[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8438 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8438
To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat
connectivity, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2026
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Buchanan, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Fitzpatrick)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture,
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat
connectivity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Corridors
and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT
CONNECTIVITY
Sec. 101. Program establishment.
TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
Sec. 201. Establishment of National Wildlife Corridors System on
Federal land and water.
Sec. 202. Nominations of National Wildlife Corridors and prioritization
criteria.
Sec. 203. Management of National Wildlife Corridors.
Sec. 204. Resource sharing and coordination.
Sec. 205. Coordinating committee.
Sec. 206. Effect.
Sec. 207. Regulations.
TITLE III--WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM ON NON-FEDERAL LAND AND
WATER
Sec. 301. Wildlife corridor grant program.
TITLE IV--FUNDING
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the
United States are part of a rich natural heritage and an
important legacy to pass on to future generations;
(2) the populations of many native fish, wildlife, and
plant species in the United States are in decline;
(3) scientists estimate that, in the United States, 34
percent of plants and 40 percent of animals are at risk of
extinction and 41 percent of ecosystems are at risk of range-
wide collapse;
(4) threats to the survival and diversity of many native
fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States include
the loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstruction of
natural habitats;
(5) habitat fragmentation reduces native biodiversity and
impairs key ecosystem functions;
(6) climate change threatens native fish, wildlife, and
plant species;
(7) the document published by the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
titled ``Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem
services'' (2019) found that--
(A) 1,000,000 wildlife and plant species worldwide
are now threatened with extinction; and
(B) 75 percent of the land-based environment, and
approximately 66 percent of the marine environment,
have been significantly altered by human actions;
(8) the conservation of new and existing landscape and
seascape corridors, through which native species can transition
from one habitat to another, plays an important role in
helping--
(A) to conserve native biodiversity; and
(B) to ensure resiliency against impacts from a
range of biotic and abiotic stressors;
(9) the conservation, restoration, and establishment of new
ecological connections to facilitate the movement of species
into more suitable habitats is a key climate change adaptation
strategy;
(10) the protection of new and existing corridors is often
one of the first steps in restoration and recovery planning;
(11) States have recognized the importance of habitat
connectivity, including through--
(A) at least 83 pieces of State legislation passed
in 20 States since 2019, which have supported actions
including identification of wildlife corridors and
coordination of State agencies, Tribes, non-
governmental organizations, and other partners to
address habitat connectivity issues; and
(B) a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian
Premiers' Conference on the importance of connectivity
for ecosystem adaptability and resilience,
biodiversity, and human communities; and
(12) Federal policies consistently recognize the importance
of voluntary improvement projects by private landowners to
habitat conservation and restoration for native species.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to support a natural diversity of native species,
including species protected under Federal, State, and Tribal
law, that have experienced or may experience diminished habitat
connectivity due to habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation,
or obstruction;
(2) to provide long-term habitat connectivity for native
species migration, dispersal, adaptation to climate and other
environmental change, and genetic exchange;
(3) to restore wildlife movements that have been disrupted
by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction;
(4) to facilitate coordinated landscape and seascape-scale
connectivity planning and management across jurisdictions; and
(5) to support State, Tribal, local, voluntary private
landowner, and Federal agency decisionmakers in the planning
and development of National Wildlife Corridors.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Connectivity.--The term ``connectivity'' means the
degree to which the landscape or seascape facilitates wildlife
movement to achieve--
(A) dispersal and genetic exchange between
populations;
(B) range shifting, range expansion, or range
restoration, such as in response to climate change;
(C) seasonal movement or migration; or
(D) succession, movement, or recolonization
following--
(i) a disturbance, such as fire, flood,
drought, or infestation; or
(ii) population decline or previous
extirpation.
(3) Coordinating committee.--The term ``Coordinating
Committee'' means the Coordinating Committee established under
section 205(a).
(4) Corridor.--The term ``corridor'' means a feature of the
landscape or seascape that provides habitat connectivity.
(5) Federal land or water.--The term ``Federal land or
water'' means any land or water, or interest in land or water,
owned by the United States.
(6) Grant program.--The term ``grant program'' means the
wildlife movement grant program established by section 301(a).
(7) Habitat.--The term ``habitat'' means land, water, and
substrate that supports or may support in the future the life
cycle of a native species that facilitates, with respect to the
native species, spawning, breeding, feeding, growth to
maturity, or migration.
