Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5009) to reauthorize wildlife habitat and conservation programs, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5009

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver reauthorization Act'' or the ``WILD Act''. SEC. 2. PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT.

Section 5 of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 3774) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''. SEC. 3. AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT.

(a) Provision of Assistance.--Section 2101 of the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4211) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(g) Multiyear Grants.--

``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for African elephants and the habitat of African elephants.

``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2306(a) of the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4245(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''. SEC. 4. ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT OF 1997.

(a) Asian Elephant Conservation Assistance.--Section 5 of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4264) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(i) Multiyear Grants.--

``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for Asian elephants and the habitat of Asian elephants.

``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 8(a) of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4266(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''. SEC. 5. RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1994.

(a) Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Assistance.--Section 5 of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5304) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(g) Multiyear Grants.--

``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for rhinoceroses or tigers and the habitat of rhinoceroses or tigers.

``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5306(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''. SEC. 6. GREAT APE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000.

(a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4(j)(1) of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6303(j)(1)) is amended by inserting ``of up to 5 years'' after ``multiyear grant''.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 6 of the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6305) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''. SEC. 7. MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2004.

(a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4 of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6603) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(h) Multiyear Grants.--

``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises and the habitat of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises.

``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 7(a) of the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6606(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 5009, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5009, sponsored by my friend and colleague, Congressman Dave Joyce of Ohio. The programs this bill reauthorizes are decades old and have had proven results. This bipartisan piece of legislation will continue our longstanding efforts to promote responsible conservation efforts in the country and internationally.

First, H.R. 5009 authorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to partner with private landowners to preserve habitat for at-risk species on private lands. Over the past 35 years, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has helped around 30,000 landowners complete more than 50,000 habitat restoration projects totaling more than 6.4 million acres of fish and wildlife habitat.

In February 2023, the service reported that two-thirds of federally listed species have at least some habitat on private land, and some species have most of their remaining habitat on private land. Voluntary, collaborative conservation efforts like the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program help to empower private landowners to aid these species.

Lastly, this bill reauthorizes the programs which make up the multinational species conservation funds. These programs provide grant funding to conserve some of the world's most iconic species, such as elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and great apes.

Since their inception, these programs have provided over $92.5 million in grants and cooperative agreements for conservation projects in 54 countries, while leveraging $200 million in private matching contributions. These grants and cooperative agreements are vital to reducing illegal trafficking and poaching, decreasing conflict with humans, and improving habitat for these iconic species.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Joyce for his work on this bill, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I consider myself a conservationist. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has long been a critical tool to help advance collaborative conservation on private lands, and the multinational species conservation funds have been essential to conserving some of the world's most iconic species, as we discussed.

I, again, applaud Congressman Joyce's bipartisan efforts on this legislation that will continue our longstanding efforts to promote responsible conservation efforts in the country and internationally.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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