- Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – Annually redirects $1.3 billion of existing royalty revenue from offshore and onshore oil and gas leases to state-led wildlife conservation efforts, effectively allowing the states to more fully implement their State Wildlife Action Plans. The money will largely be spent on efforts such as restoring habitats, reintroducing native wildlife and plants, fighting invasive species, monitoring emerging diseases, educational programs and trail improvements.
- North American Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization – Reauthorizes a voluntary, competitive matching grants program that is non-regulatory and based on public-private funding. Provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects (i.e. shovel ready wetlands construction projects) in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. Requires a match of at least one dollar in non-Federal funds for every NAWCA dollar awarded. Supports projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetlands and associated upland habitats on public and private lands.
- National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships – leverages public-private partnerships by authorizing the appropriation of $7.2 million annually for fish habitat restoration and protection projects that are supported by regional Fish Habitat Partnerships and codifies the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
- Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities – Ensures that BLM and USFS lands are “open to fishing, hunting and shooting until closed” by specific agency action. Clarifies and gives permanency to existing practices, forestalls unnecessary litigation challenges to these traditional activities by anti-hunting and fishing interests, creates greater administrative efficiency and reduces agency expenses, follows a successful 35-year model governing lands in Alaska.
- Highway Wildlife Crossings – Sportsmen recognize the need to conserve migration corridors, stopover areas and winter range habitats that are critical for the long-term viability of big game species that provide hunting opportunity, particularly in the West. Consistent with this goal are wildlife crossings that include structures such as underpass tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses that allow animals to cross human-made barriers, such as highways, safely. While planning for conservation of these landscape features is consistent with Secretarial Order 3362 (Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors), issued by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, discussions surrounding a broader infrastructure package may provide opportunities to help identify additional resources to achieve these goals.
Investing in Infrastructure that Benefits Sportsmen, Fish and Wildlife
