Press Releases

On July 29, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its long-awaited report to the Senate Finance Committee studying the gap in collection of excise taxes on archery and angling equipment sold directly to consumers from outside of the U.S. by online vendors. Led by our partners at the Archery Trade Association and the American Sportfishing Association, one of AFWA’s top priorities has been securing corrective action to ensure these funds are collected, as resolved by our membership at the 2022 AFWA Annual Meeting.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the introduction of the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act. Today, Senator Padilla (C-CA) and Representatives Zinke (R-MT) and Beyer (D-VA) introduced the bill to bolster efforts to conserve wildlife migration corridors and seasonal habitat.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds House introduction of the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R.8811). On Friday, June 21, the bipartisan legislation was introduced to reauthorize some of the most successful conservation programs in the country including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP).

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies proudly shares the news that Courtney Hallacher, Statewide Wildlife Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, is recognized as this year’s Project WILD Outstanding Coordinator of the Year. Each year the Association honors one Project WILD coordinator with this award at the annual Project WILD Coordinators’ Conference.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is pleased to see 46 bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate and 142 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to Dear Colleague Letters supporting funding for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants (STWG) program next fiscal year.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is pleased to see the National Fish Habitat Partnership program assist in providing more than $27.4 million to support 91 fish habitat conservation projects in 29 states. Collaborative partnerships between the state fish and wildlife agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners are key to implementing these conservation priority projects.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for implementing the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 (S. 788). This bill was signed into law by President Biden on December 19, 2023, and modifies the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, also known as the duck stamp. The Act allows hunters to purchase an electronic stamp online and save it to their phone, instead of using a paper stamp. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has confirmed the legislation will be implemented in time for the upcoming waterfowl hunting season.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are proud to announce this year’s winners of the Guy Bradley Award. The Guy Bradley Award recognizes one state agency and one federal agency wildlife enforcement officer whose dedication and public service to protecting the nation's natural resources demonstrates outstanding leadership, excellence in implementation, knowledge, and actions that have advanced the cause of wildlife conservation. This year’s recipients are Michael M. Weathers, Chief of Enforcement for the Alabama DCNR, Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, Law Enforcement Section, and Edward J. Grace, Chief-Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) enthusiastically applauds the Senate for passing the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024, S 3791. This week, the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, showing complete support for reauthorization of some of the nation’s most successful conservation programs including the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as they announce awards for 43 projects to improve fish passage and protect communities by addressing outdated or obsolete dams, culverts, levees and other barriers fragmenting the nation’s rivers and streams.