LOCAL COMMUNITIES & BIRD HABITAT STEWARDSHIP ACT OF 2026

On 2026-09-14, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) delivered a floor speech titled "LOCAL COMMUNITIES & BIRD HABITAT STEWARDSHIP ACT OF 2026" in the House.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES & BIRD HABITAT STEWARDSHIP ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5578-H5580] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] LOCAL COMMUNITIES & BIRD HABITAT STEWARDSHIP ACT OF 2026 Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3276) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird Treaty Program, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3276 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 ``Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026''. [[Page H5579]] SEC. 2. URBAN BIRD TREATY PROGRAM. (a) Urban Bird Treaty Program.-- (1) In general.--The Director shall establish a program for the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas, to be known as the ``Urban Bird Treaty Program''. (2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Director shall-- (A) work with and support covered entities to-- (i) protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species; (ii) reduce urban hazards to birds; (iii) engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; and (iv) educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; (B) provide technical and financial assistance through partnerships with covered entities to build capacity for, plan, and carry out projects related to activities described in subparagraph (A); and (C) facilitate collaboration and information sharing among covered entities and the public with respect to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of urban bird habitats. (3) Grant program.-- (A) In general.--The Director shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities for the purposes of conducting research, planning, assessments, management, building capacity, monitoring, collaboration and information sharing, workforce training, and accomplishing related activities as described in paragraph (2) with respect to the conservation, restoration, enhancement or management of urban birds and the habitats of urban birds. (B) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Director an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate. (C) Administration.-- (i) Agreement.--The Director may enter into an agreement with the Foundation for the Foundation to administer the grant program established under subparagraph (A) pursuant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). (ii) Application of national fish and wildlife foundation establishment act.--Section 10(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)) shall not apply with respect to-- (I) an agreement entered into under clause (i); or (II) amounts made available to carry out this section. (iii) Geographic distribution.--The Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, equitable distribution of awards among and between small, midsize, and large cities, as described in the document titled ``Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates Program (EDGE): Locale Boundaries Technical Documentation'' published by the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department of Education. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means-- (A) a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency; (B) a nongovernmental organization; (C) a community group; and (D) an academic institution. (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means-- (A) a Tribal, State, or municipal agency; (B) a nongovernmental organization; (C) a community group; and (D) an academic institution. (4) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)). (5) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (a)(1). (6) Urban.--The term ``urban'' has the meaning given the term ``urban area'' in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) 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 may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3276, 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} 1720 Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025. Birds are an important part of our Nation's natural heritage and play an important role in healthy and resilient ecosystems. Millions of Americans also enjoy bird-watching each year, supporting local economies and businesses across the country. Unfortunately, birds face several challenges in urban areas, including habitat loss and hazards such as building collisions and light pollution. H.R. 3276 addresses these challenges by codifying the Urban Bird Treaty Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently provides grants and technical assistance to communities and other eligible partners to conserve, restore, and enhance urban bird habitat, reduce hazards to birds, and engage the public in monitoring and conservation efforts. This legislation will enable this important work to continue with greater congressional oversight and accountability. Mr. Speaker, I just recently had the opportunity to visit Audubon, Arkansas, and see the great work that they are doing with bird habitat and also to discuss again how healthy forests not only provide us with clean air and clean water, but they also provide excellent bird habitat. It is another reason the Senate should pass the Fix Our Forests Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, would codify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program and authorize annual funding through fiscal year 2033 to support local community investments in bird habitats across the country. Over the last 50 years, North America has lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds, a staggering 30 percent decline. While conservation is often seen as something that happens far out in the deep wilderness, nearly half of all migratory stopover hot spots in the U.S. fall within metropolitan areas, making urban and suburban areas essential to bird conservation. Our built environments and backyards are essential mid-journey sanctuaries for migratory birds, providing critical resting, feeding, and nesting grounds for migrating land birds. Since 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program has supported voluntary, locally driven partnerships among municipal governments, tribes, nonprofits, and schools. These modest investments deliver outsized returns: restoring urban wetlands, controlling invasive species, reducing hazards to birds like building glass and light pollution, and expanding access to nature in underserved communities. Despite its overwhelming success, demand for these grants far exceeds current capacity. Without formal statutory authority, the program relies on discretionary year-to-year funding, and as a result, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been able to fulfill only about 10 percent of the high-quality project applications it receives every year. H.R. 3276 would codify this program and authorize a competitive grant program administered in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. By passing this bill today, we are empowering local communities to lead on conservation, protect migratory birds, reduce hazards to birds, and connect families to the outdoors. I applaud my colleague from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for her leadership on this commonsense, locally-driven, bipartisan measure that protects biodiversity, strengthens local partnerships, and enriches our communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of her bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of the bill. Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. I am very proud to lead this important effort for bird conservation with my colleague Congressman Cline. I thank him for his leadership on this [[Page H5580]] effort. I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for making this happen. We have a responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe fo

Referenced legislation: HR3276, HR3276