Bipartisan Conservation Legislation Receives Support from Alabama Senator Katie Britt

Senator Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL) has signed on as a cosponsor of the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.1149), or RAWA. The legislation would make funds available for the management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by state fish and wildlife agencies.

“Alabama is blessed with an abundance of wildlife and natural resources, and I will continue to support the preservation of our land and waterways for sportsmen and Alabama families to enjoy for generations to come,” said Senator Britt. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure our great state remains Alabama the Beautiful long into the future.”

RAWA would be the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in decades and provide nearly $1.4 billion to fund local and state efforts to conserve the one-third of wildlife species in the U.S. currently at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. The bill is also expected to save taxpayer money by allowing states to implement proactive solutions to conserve those species and their habitats.

“Many of America’s most iconic game species were pressured to near extinction due to unregulated harvests a century ago,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural resources (ADCNR). “Thanks to state and federal conservation efforts, we are blessed today with an abundance of native fish and wildlife throughout the country. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will modernize the way conservation is funded in the United States and strengthen conservation efforts for nongame species as well. The broad public support for RAWA speaks to just how important it is to Americans to conserve our native fish, wildlife and habitats, while also providing access to outdoor recreation opportunities like bird and wildlife watching. Passage of this bill will be a win-win for everyone. We thank Senator Britt for her support of this important legislation.”

If passed, ADCNR would receive approximately $25 million annually to implement its state wildlife action plan. The plan identifies 366 Species of greatest conservation need, including bald and golden eagles, a variety of bat species, Alabama sturgeon, black bear, Eastern indigo snake and gopher tortoise.

Additionally, the legislation is projected to boost Alabama’s outdoor recreation economy, which depends on healthy fish and wildlife populations. It would ensure more wildlife viewing opportunities and directly contribute to millions of jobs and billions in annual consumer spending nationally. With the passage of RAWA, Alabama could implement these projects immediately.

A similar version of the bill passed out of committee during the 117th Congress but never received a Senate floor vote, despite having strong bipartisan support. Senator Britt joins nine of her Republican colleagues in the Senate and nine Democrats and Independents in support of the current legislation.

Since its initial introduction in Congress, RAWA has received broad public support including from the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife, whose goal is to modernize the funding model for critically needed fish and wildlife conservation. The Alliance represents a national coalition united in support of this legislation including the energy and automotive industries, private landowners, tribal nations, educational institutions, outdoor recreation and conservation organizations, and state and federal fish and wildlife agencies.

Watch this video from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies to learn more about how passage of RAWA will support conservation efforts in Alabama and nationwide.

Click here for more information about Alabama’s state wildlife action plan.

ADCNR promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Learn more at www.outdooralabama.com.

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