H.R. 2773 — what changed
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022
From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 4 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.
Sec. 101 Wildlife conservation and restoration subaccount
In general— Section 3 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended in subsection (c)—
changed
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (9) (10) and (10); (11); and
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—Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer $1,300,000,000 from the general fund of the treasury each fiscal year to the fund for deposit in the Subaccount.
“(2) Supplement not supplant—Amounts transferred to the Subaccount shall supplement, but not replace, existing funds available to the States from—
changed
“(A) the funds distributed pursuant to the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.); Act; and
“(B) the fund.
“(3) Innovation grants
“(A) In general—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).
changed
“(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 (15 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; and
changed
“(iii) four 4 individuals representing four 4 different nonprofit organizations each of which is actively participating in carrying out wildlife conservation restoration activities using funds apportioned from the Subaccount.
changed
“(D) Support from united states fish United States Fish and wildlife service—The Wildlife Service—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.
added “(F) Special rule before disbursement of funds from Subaccount—In any fiscal year that begins before the first disbursement of funds from the Subaccount, any nonprofit organization that actively participates in carrying out wildlife conservation restoration activities shall be deemed to fulfill the requirement described in subparagraph (C)(iii).
“(4) Use of funds—Funds apportioned from the Subaccount—
added “(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;
removed
“(A) shall be used to implement the Wildlife Conservation Strategy of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, as required under section 4(d), 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;
added “(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 or under State law;
removed
“(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, especially in historically underserved communities;
“(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 2021.
“(B) Revenue described in subparagraph (A)(iii) may only be used to fulfill the requirements of such non-Federal fund matching requirement if—
added “(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 fiscal years; and
removed
“(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.
added “(8) Administrative costs—Of the funds authorized under this subsection, not more than 3 percent may be used by the Secretary for administrative costs.
added “(9) Definitions—In this subsection, the following definitions apply:
removed
“(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 fauna or flora, and may include terrestrial, 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.
added “(C) Territory and territories—The terms “territory” and “territories” mean the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
added “(D) Wildlife—The term wildlife means any species of wild, free-ranging fauna, including fish, and also fauna in captive breeding programs the object of which is to reintroduce individuals of a depleted indigenous species into previously occupied range.”
added
Oversight and accountability— Section 3 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
added “(e) To the Office of Inspector General, for the purposes of oversight and accountability with respect to the expenditure of funds authorized under subsection (c), there is authorized to be appropriated, until September 30, 2029, 1/2 of 1 percent of the amounts made available under such subsection.”
removed
“(C) Territory and territories—The terms territory and territories mean the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
removed
“(D) Wildlife—The term wildlife means any species of wild, freeranging fauna, including fish, and also fauna in captive breeding programs the object of which is to reintroduce individuals of a depleted indigenous species into previously occupied range.”
renumbered
was (3)
Allocation and Apportionment of available amounts— Section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669c) is amended—
renumbered
was (3)(3)
in subsection (d)—
renumbered
was (3)(3)(2)
in paragraph (1)—
renumbered
was (3)(3)(2)(2)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “to the District of Columbia and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, each” and inserting “To the District of Columbia”;
renumbered
was (3)(3)(2)(3)
in subparagraph (B)—
renumbered
was (3)(3)(2)(3)(2)
by striking “to Guam” and inserting “To Guam”; and
added
by striking “not more than one-fourth of 1 percent” and inserting “not less than 1/3 of 1 percent”; and
removed
by striking “not more than one-fourth of one percent” and inserting “not less than one-third of one percent”; and
renumbered
was (3)(3)(2)(4)
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) To the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a sum equal to not less than 1 percent thereof.”
renumbered
was (3)(3)(3)
in paragraph (2)(A)—
renumbered
was (3)(3)(3)(2)
by amending clause (i) to read as follows:
added “(i) 1/2 of which is based on the ratio to which the land and water area of such State bears to the total land and water area of all such States;”
removed
“(i) one-half of which is based on the ratio to which the land and water area of such State bears to the total land and water area of all such States;”
renumbered
was (3)(3)(3)(3)
in clause (ii)—
added
by striking “two-thirds” and inserting “1/4”; and
removed
by striking “two-thirds” and inserting “one-quarter”; and
renumbered
was (3)(3)(3)(3)(3)
by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
renumbered
was (3)(3)(3)(4)
by adding at the end the following:
added “(iii) 1/4 of which is based upon the ratio to which the number of species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in such State bears to the total number of such species listed in all such States.”
