The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds House passage of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8811). On Tuesday, December 3, the bipartisan legislation passed the House by a vote of 366 -21, priming reauthorization of 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).

“Thank you to Representatives Wittman (R-VA), Dingell (D-MI), Kiggans (R-VA) and Thompson (D-CA) for their leadership to secure reauthorization of these core conservation programs,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and President of the Association. “States, Tribes, and their Federal and private partners have proven that when Congress invests in conservation, we deliver for the American people and the natural resources we are entrusted to steward.”

Since its inception in 1981, NAWCA has put more than 3,200 projects on the ground in North America thanks to almost $4.3 billion from partners, leveraging federal dollars more than 2-1 to conserve and restore almost 32 million acres of wetlands. Likewise, NFHP continues to be one of the most effective and highly leveraged conservation programs in the nation, having already led to over 1,500 successful conservation projects in all 50 states for the benefit of fish, their habitats, and anglers throughout the country.

Due to minor differences from the version of the ACE Act (S. 3791) passed unanimously by the Senate this Spring, the bill will now need to be passed again in the upper chamber to be enacted.

“We respectfully urge the Senate to expediently consider the House-passed version of the ACE Act and finalize reauthorization for these critical programs,” said Ron Regan, Executive Director of the Association. “We thank Chairman Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member Capito (R-WV), and the many cosponsors for championing the ACE Act and continuing their work to secure enactment.”

In addition to reauthorizations through 2030 for NFHP and NAWCA, the bill will continue programs for conservation of the Chesapeake Bay, efforts to combat aquatic invasive species under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, funding for livestock depredation compensation and prevention, continuation of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and establishment of the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force.

About the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies:

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.