The Association Applauds the Senate for Passage of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act

January 10, 2020

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is pleased to announce the passage of critical conservation legislation through the full Senate via unanimous consent for the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (S. 3051). The Association thanks Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) for their leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and successfully championing agreement by unanimous consent on the Senate floor late last evening. Passage by the full Senate followed a December 17th legislative markup on S. 3051 in the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, during which it passed by unanimous consent.   

“Immediate enactment of legislation is necessary to continue community-based actions that address the most pressing fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation issues by empowering habitat restoration, ensuring cleaner water for people and fish, and providing immediate steps for disease management,” said Secretary Kelly Hepler of South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “The Association and our state fish and wildlife agency members strongly encourage the House to pass and the President to enact the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act in its current form without delay.”

The bill combines several legislative provisions that are critical to fish, wildlife, and our natural resources, including codifying the National Fish Habitat Partnership program, reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, the establishment of a task force to combat the rapidly growing threat of chronic wasting disease, and many other vitally important conservation provisions. 

The Association looks forward to continuing to work with our conservation partners and members of the House of Representatives to expeditiously bring the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act to the House floor for immediate passage in its current form.  

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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.