Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6407

EnvironmentDefenseCrime & JusticeAgriculture

Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6407" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6407

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3532-S3535] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6407. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end, add the following: DIVISION E--RECOVERING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE ACT OF 2026 SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE. This division may be cited as the ``Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026''. SEC. 5002. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. The purpose of this division is to extend financial and technical assistance to States, territories, the District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes, including under the Pittman- Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), for the purpose of avoiding the need to list species, or recovering species currently listed as a threatened species or an endangered species, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or under State law. TITLE I--WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION SEC. 5101. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION SUBACCOUNT. (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended in subsection (c)-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (9) and (10); and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ``(1) Establishment of subaccount.-- ``(A) In general.--There is established in the fund a subaccount to be known as the `Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount' (referred to in this section as the `Subaccount'). ``(B) Availability.--Amounts in the Subaccount shall be available without further appropriation, for each fiscal year, for apportionment in accordance with this Act. ``(C) Deposits into subaccount.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the general fund of the Treasury to the Subaccount-- ``(i) for fiscal year 2028, $100,000,000; ``(ii) for fiscal year 2029, $300,000,000; ``(iii) for fiscal year 2030, $500,000,000; ``(iv) for fiscal year 2031, $700,000,000; ``(v) for fiscal year 2032, $900,000,000; ``(vi) for fiscal year 2033, $1,100,000,000; and ``(vii) for fiscal year 2034, and each fiscal year thereafter, $1,300,000,000. ``(2) Supplement not supplant.--Amounts transferred to the Subaccount shall supplement, but not replace, existing funds available to the States from-- ``(A) the funds distributed pursuant to the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.); and ``(B) the fund. ``(3) Innovation grants.-- ``(A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the Secretary shall distribute 10 percent of funds apportioned from the Subaccount through a competitive grant program to State fish and wildlife departments, the District of Columbia fish and wildlife department, fish and wildlife departments of territories, or to regional associations of fish and wildlife departments (or any group composed of more than 1 such entity). [[Page S3533]] ``(B) Purpose.--Such grants shall be provided for the purpose of catalyzing innovation of techniques, tools, strategies, or collaborative partnerships that accelerate, expand, or replicate effective and measurable recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need and species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the habitats of such species. ``(C) Review committee.--The Secretary shall appoint a review committee comprised of-- ``(i) a State Director from each regional association of State fish and wildlife departments; ``(ii) the head of a department responsible for fish and wildlife management in a territory; ``(iii) one delegate from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, for the purpose of providing technical assistance; and ``(iv) beginning in fiscal year 2028, four individuals representing four different nonprofit organizations each of which is actively participating in carrying out wildlife conservation restoration activities using funds apportioned from the Subaccount. ``(D) Support from united states fish and wildlife service.--Using not more than 3 percent of the amounts apportioned under subparagraph (A) to carry out a competitive grant program, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide any personnel or administrative support services necessary for such committee to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. ``(E) Evaluation.--Such committee shall evaluate each proposal submitted under this paragraph and recommend projects for funding, giving preference to solutions that accelerate the recovery of species identified as priorities through regional scientific assessments of species of greatest conservation need. ``(4) Use of funds.--Funds apportioned from the Subaccount shall be used for purposes consistent with section 5002 of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026 and-- ``(A) shall be used to implement the Wildlife Conservation Strategy of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, as required under section 4(e), by carrying out, revising, or enhancing existing wildlife and habitat conservation and restoration programs and developing and implementing new wildlife conservation and restoration programs to recover and manage species of greatest conservation need and the key habitats and plant community types essential to the conservation of those species, as determined by the appropriate State fish and wildlife department; ``(B) shall be used to develop, revise, and enhance the Wildlife Conservation Strategy of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, as may be required by this Act; ``(C) shall be used to assist in the recovery of species found in the State, territory, or the District of Columbia that are listed as endangered species, threatened species, candidate species or species proposed for listing, or species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or under State law; ``(D) may be used for wildlife conservation education and wildlife-associated recreation projects; ``(E) may be used to manage a species of greatest conservation need whose range is shared with another State, territory, Indian Tribe, or foreign government and for the conservation of the habitat of such species; ``(F) may be used to manage, control, and prevent invasive species, disease, and other risks to species of greatest conservation need; and ``(G) may be used for law enforcement activities that are directly related to the protection and conservation of a species of greatest conservation need and the habitat of such species. ``(5) Minimum required spending for endangered species recovery.