Recovering America’s Wildlife Act HR 3742

DOWNLOAD FACTSHEETS: HR3742 Factsheet, State by State Allocation Estimate

The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, introduced by Representatives Dingell (D-MI) and Fortenberry (R-NE), will be the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation. The bill will fund proactive efforts led by the states, territories and tribes to address the nation’s looming wildlife crisis and to prevent species from becoming endangered.

A stitch in time. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will dedicate $1.397 billion annually towards proactive, voluntary conservation efforts for wildlife at-risk. This will prevent species from requiring the emergency room measures of the Endangered Species Act.

Money to the states. $1.3 billion from this bill will be spent by state fish and wildlife agencies, in partnership with state-based conservation entities. The state agencies will use the money to implement their congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans. These detailed plans incorporate science and public input and are approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nationwide problem. The state wildlife agencies have identified more than 12,000 species in need of conservation attention.

Need for funding. Federal funding is less than five percent of what is necessary to conserve these species. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is a innovative solution that matches the magnitude of the problem.

Helping wildlife at risk. The money will be used for on-the-ground conservation efforts such as conserving and restoring habitats, fighting invasive species, reintroducing native species and tackling emerging diseases.

Tribal lands. The legislation would dedicate $97.5 million annually for tribal wildlife conservation
efforts. The First Nations own or have influence on nearly 140 million acres.

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Contact your US House Representative and let them know that Hoosiers value wildlife by following these simple steps!

1. Use your zip code to find your legislator.

2. Select the email icon and verify your zip code again.

3. Fill out the personal contact information.

4. Subject: Sign on to HR3742, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
5. If a category is requested, select: Environment
6. Copy & Paste this Message (Feel free to modify the language):

America’s wildlife are essential for our national heritage and our $887 billion dollar outdoor economy. But thanks to challenges like habitat loss, invasive species, emerging diseases, and climate change we’re losing ground and species — and fast.

Right now, more than one-third of our nation’s fish and wildlife species are at-risk of becoming extinct. Indiana’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has identified 140 species of fish and wildlife that are currently threatened or facing extinction in our state alone.  The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act stands to add $16M to support the actions in Indiana’s SWAP which currently receives so little money it does not even qualify for federal funding.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is built upon the premise that the best way to save America’s wildlife is through collaborative, proactive, voluntary work before species need more expensive “emergency room procedures” through the Endangered Species Act. I urge you to create a bright future for America’s wildlife and natural heritage by supporting and co-sponsoring H.R. 3742.  Thank you for being a wildlife champion.

Sincerely,
SIGN YOUR NAME

7. Hit send!
DOWNLOAD FACTSHEETS:
HR3742 Factsheet
State-by-State Appropriations
Sign on your Business/Organization

Naomi Edelson, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF WILDLIFE PARTNERSHIPS
EdelsonN@nwf.org  |  202-797-6889

Photo Credit: Emily Wood

National Wildlife Federation Urges Lawmakers to Fund Collaborative Conservation to Address America’s Wildlife Crisis

‘The greatest barrier to wildlife conservation in our nation is the chronic underinvestment in proactive, on-the-ground collaborative conservation’

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 17, 2018) —The National Wildlife Federation urged lawmakers to take a comprehensive approach to addressing America’s wildlife crisis as the U.S. Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee hosts a hearing on the Endangered Species Act. Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, urged lawmakers to expand their conversation to include proactive investments in wildlife conservation through the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

“America’s wildlife are in crisis — with more than one-third of all species at-risk or vulnerable to potential extinction in the decades ahead. We cannot regulate or deregulate our way out of this monumental problem,” O’Mara said. “The greatest barrier to wildlife conservation in our nation is the chronic underinvestment in proactive, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts for species of greatest conservation need, before these species require emergency room measures under the Endangered Species Act. We thank Senator Barrasso for seeking broad input on the best way to recover wildlife species and we urge the Committee to prioritize reaching bipartisan agreement on providing significant dedicated funding for collaborative wildlife conservation, through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act or a similar piece of legislation.

“Congress has shown — through the recent Farm Bill and the wildlife fix we championed — that it can pass significant conservation legislation. We encourage the Committee to seize the opportunity for landmark progress addressing America’s wildlife crisis.”

The National Wildlife Federation is working at the forefront of U.S. wildlife policy, and prioritizing efforts to restore wildlife populations across the United States. The Federation worked with U.S. Representatives Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., to introduce the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this session of Congress.