April 26, 2024
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies enthusiastically commends Congress for passage and successful enactment of the bipartisan Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 (H.R. 4389), which will reauthorize and revise the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act through Fiscal Year 2028 at $6.5 million annually. On April 24, this important conservation legislation was signed into law by the President after having passed the full senate by voice vote on April 17.
“We thank our many conservation champions and Congress as a whole for passing the bipartisan Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023,” said Chuck Sykes, Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and President of the Association. “Absent this critical funding for projects to promote the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds, many of which are Species of Greatest Conservation Need, these birds would continue to decline as they have been for the past fifty years.”
Once enacted, the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 will increase the federal cost share of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act program from 25% to 33% (i.e., a 1-3 public-to-private match to a 1-2 match), allowing for more partners to participate in the program, generating a wider variety of projects and reducing barriers to conservation action. The Association thanks Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD.) and John Boozman (R-AR.) for championing the reauthorizing legislation in the Senate, and Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and Mary Peltola (D-AK) for their House sponsorship.
Since 2002, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has awarded more than $89 million in grants to over 700 migratory bird conservation projects in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Partner organizations have contributed an additional $346 million to these projects, which have protected more than 5 million acres of habitat in the Western Hemisphere.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.