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Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023
3/12/2024, 5:57 AM
Summary of Bill S 1149
The funding provided by the bill would be used to implement state wildlife action plans, which identify species that are at risk of becoming endangered and outline strategies for their conservation. Additionally, the bill aims to support habitat restoration projects, invasive species management, and other conservation initiatives that will help protect and restore wildlife populations.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023 is unique in that it proposes a dedicated source of funding for wildlife conservation, separate from existing conservation programs. This funding would be generated through a small fee on outdoor recreational equipment, such as hunting and fishing gear, which would be collected at the point of sale. Supporters of the bill argue that investing in wildlife conservation is not only important for protecting biodiversity and preserving ecosystems, but also for supporting outdoor recreation industries and the economy as a whole. They believe that the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023 represents a proactive and sustainable approach to addressing the decline in wildlife populations and ensuring their long-term survival. Opponents of the bill may argue that the proposed fee on outdoor recreational equipment could be burdensome for consumers and businesses, and that the funding generated may not be sufficient to address the scale of the wildlife conservation challenges facing the country. They may also raise concerns about the potential impact of the bill on the outdoor recreation industry. Overall, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023 represents a significant effort to prioritize wildlife conservation and address the decline in wildlife populations across the United States. Its success will depend on bipartisan support in Congress and the willingness of stakeholders to work together to implement effective conservation strategies.
Congressional Summary of S 1149
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023
This bill provides funding for the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need, including endangered or threatened species.
Specifically, the bill establishes and funds through FY2027 a subaccount of the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account, which was established under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The subaccount must be used to support efforts of states, territories, or the District of Columbia to recover and manage wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need.
The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding from the subaccount for grants that may be used by state fish and wildlife departments or other specified entities for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
The bill also establishes and funds a Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account to support Indian tribes' efforts to recover and manage wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need.
In addition, the bill establishes and funds through FY2027 the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must use the fund to (1) implement an Endangered Species Recovery Grant Program; (2) address its interagency consultation responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (3) work with nonfederal entities to conserve wildlife habitat and certain at-risk species; or (4) address the development and permitting of voluntary conservation agreements under such act.
