# What the Recovering America's Wildlife Act Does

This bill provides $1.3 billion in federal funding each year to help states and tribes protect and restore wildlife and their habitats. The money goes toward conservation projects that benefit animals and plants that are struggling—not just the famous endangered species like bald eagles, but also lesser-known creatures like native bees, songbirds, fish, and plants that are declining in numbers. States and tribes can use the funding for things like restoring wetlands, protecting forests, cleaning up polluted rivers, and managing invasive species that threaten native wildlife.

The funding is distributed to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Native American tribes based on a formula that considers each area's size, population, and the diversity of wildlife within it. This means even states with smaller populations or fewer endangered species still receive money for their conservation needs. The bill prioritizes projects that help wildlife species that aren't yet listed as endangered, aiming to prevent animals and plants from reaching that critical status in the first place.

For everyday people, this bill matters because healthy wildlife and natural habitats provide real benefits to communities. Wetlands filter water and reduce flooding, forests clean the air and provide recreation opportunities, and pollinator protection helps ensure crops are successfully grown. Hunters and fishers benefit from restored habitats for game species, while outdoor enthusiasts gain access to better natural areas. The funding also creates jobs in conservation work and environmental management across the country. States have flexibility in how they spend the money, so each region can focus on the wildlife and habitats most important to their communities.

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023

Heinrich, Martin

Recovering America&rsquo;s Wildlife Act of 2023 This bill provides funding for the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need, including endangered or threatened species. Specifically, the bill establishes and funds through FY2027 a subaccount of the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account, which was established under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The subaccount must be used to support efforts of states, territories, or the District of Columbia to recover and manage wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding from the subaccount for grants that may be used by state fish and wildlife departments or other specified entities for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species. The bill also establishes and funds a Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account to support Indian tribes' efforts to recover and manage wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need. In addition, the bill establishes and funds through FY2027 the Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation Legacy Fund. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must use the fund to (1) implement an Endangered Species Recovery Grant Program; (2) address its interagency consultation responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (3) work with nonfederal entities to conserve wildlife habitat and certain at-risk species; or (4) address the development and permitting of voluntary conservation agreements under such act.