April 7, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) – Moments ago, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 2372), a longstanding priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), on a strong bipartisan vote of 15-5. This landmark legislation is led in a bipartisan fashion by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and CSC Member Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO). Since 2015 when the concept of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was first developed, CSF has been spearheading the efforts on Capitol Hill to advance this critically important legislation. Notably, CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane, along with Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, serve as the legislative co-chairs of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife – a diverse coalition who is advocating for the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act seeks to provide nearly $1.4 billion annually for proactive, non-regulatory conservation projects in every state, territory, and on tribal lands and waters. S. 2372 would be one of the most significant investments in fish and wildlife conservation in a lifetime. Specifically, funding provided through S. 2372, combined with a 25% non-federal match, would fully fund each state’s Congressionally mandated, but severely unfunded, State Wildlife Action Plan. Collectively, these plans have identified nearly 12,000 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including many iconic species such as Northern bobwhite quail, monarchs and other pollinators, gopher tortoise, sturgeon, and American peregrine falcon, all of which need a dedicated source of conservation funding before more regulatory and costly measures are necessary. “The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act out of the EPW Committee on a strong bipartisan vote,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “CSF extends our sincere thanks to Senators Heinrich and Blunt for leading the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and to CSC Members and EPW Chair Carper and Ranking Member Capito for bringing this critically important legislation up for a vote.” The passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act out of the EPW Committee marks the furthest this legislation has advanced in the Senate. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will continue to work with the offices of Senators Heinrich and Blunt to schedule this legislation for a vote on the Senate floor. |
