§1748 Funding Requirements

Summary

Congress may provide whatever money is needed to carry out the Act. But after October 1, 2002, no money may be spent on any Bureau program unless that spending was already specifically authorized by October 21, 1976 or it is authorized through the process described here. Starting May 15, 1977, and then by May 15 every second even-numbered year after that, the Secretary must send the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate a request to authorize funding for all Bureau programs for the four fiscal years that begin on October 1 of the year after the request is sent. The request must include the usual budget papers and the funding levels the Secretary thinks will let each program be run efficiently and effectively, even if those levels differ from executive-branch budget limits. This does not change how money from land sales and natural-resource sales is shared or used. It also does not affect contributed funds, private deposits for public surveys, townsite trusteeships, allocations from other federal agencies, reimbursements from federal or nonfederal sources, or money spent on emergency firefighting and rehabilitation. When buying land under its purchase authority, the Secretary may use the Land and Water Conservation Fund to buy lands needed to manage public lands that are mainly for outdoor recreation.