(8) Indian land.--The term ``Indian land'' means land of an
Indian Tribe, or an Indian individual, that is--
(A) held in trust by the United States; or
(B) subject to a restriction against alienation
imposed by the United States.
(9) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(10) Land use management plan.--The term ``land use
management plan'' means a land use management plan developed
pursuant to--
(A) section 100502 of title 54, United States Code;
(B) section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712);
(C) section 4(e) of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(e));
(D) section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); or
(E) section 202 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670h).
(11) National wildlife corridor.--The term ``National
Wildlife Corridor'' means any Federal land or water designated
as a National Wildlife Corridor pursuant to section 201(a).
(12) National wildlife corridor system.--The term
``National Wildlife Corridor System'' means the system of
National Wildlife Corridors established by section 201(a).
(13) Native species.--The term ``native species'' means--
(A) a fish, wildlife, aquatic organism, or plant
species that is or was historically present in a
particular ecosystem as a result of behavioral or
evolutionary processes, including subspecies and plant
varieties; and
(B) a migratory bird species that is native to the
United States or its territories (as that term is
defined in section 2(b)(2)(A) of the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703(b)(2)(A))).
(14) Regional ocean partnership.--The term ``regional ocean
partnership'' means a regional organization of coastal or Great
Lakes States, territories, or possessions voluntarily convened
by Governors to address cross-jurisdictional ocean matters, or
the functional equivalent of such a regional ocean organization
designated by the Governor or Governors of a State or States.
(15) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(B) the Secretary of Commerce;
(C) the Secretary of Defense;
(D) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(E) the Secretary of Transportation.
(16) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(17) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means each of the Secretaries with administrative jurisdiction
over the Federal land or water at issue.
(18) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used
in a geographical sense, means--
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(I) the Republic of Palau;
(J) the United States Virgin Islands; and
(K) the territorial sea (within the meaning of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)) and the exclusive
economic zone (as that term is defined in section 3 of
that Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)) within the jurisdiction or
sovereignty of the Federal Government.
(19) Wildlife movement.--The term ``wildlife movement''
means the passage of individual members or populations of
native species across a landscape or seascape.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT
CONNECTIVITY
SEC. 101. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish and maintain a
habitat connectivity mapping and science program to carry out this
section.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to develop mapping and
science to support Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and
the public in efforts to protect habitat connectivity.
(c) Wildlife Movement and Habitat Connectivity Mapping.--
(1) Mapping efforts.--The Director shall expand and build
upon existing agency efforts to map habitat connectivity for
native species. Such efforts shall include working with,
incorporating data from, and sharing data between--
(A) Federal agencies;
(B) State, Tribal, and local governments;
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and
(D) academic institutions.
(2) Use of technology.--The Director shall--
(A) use new data management, visualization, and
analysis capabilities to analyze wildlife movements and
delineate habitat connectivity; and
(B) share these capabilities with Federal, State,
local, and Tribal wildlife managers.
(3) Distribution of maps.--The Director shall develop and
make available to the public--
(A) a database of corridors and habitat
connectivity; and
(B) maps of habitat connectivity and National
Wildlife Corridors to guide land-use planning and on-
the-ground management of native species.
(4) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Director shall submit to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate
a report that--
(A) provides an assessment of existing maps, data,
models, surveys, and descriptions of habitat
connectivity that have been developed by--
(i) Federal, State, Tribal, and local fish
and wildlife agencies and natural heritage
programs;
(ii) nongovernmental organizations; and
(iii) industry; and
(B) identifies gaps in information about corridors
and habitat connectivity.
(5) Proprietary interests and protected information.--In
carrying out this section, the Director shall--
(A) protect proprietary interests with respect to
confidential information and licensed data; and
(B) protect such information relating to the
habitats and ranges of specific native fish and
wildlife as the Director determines appropriate to
protect such fish and wildlife.
(d) Wildlife Movement and Habitat Connectivity Research.--The
Director shall conduct research to help guide management of National
Wildlife Corridors, including--
(1) a study to evaluate the impacts of climate change on
habitat connectivity and forecast how National Wildlife
Corridors may need to shift to allow native species to adapt;
(2) a study to quantify the effect of ongoing and planned
development on habitat connectivity and National Wildlife
Corridors;
(3) a study to develop new mapping methods to prioritize
critical corridors and habitat connectivity areas; and
(4) a study to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to
address habitat fragmentation and mitigation barriers to
habitat connectivity.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Geological Survey.
(2) Program.--The term ``program'' means the habitat
connectivity mapping and science program established by the
Director under subsection (a).
TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS SYSTEM ON
FEDERAL LAND AND WATER.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a system of corridors on
Federal land and water, to be known as the ``National Wildlife Corridor
System'', which shall consist of National Wildlife Corridors designated
as part of the National Wildlife Corridor System by--
(1) statute;
(2) rulemaking; or
(3) a land use management plan developed or revised by the
Secretaries.
(b) Strategy.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop a strategy for
the effective development of the National Wildlife Corridor System--
(1) to support the fulfillment of the purposes described in
section 2(b);
(2) to ensure coordination and consistency across Federal
agencies in the development, implementation, and management of
National Wildlife Corridors; and
(3) to develop a timeline for the implementation of
National Wildlife Corridors.
SEC. 202. NOMINATIONS OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND PRIORITIZATION
CRITERIA.
(a) Partner Nominations.--State, Tribal, and local governments,
non-governmental organizations, and collaborative partnerships may
nominate Federal lands and waters as National Wildlife Corridors.
(b) Coordinating Committee Nominations.--The Coordinating Committee
shall, not later than 2 years after the date on which the Coordinating
Committee is established and not less frequently than every 5 years
thereafter, nominate habitat connectivity areas to be designated as
National Wildlife Corridors.
(c) Nominated Areas.--With respect to any area for which the
Secretary concerned receives a nomination under subsection (a) or (b),
the Secretary concerned shall make a determination not later than 1
year after the date on which the Secretary concerned receives such
nomination.
(d) Prioritization Criteria.--The Secretaries shall establish
criteria to determine which habitat connectivity areas to designate as
National Wildlife Corridors. Such criteria shall include--
(1) support from the best available science relating to--
(A) existing habitat connectivity; and
(B) potential future habitat connectivity;
(2) whether the Federal land or water merits inclusion
within the National Wildlife Corridor System because it--
(A) provides habitat connectivity and supports
wildlife movement;
(B) has the potential to benefit more than 1
species of fish and wildlife; or
(C) has the potential to benefit a fish or wildlife
species that is listed as a threatened species or an
endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
(3) the consideration of recommendations from the
Coordinating Committee under section 205(c).
SEC. 203. MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.
(a) In General.--The Secretaries shall manage National Wildlife
Corridors in a manner that contributes to the long-term persistence,
resilience, adaptability, and movement of native species through--
(1) the maintenance, restoration, or improvement of habitat
connectivity, including establishment of goals and monitoring
plans;
(2) the prohibition of human infrastructure, development,
and activities that impede wildlife movement, except where
required to meet the minimum requirements for the purposes of
this Act;
(3) the implementation of strategies and activities that
enhance the ability of native species to adapt to changing
environmental conditions;
(4) the use of existing conservation programs managed by
the Secretary concerned to contribute to the persistence,
resilience, adaptability, and wildlife movement of native
species; and
(5) providing education and outreach regarding the benefits
of National Wildlife Corridors and habitat connectivity.
(b) Coordinated Management.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this section, each of the Secretaries shall update
all relevant regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies,
instructions, manuals, directives, notices, implementing actions, and
other relevant documents and procedures to support the management and
long-term conservation of National Wildlife Corridors.
(c) Land Use Management Planning.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after a
designation under section 201, the Secretary concerned shall,
in consultation with each of the Secretaries, make such land
use management plans (or revisions of existing such plans) to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) Requirements.--The Secretaries shall, during each land
use management plan review, amend or revise each such plan to--
(A) conserve, restore, and manage National Wildlife
Corridors; and
(B) consider designating land or water as a
National Wildlife Corridor under section 201(a).
(3) Removal.--Corridors established pursuant to land use
management plans may only be removed from the National Wildlife
Corridor System through an amendment or revision to said plans
if the corridor no longer provides effective habitat
connectivity or 1 or more additional corridors have been
designated that fully replace the habitat connectivity of the
original corridor.
(d) Preexisting Designations.--
(1) In general.--Any portion of a component of the National
Wildlife Corridor System that is within the national wilderness
preservation system, as established by or pursuant to the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), shall be subject to
the provisions of both the that Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.)
and this Act and in case of conflict between the provisions of
these Acts the more restrictive provisions shall apply.
(2) National park system.--Any component of the National
Wildlife Corridor System that is administered by the Secretary
of the Interior through the National Park Service shall be a
part of the National Park System, and any such component that
is administered by the Secretary through the Fish and Wildlife
Service shall be a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The lands involved shall be subject to the provisions of this
Act and the Acts under which the National Park System or
National Wildlife Refuge System, as the case may be, is
administered, and in case of conflict between the provisions of
these Acts, the more restrictive provisions shall apply.
