As summer on Capitol Hill comes to a close before August recess, a flurry of activity took place to advance legislation to fund our public land management agencies and conservation programs for the rapidly approaching 2025 fiscal year. Other legislation impacting our public lands, waters, and wildlife was considered by the House Natural Resources Committee, including a bill that would direct revenue from renewable energy projects into a conservation fund, and legislation that would transfer public lands in North Dakota.
House Committee to Consider Legislation to Renew Wildlife Conservation Programs
On July 9, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a hearing on the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8811) led by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA).
This legislation would extend funding and authorization for several conservation programs, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, and builds on the bipartisan success of the ACE Act which was strongly supported by BHA and our members when it was first signed into law in 2020. Further details regarding the legislation can be found here in our press release issued following the Senate vote in May to pass the bill through unanimous consent.
BHA is encouraged to see the House of Representatives introducing legislation necessary to advance the reauthorization of these programs. However, the House version of the bill does not include critical funding increases universally agreed upon in the Senate legislation. BHA and many of our partners continue to advocate for these programs in addition to the funding levels necessary to implement conservation and restoration projects across North America.
Take action to support the ACE Reauthorization Act here.
Colorado’s Dolores Canyons
On July 3, Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) shared a statement regarding the proposed Dolores Canyon National Monument. This designation would sustain hunting and fishing opportunities through multiple-use management of the landscape, while protecting against industrial development and unmanaged recreation for nearly 400,000 acres of public lands.
This statement follows a slate of public meetings in southwestern Colorado which included representation from BHA and our partners comprising the Sportsmen for the Dolores. The senators highlighted that a national monument, or any conservation proposal for the region, must continue management by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, as well as ensure continued hunting and fishing access. This adheres to tenets for monument designations in our report titled: "National Monuments: A Hunting and Fishing Perspective."
Read more in the Durango Herald from BHA member Collin Hildebrand.
House Committee Considers Legislation to Direct Revenue from Renewable Energy to Conservation
On July 23, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA), which was recently reintroduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ). The reintroduced version of the bill is more narrow than previous iterations, and would distribute revenue collected by the federal government from bonus bids, rentals, fees, or other payments under a right-of-way, permit, or lease for solar and wind energy projects on public lands.
A portion of that revenue would be directed to a newly established Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat, migration corridors, and to improve recreational access for public lands.
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) recently introduced the full version of PLREDA. BHA issued the following quote in response.
“Hunters and anglers recognize the increasing demand for renewable energy development on public lands and it is our priority to ensure that these projects avoid impacts to fish and wildlife habitat. We thank Rep. Levin for his leadership on the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA) which would incentivize the development of these projects on previously disturbed or degraded landscapes so that iconic species like mule deer and sage grouse can thrive on intact public lands without conflict. PLREDA would also direct 40% of the revenue collected from renewable energy projects on public lands into a new conservation fund for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat as well as improved recreational access to public lands.” – Kaden McArthur, Government Relations Manager, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
House Committee Considers Legislation to Transfer North Dakota Public Lands
On July 24, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing to consider legislation opposed by BHA, the North Dakota Trust Land Completion Act (H.R. 2405).
Endorsed by all three members of the state’s congressional delegation, Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), this bill would allow the State of North Dakota to relinquish broad swaths of state land holdings within Tribal reservations in exchange for federal public lands. The relinquished state lands within the reservation would be held in trust for the Tribes, and in exchange the State would receive federal public lands elsewhere to be utilized for revenue generation that may be closed to the public. No action would be taken to replace lost public lands.
The State has identified approximately 30,000 surface and 130,000 subsurface acres within Tribal reservations eligible for exchange if this bill were to become law. There are only 58,000 acres of BLM public lands in the entire state, in addition to, potentially allowing every unappropriated acre of BLM managed public land in the North Dakota to be transferred to the State.
The State manages these lands solely for profit, not for multiple use, and North Dakota could develop prime hunting and fishing habitat in addition to closing these previously public lands, entirely. Once federal public lands are transferred to the state, hunters and anglers lose.
Take action here to oppose this legislation.
Government Funding
On July 24, the House of Representatives voted to pass their Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 8998) which would slash funding for federal land management agencies for Fiscal Year 2025, cutting funding levels for the second year in a row. The bill passed 210-205, largely on party lines.
In addition to reducing critical funding for the management of our natural resources this legislation also includes numerous policy riders opposed by BHA that target conservation measures implemented by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service that were applauded by sportsmen and women.
Prior to the vote, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy which clarified their intent to veto the bill should it be sent to the President’s desk.
On July 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 28-1 to advance their Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (S. 4802) which serves as a strong leverage point for negotiations with the House. This version of the funding bill includes modest budget increases for federal land management agencies and does not include any of the new policy riders opposed by BHA.