U.S. House Advances Major Increase for Wildlife Conservation Funding
With bipartisan support, the Recovering America鈥檚 Wildlife Act moves closer to passing Congress.
WASHINGTON鈥 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America鈥檚 Wildlife Act in a bipartisan vote today. The legislation would dedicate $1.3 billion for state-level conservation and $97.5 million to Tribal Nations annually for proactive, on-the-ground projects, creating more than 30,000 jobs and over $93 billion in total economic activity.
鈥淭he Recovering America鈥檚 Wildlife Act will provide much-needed funding to conserve more than 800 species of birds, including the vulnerable Golden-Winged Warbler and Black Tern,鈥 said Justin Stokes, deputy chief conservation officer, 爆料公社. 鈥淭his is the kind of response we need to help address the loss of鈥 .鈥
Current funding for state and tribal Wildlife Action Plans, collectively about $70 million per year, is less than five percent of what is necessary to conserve the species most at-risk. The Recovering America鈥檚 Wildlife Act aimed to help fill the gap. It provides 75 percent of the cost of the program, which equals the $1.3 billion per year outlined in the bill. Each state would be responsible for coming up with the other 25 percent.
鈥淭his bill will not only help wildlife, it will also generate jobs in communities across the country,鈥 said Stokes.
A version of the bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in April.
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Media Contact: Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org
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