(e) Withdrawals.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal
lands and interests in lands within a designated National Wildlife
Corridor are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,
and geothermal leasing laws.
(f) Multiple Jurisdictions.--The Secretaries shall carry out
conservation and restoration activities in National Wildlife Corridors
that are subject to the jurisdiction of more than 1 of the Secretaries
in consultation with each of the Secretaries concerned.
(g) Road Mitigation.--In the case of National Wildlife Corridors
that intersect, adjoin, or cross a new or existing State, Tribal, or
local road or highway, the Secretaries shall consult with State,
Tribal, and local transportation agencies, as appropriate, to identify
and implement voluntary environmental mitigation measures--
(1) to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused fish
and wildlife mortality while conserving or restoring habitat
connectivity; and
(2) to mitigate damage to wildlife movement through
strategies including--
(A) the construction, maintenance, or replacement
of native species underpasses, overpasses, culverts,
fences, and other mitigation measures; and
(B) the maintenance, replacement, or removal of
dams, bridges, culverts, and other hydrological
obstructions.
(h) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than every 5
years thereafter, the Coordinating Committee shall submit to Congress a
report regarding the efforts of the Secretaries to carry out this Act
and the effect of such efforts on the conservation and management of
habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, wildlife movement, and
migration routes on Federal land and water, including the following
with respect to Federal land and waters:
(1) A description of existing management practices relating
to the purposes of this Act.
(2) An inventory of known wildlife movement structures and
fish passage projects.
(3) A description of short- and long-term threats to
National Wildlife Corridors or habitat connectivity.
(4) A description of opportunities to conserve and improve
the quality and condition of habitat connectivity and wildlife
movement.
(5) A description of opportunities to coordinate State,
Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnership
efforts to carry out this Act with other landscape-scale
conservation plans.
(6) Strategies for climate adaptation and resilience with
respect to habitat connectivity and wildlife movement.
(7) A description of opportunities to expand partnerships
with State, Tribal, and local governments, collaborative
partnerships, and the public to carry out the purposes of this
Act.
(8) A description of current transportation programs,
funding mechanisms, and other authorities that could be used to
conserve and improve habitat connectivity and wildlife
movement.
SEC. 204. RESOURCE SHARING AND COORDINATION.
(a) Collaborative Partnerships.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries may establish
collaborative partnerships with entities described in paragraph
(3) that are balanced, multi-stakeholder groups that are
transparent, nonexclusive, and reasonably representative of
affected interests to further the purposes of this Act that--
(A) establish agreement on--
(i) the role of Federal, State, Tribal, and
local government agencies; and
(ii) how the Secretary concerned will
coordinate efforts to conserve, restore, and
manage habitat connectivity; and
(B) identify regional liaisons to represent the
collective Federal agencies in working with State,
Tribal, and local governments, collaborative
partnerships, and the public to carry out such
conservation, restoration, and management.
(2) Coordinators.--The Secretaries shall each appoint a
national-level coordinator to work with the regional liaisons
identified under paragraph (1)(B) and monitor implementation of
the efforts of collaborative partnerships.
(3) Entities described.--The entities described in this
paragraph are the following:
(A) Voluntary private landowners.
(B) Nonprofit organizations.
(C) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies.
(D) Elected officials.
(E) Stakeholder groups.
(b) Resource Sharing.--The Secretaries shall partner with, and
provide technical assistance and other resources to, State, Tribal, and
local governments, collaborative partnerships, and voluntary private
landowners to support the purposes of this Act.
(c) Consultation.--The Secretaries shall implement this title in
consultation with--
(1) other relevant Federal agencies through the
Coordinating Committee;
(2) State, Tribal, and local governments, including fish
and wildlife, natural resource management, and transportation
agencies;
(3) with respect to any action that directly affects a
private landowner, such private landowner;
(4) such other stakeholders as the Secretaries determine
appropriate; and
(5) landscape- and seascape-scale partnerships, including--
(A) National Fish Habitat Partnerships;
(B) the Regional Fishery Management Councils
established under section 302(a) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1852(a));
(C) relevant regional ocean partnerships;
(D) the Climate Science Centers of the Department
of the Interior; and
(E) Migratory Bird Joint Ventures.
SEC. 205. COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
(a) Coordinating Committee.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish a
coordinating committee.
