US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 3276 — what changed

Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025”.2026”.

Sec. 2 Urban Bird Treaty Program

(a)
added Urban Bird Treaty Program—
(a)
removed Findings— Congress finds the following:
(1)
removed According to the 2025 State of Birds Report, bird populations continue to decline and have resulted in a 50 percent loss of tipping point bird population species in the last 50 years. The report found that policies to reverse bird declines carry benefits such as healthier working lands, cleaner water, and more resilient landscapes that can withstand fires, floods, and drought.
(2)
removed Nearly 96 million Americans—more than a third of United States adults—engage in birdwatching every year, generating $279,000,000,000 in annual economic output from these birder expenditures—including spending $108,000,000,000 annually on birding-related trips and equipment, directly supporting local businesses and 1.4 million American jobs.
(3)
removed Maintaining an abundance of healthy, well-distributed green spaces and bird habitats in and near communities reduces the risk of cross-transmission between wild birds and domestic poultry by dispersing bird populations, minimizing overlap at concentrated feeding or resting areas, and enabling earlier disease detection and response through coordinated monitoring.
(4)
removed Enhancing bird habitat and stewardship in populated areas serves not only to conserve bird populations and connect people to nature, but also to strengthen the ecological infrastructure necessary to mitigate the spread of wildlife-borne diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
(b)
removed Urban Bird Treaty Program—
(1)
renumbered was (3)(2) 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)
renumbered was (3)(3) Program duties— In carrying out the Program, the Director shall—
(A)
renumbered was (3)(3)(3) work with and support covered entities to—
(i)
renumbered was (3)(3)(3)(2) protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species;
(ii)
renumbered was (3)(3)(3)(3) reduce urban hazards to birds;
(iii)
renumbered was (3)(3)(3)(4) engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; and
(iv)
renumbered was (3)(3)(3)(5) educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas;
(B)
renumbered was (3)(3)(4) 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)
renumbered was (3)(3)(5) 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)
added Grant program—
(3)
removed Grant program—
(A)
renumbered was (3)(4)(2) 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)
renumbered was (3)(4)(3) 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)
added Administration—
(i)
added 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.).
(C)
removed Administration—
(i)
removed Agreement— The Director shall 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)
renumbered was (3)(4)(4)(3) 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)
renumbered was (3)(4)(4)(3)(3) an agreement entered into under clause (i); or
(II)
renumbered was (3)(4)(4)(3)(4) amounts made available to carry out this section.
(iii)
added 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)
renumbered was (4) Definitions— In this section:
(1)
renumbered was (4)(3) Covered entity— The term covered entity means—
(A)
renumbered was (4)(3)(3) a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B)
renumbered was (4)(3)(4) a nongovernmental organization;
(C)
renumbered was (4)(3)(5) a community group; and
(D)
renumbered was (4)(3)(6) an academic institution.
(2)
renumbered was (4)(4) Director— The term Director means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3)
renumbered was (4)(5) Eligible entity— The term eligible entity means—
(A)
renumbered was (4)(5)(3) a Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B)
renumbered was (4)(5)(4) a nongovernmental organization;
(C)
renumbered was (4)(5)(5) a community group; and
(D)
renumbered was (4)(5)(6) an academic institution.
(4)
renumbered was (4)(6) 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)
added Program— The term Program means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (a)(1).
(5)
removed Program— The term Program means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(6)
renumbered was (4)(8) Urban— The term urban has the meaning given the term urban area in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.
(c)
added 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.
(d)
removed Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.