Why it matters: The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization has provided approximately $31 million in federal funding to conduct roughly 185 research, restoration, and regional conservation projects, making this program critical for fish and wildlife within the Great Lakes region. These projects include waterfowl monitoring, wetland restoration, culvert improvement, dam removal, among many other important conservation efforts, all of which are important to sportsmen and women.
On February 17, the House Natural Resources Committee passed the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill championed by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Representative Debbie Dingell.
The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration (GLFWRA) Reauthorization Act seeks to reauthorize the GLFWRA program at $6 million annually through Fiscal Year 2027. Specifically, the GLFWRA program provides federal funding to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work collaboratively with states, Tribes, and federal agencies to conduct fish and wildlife restoration and conservation efforts within the Great Lakes Region. The federal funds provided through the GLFWRA program are leveraged with a non-federal 25% match for any given conservation project, which strengthens the federal funding authorized by this bill.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will urge the House of Representatives to bring this common-sense and proven bill to the floor for a final vote in the House.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
