Audubon Testifies in the U.S. House to Support Two Conservation Bills

This week, Audubon testified in favor of two bills before the House Natural Resources Committee. Marnie Urso, Policy Director for Audubon Great Lakes, provided testimony to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, as well as the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act.

The hearing was held on Thursday, October 17th, in the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee. Audubon spoke to the urgent need to invest in the conservation of birds and other wildlife, following two alarming new reports. These reports include Audubon’s new climate study, Survival By Degrees: 389 Species on the Brink, as well as a study from September published in Science, which found that North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970.

Audubon provided support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742), which was introduced in July. This bill would dedicate $1.4 billion in new conservation funding for states, territories, and tribes to carry out their wildlife action plans. These plans prioritize the species of greatest conservation need in each state, and more than 400 species of birds have been identified that would benefit from proactive conservation. At the same time, the bill provides a baseline level of funding for threatened and endangered species to help them recover more quickly. You can ask your Member of Congress to support this bill through our Action Center. 

Additionally, Audubon spoke in favor of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (H.R. 2795). This legislation would create a system of key corridors for wildlife and set up a new grant program to support them, which will benefit numerous types of wildlife, including birds that utilize these areas for nesting, migration, and wintering habitat.

The subcommittee hearing is the first key stage in the legislative process on these important bills, and Audubon will provide updates as this legislation moves forward.