Funding for Fish & Wildlife

Added the motorboat fuel tax (1.08%), import duties, and 3% tax on trolling motors

1984 Wallop-Breaux Act

Created RBFF and moved spending for access up to 15%.

1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

State fish and wildlife agencies have had great successes in restoring species once on the brink—bald eagles, white-tailed deer, elk, turkey, striped bass, and more.

A history of success

The bill will allocate funds via the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration subaccount of the Pittman-Robertson Act, which was originally passed in 1937.

A proven mechanism

Approximately 42 percent of amphibian species are threatened or declining in the U.S.

Amphibians

An estimated 18% of bat species are at risk of extinction, with an additional 13% potentially at risk

Bats

Currently 80 percent of the funding for our state wildlife agencies comes from sportsmen's fees such as hunting and fishing licenses and taxes on outdoor gear. Wildlife that are not hunted or fished do not currently have a similar dedicated funding stream.

Better for hunters and anglers

One third of bird species in North America are in need of urgent conservation action.

Birds

More than one-quarter of North American bumblebee species are facing some degree of extinction risk

Bumblebees

17% of 800 species are known to be at risk of

Butterflies

States can use some of the funds for wildlife viewing, nature photography, educational programs, and trail improvements.

Connecting people with nature

The Land & Water Conservation Fund

Created by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources, and our cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities for all Americans.

State Wildlife Action Plan

Every state has written a _____________, which acts like a blueprint for conservation.

$900 million in royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

Every year, __________________ are put into the Land & Water Conservation Fund.

Placed on a good at manufacturer prior to sale to retailers. Federal government collects the tax directly from the manufacturers.

Excise Tax

Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Act

Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (1950; 16 USC 777)

Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (1937; 16 USC 669)

More than 40 percent of freshwater fish species are at risk in North America

Fish

Overall, 70% of freshwater mussels in NA are already extinct or imperiled.

Freshwater Mussels

The money will largely be spent on efforts such as restoring habitats, reintroducing native wildlife, fighting invasive species, and monitoring emerging diseases.

Helping Wildlife at Risk

Cost Reimbursable Program

How does State's get their money from the apportionment?

The funds from this bill will be controlled by state fish and wildlife agencies.

Logical Control

The $1.3 billion will come from existing revenues from energy and mineral fees on federal lands and waters. This is a small portion of the overall revenues from these sources

No Tax Increase

hunting and fishing license sales; a local community paying for improvements, or a researcher waiving facilities and administrative cost (called F&A or Overhead)

Non-federal sources usually come from ________, but can come from any non-federal source, e.g. _____________.

In the U.S., 33% of turtles are threatened and 5% of other reptiles are threatened.

Reptiles

Placed on good at the point of sale. State collects taxes directly from retail businesses.

Sales Tax

8,000 species; 1,000 percent in less than a decade

State fish and wildlife agencies have identified roughly ________ in need of proactive conservation efforts in the United States, and the number of species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act has increased by ________________.

75% of the costs

State invoices USFWS and receives _____________.

100% of project (management, restoration & research, etc.)

State pays for ____________ after getting approved from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

a Non-Federal Source

State's 25% must come from ____________.

No State can get more than 5% or less than 1 % of the total apportionment. Puerto Rico gets 1%; other territories get 1/6 of 1; 1/2 of each states apportionment must go to Hunter Education Programs

State's Share

revenues from the depletion of one natural resource - offshore oil and gas; the conservation of another precious resource - our land and water

The Land & Water Conservation Fund uses ______________ to support ____________________.

Recovering America's Wildlife Act; Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources

The ___________ will redirect $1.3 billion of existing revenue annually to state-led wildlife conservation efforts, effectively allowing the states to more fully implement their State Wildlife Action Plans. This legislation follows the recommendation of a diverse group of energy, business, and conservation leaders. This group, known as the ____________________, determined that an annual investment of $1.3 billion in revenues from energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters could address the needs of thousands of species, preventing them from needing to be added to the Endangered Species Act.

Natural Resources Management Act (Dingell Act)

The ____________ creates six new National Parks Service units, expands some parks, establishes new protections for wildlife habitats, blocks mining near some national parks, designates 1.3 million acres of wilderness, among many other positive things.

State Wildlife Grants Program; it is grossly inadequate, only providing $70 million among all 50 states and territories

The ____________ is currently the main source of federal funding for states and territories as they implement these plans. However ____________________________.

threatens Americans' quality of life, as well as our outdoor economy

The dramatic decline of so many species of wildlife and the habitats they depend on ______________________.

Recovering America's Wildlife Act; Endangered Species Act; less than 5 percent of what is necessary

Unless our nation makes a change in the way we fund conservation, the numbers of species on the brink of extinction will grow significantly. The ____________ will help wildlife at risk before they need the more costly and restrictive "emergency room" measures required by the _________. The current levels of funding are ________________.

½ of 10% excise tax go to Hunter Education Programs

What did 1970 Dingell-Hart Act specify?

Archery Tax goes to wildlife projects and Hunter Education Programs

What did 1972 Goodley-Mass Act specify?

These Action Plans assess the health of wildlife and habitat in the state, so experts know which species are at risk, and outline steps needed to conserve the "species of greatest conservation need" before they become more rare and costly to protect

What is the role of the State Wildlife Action Plans?

(0.5) State Land Area/Total U.S. Area + (0.5) # of State Hunting Licenses Sold/# of Hunting Licenses sold in U.S.

Wildlife Apportionment Formula

breaks its own promise to the American people and diverts much of this funding to uses other than conserving our most important lands and waters ($30 billion) which changed less than a month ago is now a permanent reauthorization

Yet, nearly every year, Congress _________________________.