View source for Recovering America's Wildlife Act

{{Short description|Proposed American conservation law of 2022}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox United States federal proposed legislation
| shorttitle = Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2021
| longtitle = To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife agencies, and for other purposes.
| enacted by =
| introducedin = [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| introducedby = [[Debbie Dingell]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Michigan|MI]])
| introduceddate = April 22, 2021
| committees = [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources]]
| passedbody1 = House of Representatives
| passeddate1 = June 14, 2022
| passedvote1 = [https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll267.xml 231–190]
}}
The '''Recovering America's Wildlife Act''' '''(RAWA)''' is a [[Bill (law)|bill]] in the [[United States Congress]] intended to provide funding for the [[Conservation movement|conservation]] of [[wildlife]] in the [[United States]].
In the [[117th United States Congress]], the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] passed it by 231–190, but although it passed the [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works]] on a bipartisan basis, it never passed the full Senate and therefore expired at the end of the Congressional term. However, its sponsors plan to reintroduce the legislation in the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Benji |date=2023-01-11 |title=The US was poised to pass the biggest environmental law in a generation. What went wrong? |url=https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/11/23546413/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-congress-2023 |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Vox |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111181544/https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/11/23546413/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-congress-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Legislative history ==
=== 117th Congress ===
Versions of the legislation have been proposed since at least 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Eric |date=17 June 2022 |title=Cash for conservation: Bill to funnel $1.4 billion into fish & wildlife programs passes U.S. House, heads to Senate |url=https://lmtribune.com/outdoors/cash-for-conservation/article_a6e83448-3941-5c41-8036-53e3bb2b0e69.html |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |language=en |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622163625/https://lmtribune.com/outdoors/cash-for-conservation/article_a6e83448-3941-5c41-8036-53e3bb2b0e69.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the House of Representatives, the bill was first introduced in the [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]] on April 22, 2021, by lead sponsor [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Debbie Dingell]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Michigan|MI]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dingell |first=Debbie |date=2022-06-13 |title=H.R.2773 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2773 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620010840/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2773 |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2021 (H.R. 2773) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr2773 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607134628/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr2773 |url-status=live }}</ref> The lead Republican sponsor was [[Jeff Fortenberry]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wollan |first=Malia |date=2022-02-02 |title='An Environmentalist With a Gun': Inside Steven Rinella's Hunting Empire |language=en-US |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/magazine/meateater-netflix-steve-rinella.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407190016/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/magazine/meateater-netflix-steve-rinella.html |url-status=live }}</ref> who resigned from the House on March 31, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2022 |title=Date for special election to replace Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry announced |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/special-election-date-nebraska-congressman-jeff-fortenberry/39602425 |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=KETV |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401073747/https://www.ketv.com/article/special-election-date-nebraska-congressman-jeff-fortenberry/39602425 |url-status=live }}</ref> The House passed it by 231–190 on June 14, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2022-06-14 |title=Roll Call 267 Roll Call 267, Bill Number: H. R. 2773, 117th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022267 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620215318/https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022267 |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=House Passes Historic Legislation Securing Billions for Imperiled Wildlife |url=https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/house-passes-historic-legislation-securing-billions-for-imperiled-wildlife-2022-06-14/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Center for Biological Diversity |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614224925/https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/house-passes-historic-legislation-securing-billions-for-imperiled-wildlife-2022-06-14/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The lead sponsors in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] are [[Martin Heinrich]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[New Mexico|NM]]) and [[Roy Blunt]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Missouri|MO]]). The act has 32 co-sponsors in the Senate, including 16 Republicans.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Read |first=Zoë |date=18 January 2022 |title=Recovering America's Wildlife Act: Conservationists' hope for species at risk |url=https://whyy.org/articles/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-conservationists-hope-for-species-at-risk/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=WHYY |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311223722/https://whyy.org/articles/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-conservationists-hope-for-species-at-risk/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Benshoff |first=Laura |date=2022-06-14 |title=U.S. House passes a major wildlife conservation spending bill |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1105007255/us-house-passes-wildlife-conservation-spending-bill |access-date=2022-06-17 |archive-date=2022-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616025518/https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1105007255/us-house-passes-wildlife-conservation-spending-bill |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2021, it was successfully voted out of the [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Senate Environment and Public Works Committee]] with bipartisan support.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=John |date=2022-06-23 |title=Landmark wildlife funding bill awaits U.S. Senate action after passing House |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/northland-outdoors/landmark-wildlife-funding-bill-awaits-u-s-senate-action-after-passing-house |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=[[Duluth News Tribune]] |language=en |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625020559/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/northland-outdoors/landmark-wildlife-funding-bill-awaits-u-s-senate-action-after-passing-house |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2022, Senator [[Amy Klobuchar]], a supporter of the proposal, expressed optimism that it would pass before the end of the year, and noted that it was a top priority for Blunt, who was retiring at the end of the legislative session.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Greg |date=4 October 2022 |title=A bipartisan bill in Congress could mark a new chapter in the fight to preserve wildlife |url=https://www.startribune.com/a-bipartisan-bill-in-congress-could-mark-a-new-chapter-in-the-fight-to-preserve-wildlife/600212981/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=[[Star Tribune]] |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005004120/https://www.startribune.com/a-bipartisan-bill-in-congress-could-mark-a-new-chapter-in-the-fight-to-preserve-wildlife/600212981/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
As of April 19, 2024:
{| class="wikitable"
!Congress
!Short title
!Bill number(s)
!Date introduced
!Sponsor(s)
!# of cosponsors
!Latest status
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]]
| rowspan="2" |Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2022
|[https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2773 H.R. 2773]
|April 22, 2021
|[[Debbie Dingell]]
(D-MI)
|194
|Passed the House (231 - 190).<ref name=":5" />
|-
|[https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2372 S.2372]
|June 15, 2021
|[[Martin Heinrich]]
(D-NM)
|47
|Referred to committees of jurisdiction.
