Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Gains Significant Momentum With House Passage

WASHINGTON (June 14, 2022) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is applauding the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the U.S. House of Representatives today, putting the bipartisan legislation one step closer to getting across the finish line. Senator Heinrich introduced the landmark conservation legislation alongside U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in the Senate, and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) leads the legislation in the House.

“I’m so proud of the bipartisan leadership and widespread support that is moving the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act forward,” said Heinrich, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Passing RAWA into law will mean our grandchildren will be able to experience the same rich and abundant American wildlife—from bumblebees to bison—that we have been so lucky to grow up with. I am grateful to Representative Debbie Dingell for her leadership in steering the Recovering America's Wildlife Act through the House of Representatives and I look forward to continuing to work with my partner in the Senate, Senator Roy Blunt, as we work to pass this historic legislation with broad support.”

“Protecting habitats and wildlife is not only important to states like Missouri – with some of the best hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the country – it’s important to communities all across the nation,” said Blunt. “By encouraging states, territories, and Tribes to make significant contributions to voluntary conservation efforts, we can preserve our nation’s wildlife for future generations. I thank Congresswoman Dingell for her partnership in getting this legislation passed in the House and I look forward to continuing our efforts to get it to the president’s desk.”

“Right now, the United States is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis,” said Dingell. “We’ve already seen our nation’s beautiful monarch butterfly population plummet, and we’ve lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970. Without significant a change in the way we finance conservation, more of the animals and wildlife we hold dear to our heart will become endangered. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is landmark legislation that takes long-overdue action to address this crisis by using innovative, on-the-ground collaboration that will protect our nation’s environmental heritage. We have a conservation, economic, and moral obligation to act in order to protect and recover America’s wildlife for future generations. Grateful to the broad, bipartisan coalition that has fought for this legislation, and I urge the Senate to act on this bill right away.”

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act invests in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories, and Tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife and their habitat all across America. These locally-driven, science-based strategies would restore populations of species with the greatest conservation need.

Since introduction in the Senate in July 2021, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has gained significant momentum with 36 bipartisan sponsors and cosponsors, and its principles are backed by over 60 Tribes and 1,500 organizations representing state fish and wildlife agencies, sportsmen and women, conservation groups, and industry associations and businesses. The bill was voted out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) in April and awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.