Senate CSC Members Introduce Recovering America's Wildlife Act, Longstanding CSF Priority 

Yesterday, March 30, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) – The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 1149) was reintroduced in the Senate by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members Senators Heinrich (NM) and Tillis (NC). This legislation is a longstanding priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) who has served as a driving force behind Recovering America’s Wildlife Act since its conceptual stages in 2015.

Through their State Wildlife Action Plans, which serve as unique roadmaps to each state’s conservation needs, state fish and wildlife agencies have identified nearly 12,000 species identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). These 12,000 Species of Greatest Conservation Need include many iconic species ranging from bobwhite quail, big horn sheep, monarch butterflies, to brook trout and arctic grayling. To address the conservation challenge facing these 12,000 species, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act seeks to provide approximately $1.4 billion annually to state, territorial, and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to proactively conserve SGCN before more costly and regulatory measures, such as listing under the Endangered Species Act may be necessary. Combined with a 25% non-federal match, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would empower states to fully implement their State Wildlife Action Plans.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was first envisioned in 2015 by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Fish and Wildlife Resources, which CSF served on as a leading group. Today, the Blue Ribbon Panel is represented by the Alliance for America’s Wildlife Act – a broad coalition working to advance Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. CSF President and CEO, Jeff Crane, has served as the legislative co-chair of the Alliance and the Blue Ribbon Panel since the concept of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was first developed.

CSF thanks Senators Heinrich and Tillis for their continued support of fish and wildlife conservation as well as sportsmen and women through the reintroduction of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. CSF looks forward to working with members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, including Senators Heinrich and Tillis, to see a bipartisan, bicameral Recovering America’s Wildlife Act signed into law.