Funding for Fish & Wildlife

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. -Uses revenues from the depletion of one natural resource- offshore oil and gas- to support the conservation of another precious resource- our land and water. -Every year, $900 million in royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) are put into this fund. -Yet, nearly every year, Congress 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) That Changed in February 2019: Permanent reauthorization!!! The Natural Resources Management Act (Dingell Act) 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.

Currently only have State Wildlife Action Plans

-Every state has written a State Wildlife Action Plan, which acts like a blueprint for conservation. 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. -The State Wildlife Grants Program is currently the main source of federal funding for states and territories as they implement these plans. However it is grossly inadequate, only providing $70 million among all 50 states and territories.

America's Wildlife Crisis

-State agencies have identified roughly 8,000 species in need of proactive conservation efforts in the U.S., and the number of species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act has increased by 1,000 percent in less than a decade. -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 current levels of funding are less than 5 percent of what is necessary. -The dramatic decline of so many species of wildlife and the habitats they depend on threatens Americans' quality of life, as well as our outdoor economy

How State's Get their money from the apportionment

Cost Reimbursable Program: -State pays for 100% of project (management, restoration or research, etc.) after getting approval from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service -State invoices USFWS and receives 75% of the costs -State's 25% must come from a Non-Federal Source (usually come from hunting and fishing license sales, but can come from any non-federal source, e.g., a local community paying for improvements, or a researcher waiving facilities and administrative cost (called F&A or Overhead).

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration: How it works

Excise Tax: Placed on a good at the manufacturer prior to sale to retailers. Federal government collects the tax directly from the manufacturers. Not a Sales Tax which is placed on good at the point of sale. -State collects taxes directly from retail businesses

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (1937; 16 USC 669) A.K.A. Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act -Key Pittman (Nevada) and A. Willis Robertson (Virginia) Key Amendments: 1970 Dingell-Hart Act specified that ½ of 10% excise tax go to Hunter Education Programs; 1972 Goodley-Moss Act specified that Archery Tax goes to wildlife projects and Hunter Education Programs. Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (1950; 16 USC 777) A.K.A. Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Act -John Dingell (Michigan) and Edwin Johnson (Colorado) Key Amendments: 1984 Wallop-Breaux Act - Added the motorboat fuel tax (1.08%), import duties, and 3% tax on trolling motors; 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Created RBFF and moved spending for access up to 15%

Sport Fish Apportionment and State Shares

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%

Wildlife Apportionment Formula and State's share

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; ½ of each states apportionment must go to Hunter Education Programs.

Here are some details about the funds and how they will help wildlife and people:

No Tax Increase: 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. Better for HUnters and Anglers: 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. A Proven Mechanism: The bill will allocate funds via the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration subaccount of the Pittman-Robertson Act, which was originally passed in 1937. Local Control: The funds from this bill will be controlled by state fish and wildlife agencies. A History of Success: 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. Helping Wildlife at Risk: The money will largely be spent on efforts such as restoring habitats, reintroducing native wildlife, fighting invasive species, and monitoring emerging diseases. Connecting People with Nature: States can use some of the funds for wildlife viewing, nature photography, educational programs, and trail improvements, i.e., make people aware and supportive of fish & wildlife initiatives

Recovering America's Wildlife Act: A Bold Vision for Funding Wildlife Conservation

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 Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources, 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.