availability and abundance and the biological requirements of the fish and wildlife resources;

(3)The competitive economic position of the various fish and fishery products with respect to each other, and with respect to competitive domestic and foreign-produced commodities;

(4)The collection and dissemination of statistics on commercial and sport fishing;

(5)The collection and dissemination of statistics on the nature and availability of wildlife, progress in acquisition of additional refuges and measures being taken to foster a coordinated program to encourage and develop wildlife values; 70 Stat. 1122

(6)The improvement of production and marketing practices in regard to commercial’species and the conduct of educational and extension services relative to commercial and sport fishing, and wildlife matters;

(7)Any other matters which in the judgment of the Secretary are of public interest in connection with any phases of fish and wildlife operations. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS—ASSISTANCE OF OTHER AGENCIES Sec. 6.

(a)There shall be transferred to the Secretary all functions of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the head of any other department or agency, as determined by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget to relate primarily to the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of commercial fisheries; but nothing in this section shall be construed to modify the authority of the Department of State or the Secretary of State to negotiate or enter into any international agreements, or conventions with respect to the development, management, or protection of any fisheries and wildlife resources or with respect to international commissions operating under conventions to which the United States is a party.

(b)There shall be transferred to the Department of the Interior so much of the personnel, property, facilities, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds (available or to be made available) as the Director of the Bureau of the Budget determines to be necessary in connection with the exercise of any functions transferred to the Secretary pursuant to subsection

(a)of this section.

(c)The Secretary may request and secure the advice or assistance of any department or agency of the Government in carrying out the provisions of this Act, and any such department or agency which furnishes advice or assistance to the Secretary may expend its own funds for such purposes, with or without reimbursement from the Secretary as may be agreed upon between the Secretary and the department or agency. POLICIES, PROCEDURES, RECOMMENDATIONS Sec. 7.

(a)The Secretary of the Interior, with such advice and assistance as he may require from the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, shall consider and determine the policies and procedures that are necessary and desirable in carrying out efficiently and in the public interest the laws relating to fish and wildlife. The Secretary, with the assistance of the departmental staff herein authorized, shall—

(1)develop and recommend measures which are appropriate to assure the maximum sustainable production of fish and fishery products and to prevent unnecessary and excessive fluctuations in such production;

(2)study the economic condition of the industry, and whenever he determines that any segment of the domestic fisheries has been seriously disturbed either by wide fluctuation in the abundance of the resource supporting it, or by unstable market or fishing conditions or due to an other factors he shall make such recommendations to the President and the Congress as he deems appropriate to aid in stabilizing the domestic fisheries;

(3)develop and recommend special promotional and informational activities with a view to stimulating the consumption of fishery products whenever he determines that there is a prospective or actual surplus of such products; 70 Stat. 1123

(4)take such steps as may be required for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of the fisheries resources; and

(5)take such steps as may be required for the development, management, advancement, conservation, and protection of wildlife resources through research, acquisition of refuge lands, development of existing facilities, and other means. STATE DEPARTMENT—COOPERATION Sec. 8.

(a)The Secretary shall cooperate to the fullest practicable extent with the Secretary of State in providing representation at all meetings and conferences relating to fish and wildlife in which representatives of the United States and foreign countries participate. The Secretary of State shall designate the Secretary of the Interior or the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, or a person designated by the Secretary of the Interior to represent the Department of the Interior, as a member of the United States delegation attending such meetings and conferences and also as a member of the negotiating team of any such delegation.

(b)The Secretary of State and all other officials having responsibilities in the fields of technical and economic aid to foreign nations shall consult with the Secretary in all cases in which the interests of fish and wildlife are involved, with a view to assuring that such interests are adequately represented at all times.

(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall be represented in all international negotiations conducted by the United States pursuant to section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as [48 Stat. 943](/us/stat/48/943). [19 USC 1351](/us/usc/t19/s1351). amended, in any case in which fish products are directly affected by such negotiations.