(b) Membership.--The Coordinating Committee shall be composed of--
(1) the Secretary (or a designee);
(2) the Secretary of Transportation (or a designee);
(3) the Secretary of Agriculture (or a designee);
(4) the Secretary of Commerce (or a designee);
(5) the Secretary of Defense (or a designee);
(6) the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (or a
designee);
(7) the Director of the National Park Service (or a
designee);
(8) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (or a
designee);
(9) the Executive Director of the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies (or a designee);
(10) 2 representatives of intertribal organizations
representing Indian Tribes, to be appointed by the Secretary;
and
(11) not more than 3 representatives of nongovernmental,
science, or academic organizations with expertise in wildlife
conservation and habitat connectivity, to be appointed by the
Secretary in a manner that ensures that the membership of the
Coordinating Committee is fair and balanced.
(c) Strategy for Prioritization.--Not later than 1 year after the
date on which the Coordinating Committee is established, the
Coordinating Committee shall develop a strategy--
(1) for nominating national wildlife corridors for
designation under section 202;
(2) to support the fulfillment of the purposes of this Act;
(3) to ensure coordination with Federal, State, Tribal, and
local governments and collaborative partnerships in conserving
National Wildlife Corridors or habitat connectivity;
(4) to provide education or outreach regarding the benefits
of National Wildlife Corridors and habitat connectivity; and
(5) such other measures as the Coordinating Committee
determines necessary for implementation of this Act.
SEC. 206. EFFECT.
(a) Jurisdiction of States and Indian Tribes.--Nothing in this
title affects the jurisdiction of a State or an Indian Tribe with
respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of
hunting, fishing, and trapping, in a National Wildlife Corridor.
(b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section authorizes--
(1) any seizure of private property through eminent domain;
or
(2) the imposition of any restriction on the use of private
land without the consent of the landowner.
(c) Defense Waivers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may waive any
requirement of this title with respect to a military
installation if such Secretary determines that such waiver is
necessary--
(A) to ensure the preparedness of the Armed Forces;
or
(B) to support the military mission of the military
installation.
(2) Public notice.--The Secretary of Defense shall publish
each waiver issued under paragraph (1) unless such Secretary
determines that such publication will have a negative effect on
national security.
SEC. 207. REGULATIONS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
section, the Secretaries shall issue such regulations as the
Secretaries determine necessary to carry out this title.
TITLE III--WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM ON NON-FEDERAL LAND AND
WATER
SEC. 301. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a wildlife movement
grant program to encourage wildlife movement in accordance with this
subsection.
(b) Grants.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, based on recommendations from the
Coordinating Committee, shall make annual grants to 1 or more projects
that--
(2) satisfy the purposes described in section 2(b); and
(3) increase habitat connectivity.
(c) Eligible Recipients.--A person or entity that is eligible to
receive a grant under the grant program is--
(1) a voluntary private landowner or group of landowners;
(2) a State fish and wildlife agency or other State agency
responsible for managing natural resources and wildlife;
(3) an Indian Tribe;
(4) a unit of local government;
(5) an agricultural cooperative;
(6) a water, irrigation, or rural water district or
association, or other organization with water delivery
authority (including acequias and land grant communities in the
State of New Mexico);
(7) an institution of higher education;
(8) a Federal agency; and
(9) any group of entities described in paragraphs (1)
through (8).
(d) Requirements.--In administering the grant program, the
Secretary shall use criteria, guidelines, contracts, reporting
requirements, and evaluation metrics developed by the Coordinating
Committee.
TITLE IV--FUNDING
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Science and Mapping of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat
Connectivity.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
of the Interior to carry out title I $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026
and each fiscal year thereafter.
(b) Collaboration, Partnership, and Conservation of Wildlife
Corridors and Habitat Connectivity on Federal Land and Water.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II for fiscal year
2026 and each fiscal year thereafter--
(1) to the Secretary of the Interior, $20,000,000;
(2) to the Secretary of Transportation, $18,000,000;
(3) to the Secretary of Agriculture, $10,000,000;
(4) to the Secretary of Commerce, $9,000,000; and
(5) to the Secretary of Defense, $3,000,000.
(c) Wildlife Corridor Grant Program on Non-Federal Land and
Water.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the
Interior to carry out title III $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and
each fiscal year thereafter. Each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent
of the total funds shall be reserved for projects that directly
conserve, restore, or enhance big game migration corridors or seasonal
habitat.
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