|-
|[[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]]
|Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2023
|[https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1149 S.1149]
|March 30, 2023
|[[Martin Heinrich]]
(D-NM)
|19
|Referred to committees of jurisdiction.
|}
The RAWA never passed the full Senate in the 117th Congress and therefore expired at the end of the Congressional term on January 3, 2023.<ref name=":6" />
=== 118th Congress ===
Senator [[Brian Schatz]], a lead sponsor of the bill, plans to reintroduce the legislation in the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]].<ref name=":6" /> Schatz told [[Vox Media|''Vox'']] that he is optimistic that the bill can pass on a bipartisan basis.<ref name=":6" /> The bill was re-introduced by Sens. [[Thom Tillis]] and [[Martin Heinrich]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Joselow |first=Maxine |last2=Grandoni |first2=Dino |date=5 April 2023 |title=Pandas and eagles are wildlife rock stars. What about saving less lovable animals? |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/04/05/recovering-americas-wildlife-bill-species/ |access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref>
== Provisions ==
The bill would provide $1.3 billion in annual funding for conservation efforts aimed at supporting at-risk, endangered, and other species.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Renkl |first=Margaret |date=2022-06-20 |title=Opinion {{!}} Washington Might Be About to Do Something Right for America's Wildlife |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/opinion/recovering-americas-wildlife-act.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620102344/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/opinion/recovering-americas-wildlife-act.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It would amend the 1937 [[Pittman–Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act|Pittman-Robertson Act]], which supported species targeted by game hunters and sportsmen. The modern act would allocate 15% of that spending towards endangered species.<ref name=":3" /> It would also direct nearly $100 million annually to [[Tribe (Native American)|tribal nations]] to support conservation work on about 140 million acres of land.<ref name=":2" /> The bill is intended to help direct funding to less [[Charismatic megafauna|charismatic]] animals and more obscure issues than previous conservation legislation. The [[Texas heelsplitter]] mussel, the [[regal fritillary]] butterfly, and the [[red knot]] seabird were cited by the [[The Washington Post|''Washington Post'']] as among the targeted species.<ref name=":7" />
The bill would be funded primarily through fees and penalties authorized by environmental regulations, which has raised concerns that the required funds may not always be reliably available.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> The House-approved version of the bill was anticipated to raise the deficit by $14.1 billion by 2032, ten years after passage. As the bill was considered in the Senate, conservation organizations urged its combination with the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, designed to eliminate tax breaks for fraudulent [[Conservation easement|conservation easements]], which would likely cover the costs of the RAWA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Paul A. |date=18 June 2022 |title=A bill to save threatened and endangered wildlife has passed the House but could stall over funding |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/06/18/recovering-wildlife-act-passes-house-could-stall-senate/7659342001/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |publisher= |language=en-US |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620215321/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/06/18/recovering-wildlife-act-passes-house-could-stall-senate/7659342001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Support ==
RAWA is supported by the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden White House]], which released a statement on June 13, 2022, urging adoption of the bill.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Executive Office of the President |date=13 June 2022 |title=H.R. 2773 – Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2022 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/HR-2773-SAP.docx.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614140849/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/HR-2773-SAP.docx.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022 |series=Statement of Administration Policy}}</ref> It is also supported by major environmental organizations such as [[Audubon]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-20 |title=Bipartisan Legislation to Fund Wildlife Recovery Introduced in the U.S. Senate |url=https://www.audubon.org/news/bipartisan-legislation-fund-wildlife-recovery-introduced-us-senate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105153404/https://www.audubon.org/news/bipartisan-legislation-fund-wildlife-recovery-introduced-us-senate |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Audubon |language=en}}</ref> the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=WWF Statement on the Recovering America's Wildlife Act |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/wwf-statement-on-the-recovering-america-s-wildlife-act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615064541/https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/wwf-statement-on-the-recovering-america-s-wildlife-act |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=World Wildlife Fund |language=en}}</ref> and [[The Nature Conservancy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Suzanne |date=2022-05-22 |title=Here's how to protect 1,300 at-risk animal species in Texas |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2022/05/22/heres-how-to-protect-1300-at-risk-animal-species-in-texas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522142703/https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2022/05/22/heres-how-to-protect-1300-at-risk-animal-species-in-texas/ |archive-date=2022-05-22 |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref> More than 1,000 advocacy groups have backed the legislation.<ref name=":4" /> Public polling conducted in September by [[Data for Progress]] reported strong bipartisan public support for the bill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Paul A. |date=24 September 2022 |title=New surveys highlight broad public support for Recovering America's Wildlife Act |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/09/24/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-awaits-vote-senate/8090675001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925000417/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/09/24/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-awaits-vote-senate/8090675001/ |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[National Wildlife Federation]] has also expressed strong support for the bill.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:United States federal environmental legislation]]
[[Category:Environmentalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Proposed legislation of the 117th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Open environmental policy proposals]]