05 Oct Round Up: The recovering America’s Wildlife Act Moves ahead

A new bipartisan Senate bill that would authorize more than $1 billion every year to critical state-level fish and wildlife conservation work is drawing the enthusiastic support of public lands sportsmen and women. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) commended the introduction by Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) of Senate bill 3223, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Under this legislation, state fish and wildlife agencies and community-led habitat work would be funded with existing federal oil and gas royalties, saving millions of taxpayer dollars and restoring critical habitat.

“Over time, small investments in conservation can yield big dividends,” said BHA conservation director John Gale. “By strategically funding state-level efforts to preemptively halt population declines and improve habitat for game and non-game species, these bills make a significant, long-term investment in our public lands and waters. Our champions in Congress are demonstrating leadership on behalf of our outdoor traditions and local communities that depend on wildlife related recreation to support their economies. They deserve our thanks.”

The introduction of the Senate version of the Fortenberry-Dingell bill further advances efforts by a broad coalition of stakeholders, the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife, to develop a strategy for restoring important habitat while also bolstering public opportunities to hunt and fish. Comprised of outdoor industry leaders, state fish and wildlife agency officials, conservation groups, and business interests, as well as hunters and anglers, the coalition has been actively pushing for comprehensive conservation funding legislation since its formation.