INPS Council Supports “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act”
The INPS Council has voted to promote passage of HR3742, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, joining these other Indiana organizations in signing a letter of support:
American Fisheries Society, Ball State Chapter
American Fisheries Society, Indiana Chapter
Amos Butler Audubon Society
Coal Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever
DJ Case & Associates
F.C. Tucker Company, Inc.
Indiana Audubon Society, Inc.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Wildlife Federation
Mark Stevens MD, PLLC/Mark Stevens Family Farms, LLC
New Alsace Conservation Club, Inc.
Purdue University
About the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, HR3742
The proposed Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would provide $1.4 billion annually in permanent, dedicated funds for state fish and wildlife agencies and tribal nations in their efforts to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. A portion of the funds can also be used for species already officially classified as endangered, but the intent is to become proactive. This would be done through actions identified in locally developed State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP).
Indiana, like most states, has already developed a SWAP, but has no budget to implement it. DNR, Div. of Fish & Wildlife’s SWAP identifies habitat and the threat of invasive species as the prime threat to many of our imperiled wildlife species.
If passed, the proposed bill would make $16-$20 million available to Indiana annually for the plan. To access these funds, Indiana would need to approve matching funds, estimated to be about $5-$6 million. There is no guarantee that Indiana would appropriate these funds, but having the carrot of additional federal funds would increase the chances tremendously.
The current version of the proposal is contained in HR 3742. It was introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) and has a bi-partisan list of 172 co-sponsors, including Rep. Susan Brooks (R) of Indiana. On Dec. 5 the bill was passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee with a vote of 26-6.
A summary of the bill found at https://www.congress.gov shows (emphasis added):
- This bill provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, Indian tribes, or territories; or (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects.
- The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
You can find more information on this proposed law on the National Wildlife Federation website at https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Policy/Recovering-Americas-Wildlife-Act.