(d)The Secretary shall consult periodically with the various governmental, private nonprofit, and other organizations and agencies which have to do with any phase of fish and wildlife with respect to any problems that may arise in connection with such fish and wildlife. REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES AND IMPORTS Sec. 9.

(a)The Secretary of the Interior shall make an annual Report to Congress. report to the Congress with respect to activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under this Act, and shall make such recommendations for additional legislation as he deems necessary.

(b)The Secretary is authorized to make a report to the President and the Congress, and, when requested by the United States Tariff Commission in connection with section 7 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951, as amended (67 Stat. 72, 74), or when an [65 Stat. 74](/us/stat/65/74). [19 USC 1364](/us/usc/t19/s1364). investigation is made under the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U. S. C. 1332), the Secretary is authorized to make a report to such Commission, concerning the following matters with respect to any fishery product which is imported into the United States, or such reports may be made upon a request from any segment of the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive product—

(1)whether there has been a downward trend in the production, employment in the production, or prices, or a decline in the sales, of the like or directly competitive product by the domestic industry; and

(2)whether there has been an increase in the imports of the fishery products into the United States, either actual or relative to the production of the like or directly competitive product produced by the domestic industry. 70 Stat. 1124 THE RIGHTS OF STATES Sec. 10. Nothing in this Act shall be construed

(1)to interfere in any manner with the rights of any State under the Submerged Lands [67 Stat. 29](/us/stat/67/29). Act (Public Law 31, Eighty-third Congress) or otherwise provided by law, or to supersede any regulatory authority over fisheries exercised by the States either individually or under interstate compacts; or

(2)to interfere in any manner with the authority exercised by any International Commission established under any treaty or convention to which the United States is a party. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATION Sec. 11. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Sec. 12.

(a)The authorization for the transfer of certain funds from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior and their maintenance in a separate fund as contained in section 2

(a)of the [15 USC 713C–3](/us/usc/t15/s713C–3). Act of August 11, 1939, as amended July 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 376), shall be continued for the year ending June 30, 1957, and each year thereafter.

(b)Subsection

(e)of section 2 of the aforesaid Act of August 11, 1939, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: " “(e) The separate fund created for the use of the Secretary of the Interior under section 2

(a)of this Act and the annual accruals thereto shall be available for each year hereafter until expended by the Secretary.” " Approved August 8, 1956. Public Law 1025: To authorize negotiations with respect to a compact to provide for a definition or relocation of the common boundary between Arizona and California, and for the appointment by the President of a Federal representative to the compact negotiations. Public Law 1025 Public Law 1025 70 Stat. 1124 1956-08-08 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-02-10 84 2 public Public Law 1025 chapter 1037 AN ACT To authorize negotiations with respect to a compact to provide for a definition or relocation of the common boundary between Arizona and California, and for the appointment by the President of a Federal representative to the compact negotiations. August 8, 1956[[H. R. 11911](/us/bill/84/hr/11911)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Arizona-California boundary compact. Consent of Congress. That the consent of Congress is hereby given to the States of Arizona and California to negotiate and enter into a compact with respect to the definition or relocation of the common boundary of said States. Sec. 2. Such consent is given upon the following conditions:

(1)A representative of the United States, not a resident of either Arizona or California, shall be appointed by the President of the United States; such representative shall participate in such negotiations and shall make a report to the President and to the Congress of the proceedings and of any compact entered into; and

(2)Such compact shall not be binding or obligatory upon either of such States unless and until it has been ratified by the legislature of each of such State and consented to by the Congress of the United States. Sec. 3. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved August 8, 1956. Public Law 1026: To supplement the antitrust laws of the United States, in order to balance the power now heavily weighted in favor of automobile manufacturers, by enabling franchise automobile dealers to bring suit in the district courts of the United States to recover damages sustained by reason of the failure of automobile manufacturers to act in good faith in complying with the terms of franchises or in terminating or not renewing franchises with their dealers. Public Law 1026 Public Law 1026 70 Stat. 1125 1956-08-08 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-02-10 84 2 public

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