--Not less than an average of 15 percent over a 5- year period of amounts apportioned to a State, territory, or the District of Columbia from the Subaccount shall be used for purposes described in paragraph (4)(C). The Secretary may reduce the minimum requirement of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia on an annual basis if the Secretary determines that the State, territory, or the District of Columbia is meeting the conservation and recovery needs of all species described in paragraph (4)(C). ``(6) Public access to private lands not required.--Funds apportioned from the Subaccount shall not be conditioned upon the provision of public access to private lands, waters, or holdings. ``(7) Requirements for matching funds.-- ``(A) For the purposes of the non-Federal fund matching requirement for a wildlife conservation or restoration program or project funded by the Subaccount, a State, territory, or the District of Columbia may use as matching non-Federal funds-- ``(i) funds from Federal agencies other than the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture; ``(ii) donated private lands and waters, including privately owned easements; ``(iii) in circumstances described in subparagraph (B), revenue generated through the sale of State hunting and fishing licenses; and ``(iv) other sources consistent with part 80 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, in effect on the date of enactment of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026. ``(B) Revenue described in subparagraph (A)(iii) may only be used to fulfill the requirements of such non-Federal fund matching requirement if-- ``(i) no Federal funds apportioned to the State fish and wildlife department of such State from the Wildlife Restoration Program or the Sport Fish Restoration Program have been reverted because of a failure to fulfill such non- Federal fund matching requirement by such State during the previous 2 years; and ``(ii) the project or program being funded benefits the habitat of a hunted or fished species and a species of greatest conservation need. ``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following definitions apply: ``(A) Partnerships.--The term `partnerships' may include collaborative efforts with Federal agencies, State agencies, local agencies, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, industry groups, and private individuals to implement a State's Wildlife Conservation Strategy. ``(B) Species of greatest conservation need.--The term `species of greatest conservation need' may be any species or subspecies, including terrestrial, semiaquatic, aquatic, marine, and invertebrate species that are of low population, declining, rare, or facing threats and in need of conservation attention, as determined by each State fish and wildlife department, with respect to funds apportioned to such State. ``(C) Territory and territories.--The terms `territory' and `territories' mean t

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Text of Senate Amendment 6407 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3532-S3535] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6407. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end, add the following: DIVISION E--RECOVERING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE ACT OF 2026 SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE. This division may be cited as the ``Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026''. SEC. 5002. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. The purpose of this division is to extend financial and technical assistance to States, territories, the District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes, including under the Pittman- Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), for the purpose of avoiding the need to list species, or recovering species currently listed as a threatened species or an endangered species, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or under State law. TITLE I--WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION SEC. 5101. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION SUBACCOUNT. (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended in subsection (c)-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (9) and (10); and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ``(1) Establishment of subaccount.-- ``(A) In general.--There is established in the fund a subaccount to be known as the `Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount' (referred to in this section as the `Subaccount'). ``(B) Availability.--Amounts in the Subaccount shall be available without further appropriation, for each fiscal year, for apportionment in accordance with this Act. ``(C) Deposits into subaccount.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the general fund of the Treasury to the Subaccount-- ``(i) for fiscal year 2028, $100,000,000; ``(ii) for fiscal year 2029, $300,000,000; ``(iii) for fiscal year 2030, $500,000,000; ``(iv) for fiscal year 2031, $700,000,000; ``(v) for fiscal year 2032, $900,000,000; ``(vi) for fiscal year 2033, $1,100,000,000; and ``(vii) for fiscal year 2034, and each fiscal year thereafter, $1,300,000,000. ``(2) Supplement not supplant.--Amounts transferred to the Subaccount shall supplement, but not replace, existing funds available to the States from-- ``(A) the funds distributed pursuant to the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.); and ``(B) the fund. ``(3) Innovation grants.-- ``(A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the Secretary shall distribute 10 percent of funds apportioned from the Subaccount through a competitive grant program to State fish and wildlife departments, the District of Columbia fish and wildlife department, fish and wildlife departments of territories, or to regional associations of fish and wildlife departments (or any group composed of more than 1 such entity). [[Page S3533]] ``(B) Purpose.