A new version of a wildlife bill in Congress

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act enjoys bipartisan support and is popular in Congress. The premise of the bill is simple — to save America’s wildlife, we must act before species are nearly extinct.

That’s what the bill would do, by sending funds to state wildlife agencies so they can protect struggling or declining species.

In the last Congress, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act passed on the House floor with bipartisan support (231-190). It was bipartisan and led by Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan.

A new version of the bill

Now, as one media outlet reported last week, a new version of the House bill will soon be unveiled. Rep. Bruce Westerman from Arkansas, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, plans to release a modified version of the bill, which he will call the American Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act.

Based on the media story, Chairman Westerman’s bill will be similar to but smaller in scope than the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Despite that, we’re glad that he’s engaging in the process, and we hope his bill signals enthusiasm in this Congress for significant state-level wildlife funding.

From the ocelot in Texas to salmon in Alaska, from the manatee in Florida to moose in Maine, many species are in need of conservation efforts. Let’s get this done.