New Mexico congresspeople help push bill to fund wildlife recovery through U.S. House

America’s imperiled wildlife could see support from U.S. Congress as efforts to increase funding for recovery efforts were advanced by federal lawmakers with support from New Mexico’s congresspeople.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), was passed last week by the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, cosponsored by New Mexico’s U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, while the Senate version was introduced last year by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM).  

The bill would provide $1.3 billion in federal funds to pay for conservation efforts targeting about 12,000 species of animals and plants believed to be nearing extinction.

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It would also augment ongoing recovery efforts of about 1,6000 species already listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and would require the work be dictated by state-specific planning.

Another $97.5 million would be provided annually to Tribal nations for conservation programs annually on about 140 million acres of land.

Upon the bill’s passage by the House committee, Stansbury said the bill would invest about $28 million for New Mexico species that lack funding under the state’s Wildlife Action Plan.

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She said the added federal dollars were essential to help save some of New Mexico’s famed species like the lesser prairie chicken, Texas hornshell mussel or checkerspot butterfly.

The hornshell, New Mexico’s last native mussel, was listed as endangered in 2018 and is known to dwell only in a section of the Black River in southeast New Mexico.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the lesser prairie chicken’s southern distinct population segment in eastern New Mexico as endangered last year and earlier this week the checkerspot butterfly of the Sacramento Mountain in Lincoln National Forest was also proposed to be listed.

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“Restoring the threatened and endangered species that are integral to our landscapes and cultures requires all hands on deck. That’s why I am proud to cosponsor the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and vote to advance this critical bill out of committee today that represents the best in conservation policy,” Stansbury said.

“This bill will allocate millions of dollars to state, Tribal and other partners to deploy innovative solutions that will restore wild systems in New Mexico and our country.”

Upon the bill’s advancement, Heinrich touted its support by both Democrats and the GOP, pointing to 32 lawmakers of both parties now acting cosponsors.

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Following its passage from the House Committee on Natural Resources, the Act must next receive support from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works before being voted on by the full Congress.

He said that by increasing protections for the nation’s plants and animals, Congress would also take action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“Preserving the health of our outdoors and wildlife has proven time and time again to be one of the most successful, nonpartisan issues to advance through Congress,” Heinrich said.

"This bill strikes a positive balance on priorities from both sides of the aisle and has become one of the most important wildlife bills in decades. From Missouri to New Mexico – from bison to bumblebees – this legislation creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save thousands of species with a solution that matches the magnitude of the challenge.”

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Environmental and conservation groups also supported RAWA, touting is as a means to protect species, keeping populations from dwindling and being listed under the ESA.

Kevin Pollack, legislative associate with national group Environment America said that while the ESA gives protections to species most at risk, funding from the bill would help ensure more plants and animals avoid such a need.

“Our country’s fish and wildlife need protection, and they need it now. Destroyed habitats, invasive species, climate change and pollution have all contributed to a biodiversity crisis, and while the Endangered Species Act has done its job by keeping species from going extinct, we need to do more for the species not at immediate risk of extinction,” Pollack said.

“States dramatically need the resources to effectively implement proactive conservation efforts to protect those species, and passing the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act helps them do exactly that.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-618-7631, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.