removed
“(iii) one-quarter of which is based upon the ratio to which the number of species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (15 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) in such State bears to the total number of such species listed in all such States.”
renumbered
was (3)(3)(4)
by amending paragraph (2)(B) to read as follows:
“(B) The amounts apportioned under this paragraph shall be adjusted equitably so that no such State, unless otherwise designated, shall be apportioned a sum which is less than 1 percent or more than 5 percent of the amount available for apportionment under—
“(i) subparagraph (A)(i);
“(ii) subparagraph (A)(ii); and
“(iii) the overall amount available for subparagraph (A).”
renumbered
was (3)(3)(5)
in paragraph (3), by striking “3 percent” and inserting “1.85 percent”; and
added
in subsection (e)(4)—
removed
in subsection (e)(4), as redesignated—
renumbered
was (3)(4)(2)
by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
“(B) Not more than an average of 15 percent over a 5-year period of amounts apportioned to each State, territory, or the District of Columbia under this section for a wildlife conservation and restoration program may be used for wildlife conservation education and wildlife-associated recreation.”
added
by adding at the end the following:
added “(C) $55 million shall be reserved for States and territories that include plants among their species of greatest conservation need and in the conservation planning and habitat prioritization efforts of their Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Each eligible State, territory, or the District of Columbia shall receive an additional 5 percent of their apportioned amount. Any unallocated resources shall be allocated proportionally among all States and territories under the formulas of this section.”
removed
by inserting after subparagraph (B), as so amended, the following:
removed
“(C) $55 million shall be reserved for states and territories that include plants among their species of greatest conservation need and in the conservation planning and habitat prioritization efforts of their Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Each eligible State, territory, or the District of Columbia shall receive an additional 5 percent of their apportioned amount. Any unallocated resources shall be allocated proportionally among all states and territories under the formulas of this section.”
renumbered
was (3)(5)
by adding at the end following:
“(f) Minimization of planning and reporting—Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to require a State to create a comprehensive strategy related to conservation education or outdoor recreation.
added “(g) Accountability—Not more than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021 and every 3 years thereafter, each State fish and wildlife department of a State or territory that receives funding under subsection (c) shall submit a 3-year work plan and budget for implementing its Wildlife Conservation Strategy and a report describing the results derived from activities accomplished under subsection (c)(4) during the previous 3 years to—
removed
“(g) Accountability—Not more than one year after the date of enactment of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021 and every 3 years thereafter, each State fish and wildlife department shall submit a 3-year work plan and budget for implementing its Wildlife Conservation Strategy and a report describing the results derived from activities accomplished under subsection (c)(4) during the previous 3 years to—
“(1) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;
“(2) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
“(3) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.”
Sec. 102 Technical amendments
Definitions— Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended—
changed
in paragraph (7), by striking “including fish,”;fish,”; and
changed
by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively; andin paragraph (9)—
added
by striking “304(d)” and inserting “4(d)”; and
added
by inserting “Indian Tribes, academic institutions,” before “wildlife conservation organizations”.
removed
in paragraph (6), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting “Indian Tribes, academic institutions,” before “wildlife conservation organizations”.
Conforming amendments— The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a et seq.) is amended—
changed
in section 3—3 (16 U.S.C. 669b)—
in subsection (a)—
by striking “(1) An amount equal to” and inserting “An amount equal to”; and
by striking paragraph (2);
in subsection (c)—
changed
in paragraph (9), (10), as redesignated by section 101(a)(1), by striking “or an Indian tribe”; and
changed
in paragraph (10), (11), as redesignated by section 101(a)(1), by striking “Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account” and inserting “Subaccount”; and
in subsection (d), by striking “Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account” and inserting “Subaccount”;
in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 669c)—
changed
in subsection (d), as redesignated—(d)—
in the heading, by striking “account” and inserting “subaccount”; and
by striking “Account” each place it appears and inserting “Subaccount”; and
changed
in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated, by striking “Account” and inserting “Subaccount”; and
in section 8 (16 U.S.C. 669g), in subsection (a), by striking “Account” and inserting “Subaccount”.
Sec. 103 Savings clause
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) is amended—
by redesignating section 13 as section 15; and
by inserting after section 12 the following:
“13. Savings clause
“Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife under the law and regulations of the State on lands and waters within the State, including on Federal lands and waters.
