In early July, a bill that would provide over a billion dollars in funding for fish and wildlife conservation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (HR 5650) calls for annually dedicating $1.3 billion in existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters to fish and wildlife conservation. The bill follows the recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources. We received this news from Teaming with Wildlife, a coalition of organizations that support increased and dedicated funding for wildlife conservation, education and nature-based recreation.

The Young-Dingell bill proposes to invest new funding in the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program that was created in 2000 through the advocacy of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition. The program is designed to address the conservation needs of species that are not hunted or fished, including over 12,000 species identified in Wildlife Action Plans as Species in Greatest Conservation Need in every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. The program can also be used to support conservation education and wildlife-dependent recreation programs.

This is just the beginning for this critically important legislation. At this point, bipartisan co-sponsors for the House bill and a companion Senate bill are needed. Teaming with Wildlife is heading up the effort. You can find your Congressperson’s contact information at http://www.house.gov. Our Senators’ contact information can be found at www.booker.senate.gov and www.menendez.senate.gov. Search the full text of the House bill at https://www.congress.gov/.

You can learn more about Teaming with Wildlife at http://teaming.com or go directly to the New Jersey page at http://teaming.com/state/new-jersey.