S.Amdt. 6407

This amendment, submitted by Mr. HEINRICH and Mr. Tillis, seeks to add a new division to bill S. 4784 called the Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2026. The goal of this addition is to provide technical and financial help to Indian Tribes, States, the District of Columbia, and territories. This assistance is intended to help recover species already listed as threatened or endangered and to prevent other species from needing to be listed under State law or the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Key Changes and Additions

• Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount: This establishes a subaccount within the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. It sets a schedule of deposits from the Treasury general fund starting at $100 million in fiscal year 2028 and increasing annually to $1.3 billion by fiscal year 2034 and beyond.
• Innovation Grants: 10 percent of the subaccount funds will be used for competitive grants to help find new tools and strategies to recover species of greatest conservation need and those listed under the Endangered Species Act.
• Tribal Support: A separate Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account will be created, with $97.5 million deposited annually starting in fiscal year 2028. These funds are distributed to Indian Tribes through a noncompetitive application process.
• Use of Funds: Money from these accounts can be used for:
  • Implementing wildlife conservation strategies.
  • Recovering endangered or threatened species.
  • Managing invasive species and diseases.
  • Law enforcement related to wildlife protection.
  • Education and recreation projects.
• Accountability and Rules:
  • States must submit a 3-year work plan and budget every three years.
  • The Comptroller General will conduct a study after 7 years to check the progress of the program.
  • Funds are not conditioned on providing public access to private or Tribal lands.
  • No matching funds are required for Indian Tribes to be eligible.