Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, legislation that I have cosponsored which would strengthen our response to habitat loss, climate change, and disease impacting the health and well-being of threatened and endangered wildlife throughout our country.

Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, disease, and severe weather have all taken a severe toll on birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and bees. It is important that we take bold steps and invest in collaborative solutions to protect our wildlife.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, approximately one- third of bird species in North America are in urgent need of conservation action and over forty percent of American freshwater fish are currently at risk of extinction. Recent ecological changes, such as the increasing number of wildfires and rising average water temperatures, are pushing many species of animals towards endangerment and extinction. As the representative for the great city of Milwaukee, located on beautiful Lake Michigan, I know just how important wildlife is to our economy, outdoor recreation, and the well-being of the environment.

This bill would bring much-needed resources to state, local and tribal wildlife professionals tasked with conserving wildlife and their habitat. The legislation would provide funding for the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of the greatest conservation need, to implement the wildlife conservation strategies of states, territories, the District of Columbia and tribal governments, and support wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. Unless we invest in proactive, innovative solutions, we risk losing thousands of species.

I was happy to support this bill. Passing this legislation would be a good step in our continuing efforts to protect our environment and wildlife for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

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