[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H404-H406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      WILDLIFE INNOVATION AND LONGEVITY DRIVER REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5009) to reauthorize wildlife habitat and conservation 
programs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5009

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Innovation and 
     Longevity Driver reauthorization Act'' or the ``WILD Act''.

     SEC. 2. PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT.

       Section 5 of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3774) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and 
     inserting ``2024 through 2028''.

     SEC. 3. AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT.

       (a) Provision of Assistance.--Section 2101 of the African 
     Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4211) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Multiyear Grants.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person 
     who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a 
     multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that 
     the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term 
     conservation strategy for African elephants and the habitat 
     of African elephants.
       ``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the 
     Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2306(a) of 
     the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4245(a)) is 
     amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
     ``2024 through 2028''.

     SEC. 4. ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT OF 1997.

       (a) Asian Elephant Conservation Assistance.--Section 5 of 
     the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4264) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) Multiyear Grants.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person 
     who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a 
     multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that 
     the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term 
     conservation strategy for Asian elephants and the habitat of 
     Asian elephants.
       ``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the 
     Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 8(a) of the 
     Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4266(a)) 
     is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
     ``2024 through 2028''.

[[Page H405]]

  


     SEC. 5. RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1994.

       (a) Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Assistance.--Section 
     5 of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 
     U.S.C. 5304) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Multiyear Grants.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person 
     who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a 
     multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that 
     the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term 
     conservation strategy for rhinoceroses or tigers and the 
     habitat of rhinoceroses or tigers.
       ``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the 
     Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10(a) of the 
     Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
     5306(a)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and 
     inserting ``2024 through 2028''.

     SEC. 6. GREAT APE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000.

       (a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4(j)(1) of the Great Ape 
     Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6303(j)(1)) is amended by 
     inserting ``of up to 5 years'' after ``multiyear grant''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 6 of the 
     Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6305) is 
     amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
     ``2024 through 2028''.

     SEC. 7. MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION ACT OF 2004.

       (a) Multiyear Grants.--Section 4 of the Marine Turtle 
     Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6603) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Multiyear Grants.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may award to a person 
     who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a 
     multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a project that 
     the person demonstrates is an effective, long-term 
     conservation strategy for marine turtles, freshwater turtles, 
     or tortoises and the habitat of marine turtles, freshwater 
     turtles, or tortoises.
       ``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection precludes the 
     Secretary from awarding a grant on an annual basis.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 7(a) of the 
     Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6606(a)) is 
     amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
     ``2024 through 2028''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5009, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5009, sponsored by my friend 
and colleague, Congressman  Dave Joyce of Ohio. The programs this bill 
reauthorizes are decades old and have had proven results. This 
bipartisan piece of legislation will continue our longstanding efforts 
to promote responsible conservation efforts in the country and 
internationally.
  First, H.R. 5009 authorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife 
Program, which allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to partner 
with private landowners to preserve habitat for at-risk species on 
private lands. Over the past 35 years, the Partners for Fish and 
Wildlife Program has helped around 30,000 landowners complete more than 
50,000 habitat restoration projects totaling more than 6.4 million 
acres of fish and wildlife habitat.
  In February 2023, the service reported that two-thirds of federally 
listed species have at least some habitat on private land, and some 
species have most of their remaining habitat on private land. 
Voluntary, collaborative conservation efforts like the Partners for 
Fish and Wildlife Program help to empower private landowners to aid 
these species.
  Lastly, this bill reauthorizes the programs which make up the 
multinational species conservation funds. These programs provide grant 
funding to conserve some of the world's most iconic species, such as 
elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and great apes.
  Since their inception, these programs have provided over $92.5 
million in grants and cooperative agreements for conservation projects 
in 54 countries, while leveraging $200 million in private matching 
contributions. These grants and cooperative agreements are vital to 
reducing illegal trafficking and poaching, decreasing conflict with 
humans, and improving habitat for these iconic species.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Joyce for his work on this bill, I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be the co-lead of H.R. 5009, the WILD 
Act. I want to start by thanking my partner, Representative Joyce, for 
his hard work on this bipartisan bill. The WILD Act would authorize and 
amend several wildlife conservation laws, making it easier to support 
long-term conservation in the United States and abroad.
  The multinational species conservation funds, which are managed by 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, support five programs that help 
conserve iconic wildlife species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, 
great apes, and turtles.
  Grants awarded through these programs can be used to secure 
additional matching funds, increasing the impact of U.S. dollars. 
Awards made through these funds support synchronized aerial surveys, 
increasing habitat connectivity, reducing poaching and wildlife crime, 
community engagement activities, and breeding and reintroduction 
programs.
  The WILD Act also would reauthorize the Partners for Fish and 
Wildlife Program, which supports habitat restoration efforts across the 
United States and territories.
  The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program within the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service employs biologists who work with private landowners to 
help them conserve and improve wildlife habitat.
  Program staff provide free technical and financial assistance to 
plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat restoration 
projects ranging in size from a few acres to hundreds of thousands of 
acres.
  The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is an important component 
of our Nation's collaborative conservation efforts for endangered and 
threatened species.
  Mr. Speaker, the WILD Act is a bipartisan win for conservation. I 
urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Joyce), who is the bill's sponsor.
  Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage support for 
the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver reauthorization Act, also 
known as the WILD Act.
  Like many in northeast Ohio, some of my fondest memories are from 
growing up connected to the Great Lakes, especially in the wildlife 
area. However, our Nation's wildlife and habitats are facing 
unprecedented challenges. As Members of Congress, it is our 
responsibility to protect and preserve these habitats for future 
generations.
  By reauthorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the 
multinational species conservation fund, this critical legislation will 
not only safeguard the diverse ecosystems of our 50 States and 
territories, but also ensure the preservation of some of the world's 
most iconic species.
  From the elephants in Africa to the turtles in Lake Erie, we must do 
everything we can to protect our world's rich biodiversity. For 
decades, these programs have garnered bipartisan support and have 
proven to deliver tangible results. Commonsense, community-centered 
conservation efforts like these help restore habitats and endangered 
species and wildlife and lift up economies and make communities more 
secure.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me 
in supporting the WILD Act. I also thank my colleague, my dear friend, 
Michigan, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, for her support on this bill 
and for leading the bipartisan efforts with me.

  Together we can ensure that our children and grandchildren will 
inherit a world rich in wildlife and abundant natural wonders. The time 
to act is now for the sake of our planet and all who call it home.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am

[[Page H406]]

prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly support 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I consider myself a conservationist. The Partners for 
Fish and Wildlife Program has long been a critical tool to help advance 
collaborative conservation on private lands, and the multinational 
species conservation funds have been essential to conserving some of 
the world's most iconic species, as we discussed.
  I, again, applaud Congressman Joyce's bipartisan efforts on this 
legislation that will continue our longstanding efforts to promote 
responsible conservation efforts in the country and internationally.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5009.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________