[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H404-H406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WILDLIFE INNOVATION AND LONGEVITY DRIVER REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5009) to reauthorize wildlife habitat and conservation
programs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5009
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Innovation and
Longevity Driver reauthorization Act'' or the ``WILD Act''.
SEC. 2. PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT.
Section 5 of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act (16
U.S.C. 3774) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``2024 through 2028''.
SEC. 3. AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT.
(a) Provision of Assistance.--Section 2101 of the African
Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4211) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(g) Multiyear Grants.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person
who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a
multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that
the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term
conservation strategy for African elephants and the habitat
of African elephants.
``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the
Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2306(a) of
the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4245(a)) is
amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``2024 through 2028''.
SEC. 4. ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT OF 1997.
(a) Asian Elephant Conservation Assistance.--Section 5 of
the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4264)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Multiyear Grants.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person
who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a
multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that
the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term
conservation strategy for Asian elephants and the habitat of
Asian elephants.
``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the
Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 8(a) of the
Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4266(a))
is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``2024 through 2028''.
[[Page H405]]
SEC. 5. RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1994.
(a) Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Assistance.--Section
5 of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16
U.S.C. 5304) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Multiyear Grants.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person
who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a
multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that
the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term
conservation strategy for rhinoceroses or tigers and the
habitat of rhinoceroses or tigers.
``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the
Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10(a) of the
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C.
5306(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``2024 through 2028''.
SEC. 6. GREAT APE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000.
(a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4(j)(1) of the Great Ape
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6303(j)(1)) is amended by
inserting ``of up to 5 years'' after ``multiyear grant''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 6 of the
Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6305) is
amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``2024 through 2028''.
SEC. 7. MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2004.
(a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4 of the Marine Turtle
Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6603) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(h) Multiyear Grants.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person
who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a
multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that
the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term
conservation strategy for marine turtles, freshwater turtles,
or tortoises and the habitat of marine turtles, freshwater
turtles, or tortoises.
``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the
Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 7(a) of the
Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6606(a)) is
amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``2024 through 2028''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 5009, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
{time} 1700
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5009, sponsored by my friend
and colleague, Congressman Dave Joyce of Ohio. The programs this bill
reauthorizes are decades old and have had proven results. This
bipartisan piece of legislation will continue our longstanding efforts
to promote responsible conservation efforts in the country and
internationally.
First, H.R. 5009 authorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Program, which allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to partner
with private landowners to preserve habitat for at-risk species on
private lands. Over the past 35 years, the Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program has helped around 30,000 landowners complete more than
50,000 habitat restoration projects totaling more than 6.4 million
acres of fish and wildlife habitat.
In February 2023, the service reported that two-thirds of federally
listed species have at least some habitat on private land, and some
species have most of their remaining habitat on private land.
Voluntary, collaborative conservation efforts like the Partners for
Fish and Wildlife Program help to empower private landowners to aid
these species.
Lastly, this bill reauthorizes the programs which make up the
multinational species conservation funds. These programs provide grant
funding to conserve some of the world's most iconic species, such as
elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and great apes.
Since their inception, these programs have provided over $92.5
million in grants and cooperative agreements for conservation projects
in 54 countries, while leveraging $200 million in private matching
contributions. These grants and cooperative agreements are vital to
reducing illegal trafficking and poaching, decreasing conflict with
humans, and improving habitat for these iconic species.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Joyce for his work on this bill, I urge my
colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be the co-lead of H.R. 5009, the WILD
Act. I want to start by thanking my partner, Representative Joyce, for
his hard work on this bipartisan bill. The WILD Act would authorize and
amend several wildlife conservation laws, making it easier to support
long-term conservation in the United States and abroad.
The multinational species conservation funds, which are managed by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, support five programs that help
conserve iconic wildlife species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers,
great apes, and turtles.
Grants awarded through these programs can be used to secure
additional matching funds, increasing the impact of U.S. dollars.
Awards made through these funds support synchronized aerial surveys,
increasing habitat connectivity, reducing poaching and wildlife crime,
community engagement activities, and breeding and reintroduction
programs.
The WILD Act also would reauthorize the Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program, which supports habitat restoration efforts across the
United States and territories.
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program within the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service employs biologists who work with private landowners to
help them conserve and improve wildlife habitat.
Program staff provide free technical and financial assistance to
plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat restoration
projects ranging in size from a few acres to hundreds of thousands of
acres.
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is an important component
of our Nation's collaborative conservation efforts for endangered and
threatened species.
Mr. Speaker, the WILD Act is a bipartisan win for conservation. I
urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Joyce), who is the bill's sponsor.
Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage support for
the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver reauthorization Act, also
known as the WILD Act.
Like many in northeast Ohio, some of my fondest memories are from
growing up connected to the Great Lakes, especially in the wildlife
area. However, our Nation's wildlife and habitats are facing
unprecedented challenges. As Members of Congress, it is our
responsibility to protect and preserve these habitats for future
generations.
By reauthorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the
multinational species conservation fund, this critical legislation will
not only safeguard the diverse ecosystems of our 50 States and
territories, but also ensure the preservation of some of the world's
most iconic species.
From the elephants in Africa to the turtles in Lake Erie, we must do
everything we can to protect our world's rich biodiversity. For
decades, these programs have garnered bipartisan support and have
proven to deliver tangible results. Commonsense, community-centered
conservation efforts like these help restore habitats and endangered
species and wildlife and lift up economies and make communities more
secure.
Therefore, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me
in supporting the WILD Act. I also thank my colleague, my dear friend,
Michigan, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, for her support on this bill
and for leading the bipartisan efforts with me.
Together we can ensure that our children and grandchildren will
inherit a world rich in wildlife and abundant natural wonders. The time
to act is now for the sake of our planet and all who call it home.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am
[[Page H406]]
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I consider myself a conservationist. The Partners for
Fish and Wildlife Program has long been a critical tool to help advance
collaborative conservation on private lands, and the multinational
species conservation funds have been essential to conserving some of
the world's most iconic species, as we discussed.
I, again, applaud Congressman Joyce's bipartisan efforts on this
legislation that will continue our longstanding efforts to promote
responsible conservation efforts in the country and internationally.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5009.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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