--Such grants shall be provided for the purpose of catalyzing innovation of techniques, tools, strategies, or collaborative partnerships that accelerate, expand, or replicate effective and measurable recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need and species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the habitats of such species. ``(C) Review committee.--The Secretary shall appoint a review committee comprised of-- ``(i) a State Director from each regional association of State fish and wildlife departments; ``(ii) the head of a department responsible for fish and wildlife management in a territory; ``(iii) one delegate from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, for the purpose of providing technical assistance; and ``(iv) beginning in fiscal year 2028, four individuals representing four different nonprofit organizations each of which is actively participating in carrying out wildlife conservation restoration activities using funds apportioned from the Subaccount. ``(D) Support from united states fish and wildlife service.--Using not more than 3 percent of the amounts apportioned under subparagraph (A) to carry out a competitive grant program, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide any personnel or administrative support services necessary for such committee to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. ``(E) Evaluation.--Such committee shall evaluate each proposal submitted under this paragraph and recommend projects for funding, giving preference to solutions that accelerate the recovery of species identified as priorities through regional scientific assessments of species of greatest conservation need. ``(4) Use of funds.--Funds apportioned from the Subaccount shall be used for purposes consistent with section 5002 of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026 and-- ``(A) shall be used to implement the Wildlife Conservation Strategy of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, as required under section 4(e), by carrying out, revising, or enhancing existing wildlife and habitat conservation and restoration programs and developing and implementing new wildlife conservation and restoration programs to recover and manage species of greatest conservation need and the key habitats and plant community types essential to the conservation of those species, as determined by the appropriate State fish and wildlife department; ``(B) shall be used to develop, revise, and enhance the Wildlife Conservation Strategy of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, as may be required by this Act; ``(C) shall be used to assist in the recovery of species found in the State, territory, or the District of Columbia that are listed as endangered species, threatened species, candidate species or species proposed for listing, or species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or under State law; ``(D) may be used for wildlife conservation education and wildlife-associated recreation projects; ``(E) may be used to manage a species of greatest conservation need whose range is shared with another State, territory, Indian Tribe, or foreign government and for the conservation of the habitat of such species; ``(F) may be used to manage, control, and prevent invasive species, disease, and other risks to species of greatest conservation need; and ``(G) may be used for law enforcement activities that are directly related to the protection and conservation of a species of greatest conservation need and the habitat of such species. ``(5) Minimum required spending for endangered species recovery.--Not less than an average of 15 percent over a 5- year period of amounts apportioned to a State, territory, or the District of Columbia from the Subaccount shall be used for purposes described in paragraph (4)(C). The Secretary may reduce the minimum requirement of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia on an annual basis if the Secretary determines that the State, territory, or the District of Columbia is meeting the conservation and recovery needs of all species described in paragraph (4)(C). ``(6) Public access to private lands not required.--Funds apportioned from the Subaccount shall not be conditioned upon the provision of public access to private lands, waters, or holdings. ``(7) Requirements for matching funds.-- ``(A) For the purposes of the non-Federal fund matching requirement for a wildlife conservation or restoration program or project funded by the Subaccount, a State, territory, or the District of Columbia may use as matching non-Federal funds-- ``(i) funds from Federal agencies other than the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture; ``(ii) donated private lands and waters, including privately owned easements; ``(iii) in circumstances described in subparagraph (B), revenue generated through the sale of State hunting and fishing licenses; and ``(iv) other sources consistent with part 80 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, in effect on the date of enactment of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026. ``(B) Revenue described in subparagraph (A)(iii) may only be used to fulfill the requirements of such non-Federal fund matching requirement if-- ``(i) no Federal funds apportioned to the State fish and wildlife department of such State from the Wildlife Restoration Program or the Sport Fish Restoration Program have been reverted because of a failure to fulfill such non- Federal fund matching requirement by such State during the previous 2 years; and ``(ii) the project or program being funded benefits the habitat of a hunted or fished species and a species of greatest conservation need. ``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following definitions apply: ``(A) Partnerships.--The term `partnerships' may include collaborative efforts with Federal agencies, State agencies, local agencies, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, industry groups, and private individuals to implement a State's Wildlife Conservation Strategy. ``(B) Species of greatest conservation need.--The term `species of greatest conservation need' may be any species or subspecies, including terrestrial, semiaquatic, aquatic, marine, and invertebrate species that are of low population, declining, rare, or facing threats and in need of conservation attention, as determined by each State fish and wildlife department, with respect to funds apportioned to such State. ``(C) Territory and territories.--The terms `territory' and `territories' mean t