Rep. Susie Lee Votes to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Wildlife

Statement

Today, Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) voted to pass the bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA), legislation that will amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Act to provide states, territories, and Tribes with additional federal funding to manage fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need. In passing RAWA, Rep. Lee voted to secure more than $25 million per year for Nevada.

State, territory, and Tribal governments carry out most wildlife management and conservation through their State Wildlife Action Plans, but these plans depend on consistent, reliable federal funding. Currently, federal funding sources, like the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Act, are inadequate.

"As an avid outdoorswoman, Nevada's wildlife is near and dear to my heart," said Rep. Susie Lee. "Nevada is home to 39 species and subspecies protected under the Endangered Species Act, but for far too long, our state has lacked adequate resources to protect these precious plants and animals. This legislation will ensure we are safeguarding Nevada's unique wildlife for generations to come."

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act will:

Boost the outdoor economy. By supporting wildlife conservation, RAWA funds will boost our $887 billion outdoor economy, which already supports over 7.6 million jobs and is fueled by more than 100 million American wildlife enthusiasts, hunters, anglers, birders, and hikers. A portion of the funds will also support wildlife education.
Protect threatened and endangered species. At least 15% of RAWA funding must be spent on species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act or are considered threatened or endangered under Tribal law.
Make wildlife conservation more effective and cost-efficient. RAWA funding will help states, territories, and Tribes put conservation measures in place for species before they become threatened or endangered, making species protection less difficult and less costly. RAWA will also provide much-needed funding for non-hunted species.
Address climate change by building more resilient ecosystems. State Wildlife Action Plans often include habitat restoration projects (e.g., removing invasive species, fighting wildlife disease) that simultaneously benefit forest, watershed, and coastal health. These improvements help make ecosystems more resilient to severe weather events caused by climate change, including wildfires, hurricanes, and drought.
Provide Tribes critical funding for wildlife conservation. RAWA provides a $97.5 million annual non-competitive Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration grant program to assist Tribes in carrying out wildlife conservation and habitat restoration efforts.

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