Bipartisan legislation offered on the 30th anniversary of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would reauthorize NAWCA through 2024, and also increase authorized annual funds for the program to $60 million.
Among the legislation’s 12 supporters in the U.S. Senate is Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
“NAWCA ensures that wetlands across the country are conserved and restored,” Murkowski said. “Through partnerships involving government, non-profits and community groups, this program enables wildlife to thrive. It’s important that we reauthorize NAWCA so we can continue its success in Alaska and elsewhere.”
NAWCA was enacted in 1989 to provide federal cost-share funding, in partnership with funds from state and local governments, private industry and non-profit organizations like Ducks Unlimited, to projects that conserve North American waterfowl, fish and wildlife resources.
Initial sponsors of reauthorization of the act were Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, and senators John Kennedy. R-La.; Bill Cassidy, R-La., Tom Carper D-Del.
Joining them, along with Murkowski, were Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Tom Udall, D-NM; Roger Wicker, R-Miss; Chris Coons, D-Del;, and Jon Tester, D-Mont. Companion legislation was introduced in the House, led by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson, D-Calif; and Rob Wittman, R-VA.
