Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4389, the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act.

For more than two decades, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has been an essential tool to protect migratory bird habitat in the Pacific Northwest and across the Western Hemisphere.

Since 2002, the NMBCA has awarded more than $89 million in grants to over 700 conservation projects in the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, protecting more than 5 million acres of bird habitat.

The law has also been a critical tool in the fight to reverse the downward global trend in bird population over the past 50 years, which can be attributed to challenges like pesticide use, deforestation, and the lack of adequate environmental protection abroad.

This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the only Federal grant initiative for migratory birds through fiscal year 2028.

It also gives smaller organizations greater access to grants by lowering the cost-sharing requirement for grant recipients from 3 to 1 to 2 to 1, meaning for every $2 organizations contribute, the Federal Government matches with $1. That is great news for the organizations in the North Puget Sound, where I am from, doing important work to protect bird habitat and Washington State's environment.

More than 350 migratory bird species rely on the Pacific Northwest as their flyway, including: the western tanager, the violet-green swallow, Swainson's thrush, rufous hummingbird, western sandpiper, and the osprey; All of which but one I have had an opportunity to take photos of.

These migratory birds pollinate plants, control pests, and add to the diversity of local ecosystems. They also attract millions of birders to places like Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, Port Susan Bay, Spencer Island, Wiser Lake, Deception Pass, and the San Juan Islands, just to name a few places in my district.

I have had the opportunity to meet with birders and go birding with them, folks from the Audubon Societies of Washington, Pilchuck, Skagit, North Cascades, Whidbey, and San Juan Islands in my district. These dedicated birders provide a boost to local and regional economies. They are ambassadors to the great outdoors. They sponsor great events, like the Snow Goose and Birding Festival in February every year in Stanwood, Washington, where thousands of people come from all over the country to go birding.

Success has many parents. I thank Representative Maria Elvira Salazar for leading the charge to reintroduce this bill, as well as Representatives Mary Peltola and David Joyce for co-leading the bill.

I thank the many partner organizations that made this happen, like the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, and the aforementioned local organizations. I thank the taxpayers who are providing the critical funding needed to protect migratory birds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to keep bipartisan momentum going to protect migratory birds.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

As noted, this bill is bipartisan. It brings such joy as well as economic vibrancy to our communities. Listening to the lists of birds that have benefited from this bill, I cannot help but think about those amazing rufous hummingbirds that fly around and pollinate our flowers and bring smiles and joy to all of our lives in our small gardens.

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

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