WASHINGTON – State-level conservation efforts would be eligible for $1.4 billion in annual funding under the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, legislation introduced today in the House of Representatives by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and 54 original sponsors. Public lands sportsmen and women commended the bipartisan bill, which would fund critical conservation work by state and tribal agencies, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat and boosting America’s outdoor recreation economy.
“It’s high time we gave our state and tribal wildlife managers the support and flexibility they need to proactively manage our fish and wildlife – and thereby support our outdoor traditions,” said Land Tawney, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “For too long our fish and wildlife agencies have been underfunded and underappreciated, resulting in diminished habitat and reduced opportunities afield. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act helps address these shortfalls, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Representatives Dingell and Fortenberry, along with other allies in the House, who have persevered in advancing it.
“Hunters and anglers together are raising our voices in support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act,” Tawney continued. “This legislation will proactively give our frontline field managers the resources necessary to sustain quality habitat, help fish and wildlife populations flourish, and bolster our powerhouse $887 billion outdoor recreation economy.”
The bill’s introduction in the 116th Congress resulted from hard work by a broad coalition of stakeholders, the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife, to address at-risk species while also improving hunting and fishing opportunities. Comprised of outdoor industry leaders, state fish and wildlife agency officials, conservation groups, business interests, and hunters and anglers, the coalition is committed to achieving comprehensive conservation funding legislation in the United States.
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