“14. Statutory construction with respect to Alaska
changed
“If any conflict arises between any provision of this Act and any provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (Public Law 46–487, 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, then the provision in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shall prevail.”
Sec. 201 Indian Tribes
Definitions— In this section:
Account— The term Account means the Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account established by subsection (b)(1).
Indian tribe— The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Tribal species of greatest conservation need— The term Tribal species of greatest conservation need means any species identified by an Indian Tribe as requiring conservation management because of declining population, habitat loss, or other threats, or because of their biological or cultural importance to such Tribe.
Wildlife— The term wildlife means—
any species of wild flora or fauna including fish and marine mammals;
flora or fauna in a captive breeding, rehabilitation, and holding or quarantine program, the object of which is to reintroduce individuals of a depleted indigenous species into previously occupied range or to maintain a species for conservation purposes; and
does not include game farm animals.
Tribal wildlife conservation and restoration account—
In general— There is established in the Treasury an account to be known as the “Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account”.
Availability— Amounts in the Account shall be available for each fiscal year without further appropriation for apportionment in accordance with this title.
Deposits— Beginning in fiscal year 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer $97,500,000 to the Account.
Distribution of funds to Indian tribes— Each fiscal year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit funds into the Account and distribute such funds through a noncompetitive application process according to guidelines and criteria, and reporting requirements determined by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in consultation with Indian Tribes. Such funds shall remain available until expended.
changed
Wildlife management responsibilities— The distribution guidelines and criteria described in subsection (c) shall be based, in part, upon an Indian Tribes’ Tribe’s wildlife management responsibilities.responsibilities. Any funding allocated to Indian Tribes in Alaska may only be used in a manner consistent with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and the Alaska Statehood Act. Alaska Native Corporations or Tribes may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Alaska on conservation projects of mutual concern.
Use of funds—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may distribute funds from the Account to an Indian Tribe for any of the following purposes:
To develop, carry out, revise, or enhance wildlife conservation and restoration programs to manage Tribal species of greatest conservation need and the habitats of such species as determined by the Indian Tribe.
To assist in the recovery of species listed as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
For wildlife conservation education and wildlife-associated recreation projects.
To manage a Tribal species of greatest conservation need and the habitat of such species, the range of which may be shared with a foreign country, State, or other Indian Tribe.
To manage, control, and prevent invasive species as well as diseases and other risks to wildlife.
For law enforcement activities that are directly related to the protection and conservation of wildlife.
To develop, revise, and implement comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies and plans for such Tribe.
For the hiring and training of wildlife conservation and restoration program staff.
Conditions on the use of funds—
changed
Required use of funds— In order to be eligible to receive funds under subsection (c), a Tribe’s application must include a proposal to use funds for at least one 1 of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
Imperiled species recovery— In distributing funds under this section, the Secretary shall distribute not less than 15 percent of the total funds distributed to proposals to fund the recovery of a species, subspecies, or distinct population segment listed as a threatened species, endangered species, or candidate species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or Tribal law.
Limitation— In distributing funds under this section, the Secretary shall distribute not more than 15 percent of all funds distributed under this section for the purpose described in paragraph (1)(C).
No matching funds required— No Indian Tribe shall be required to provide matching funds to be eligible to receive funds under this Act.
Public access not required— Funds apportioned from the Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account shall not be conditioned upon the provision of public or non-Tribal access to Tribal or private lands, waters, or holdings.
Administrative costs— Of the funds deposited under subsection (b)(3) for each fiscal year, not more than 3 percent shall be used by the Secretary for administrative costs.
changed
Savings clause—Oversight and accountability— Nothing in this Act shall be construed as modifying or abrogating a treaty To the Office of Inspector General, for the purposes of oversight and accountability with any Indian Tribe, or as enlarging or diminishing respect to the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility expenditure of an Indian Tribe funds authorized under this title, there is authorized to manage, control, or regulate wildlife.be appropriated, until September 30, 2029, 1/2 of 1 percent of the amounts made available under this title.
added
Savings clause— Nothing in this Act shall be construed as modifying or abrogating a treaty with any Indian Tribe, or as enlarging or diminishing the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of an Indian Tribe to manage, control, or regulate wildlife. If any conflict arises between any provision of this Act and any provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, then the provision in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shall prevail.