Hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts have long supported robust measures to conserve our nation’s habitat and abundant fish and wildlife. Now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help restore and conserve at-risk wildlife species in Montana and across the country through the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
The legislation would bring nearly $28 million annually to the state of Montana to help at-risk wildlife species through restoration and habitat improvement projects. These key investments will benefit hundreds of species, including the game we love to hunt.
The legislation has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support and now awaits approval in the Senate. With Senator Tester already a champion of the bill, we need YOUR help to urge Senator Daines to support RAWA to help conserve our fish and wildlife for current and future generations.
Take action NOW to tell Senator Daines to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act!
Today, the Montana Wildlife Federation applauded President Biden’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act, marking the country’s most significant investment ever to combat the impacts of climate change. The landmark bill included many provisions that will bring much-needed investments across the West, including to Native communities, to boost landscape resiliency, clean energy jobs, and protect taxpayers by reforming antiquated energy policies.
“Passage of the IRA marks a historic moment for the future of Montana’s people, landscape, and our fish and wildlife,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director for the Montana Wildlife Federation. “Climate change is impacting species and their habitat across the West, and affecting some of the sporting community’s most cherished opportunities that people depend on for their way of life. This historic legislation will help preserve our outdoor heritage while boosting the economy and helping the U.S. transition to a clean energy future.”
Key policy reforms within the bill included changes to the outdated federal oil and gas leasing system, which has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars in revenue because of antiquated policies. Most noteworthy was an increase of royalty rates for federal lands leasing and the elimination of noncompetitive leasing, a loophole that has been exploited by oil and gas companies for decades to scoop up federal lands that have little to no potential for actual development.
“For too long, oil and gas companies have used loopholes in the system to boost their bottom line, without any plans to develop leases and provide a fair return to taxpayers for the use of public lands,” said Szollosi. “The increase in royalty rates and elimination of noncompetitive leasing is a key step forward in protecting taxpayers and also ensuring that our public lands are managed for their outstanding wildlife and recreation values.”
Szollosi also applauded senior Senator Jon Tester for his work to pass the bill in the U.S. Senate, while expressing disappointment in Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale for opposing the legislation: “Senator Tester has been a stalwart champion for fish, wildlife and public lands, and his work to ensure that Montana receives the key investments from the bill is no exception. We’re disappointed that Senator Daines and Congressman Rosendale decided to put partisan politics ahead of securing a healthy future for Montana residents, fish and wildlife.”
Montana’s public lands, open spaces, and abundant wildlife are the staple of communities across the state. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking, or having access to parks, trailheads, or places to recreate, Senator Jon Tester has been a leader in securing critical investments that will protect Montanans’ way of life for future generations and confront the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. MWF and other conservation organizations applaud his leadership and the many victories he has helped achieve for public lands and wildlife.
Senator Tester’s unwavering leadership to pass The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) in 2020 was recognized widely by Montanans and considered to be the most significant conservation legislation passed in the last fifty years. The full and dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and investments for our National Parks have already benefited Montana communities.
Following the successful passage of the GAOA, Senator Tester worked across the aisle to pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which was signed into law in November 2021. The legislation brings critical investments to Montana’s bridges, highways, public lands, and rural communities and also includes funding to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions along transportation corridors.
The Senator’s leadership on local collaborative conservation has also been recognized through his sponsorship of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, legislation that would protect high-quality public lands and fish and wildlife habitat in the Blackfoot and Clearwater Valleys. The bill has enjoyed robust support from ranchers, outfitters, business owners and conservation groups since he originally introduced the bill for the first time in 2017.
Even now, Senator Tester continues to support needed investments in conservation through co-sponsoring the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which aims to help restore at-risk wildlife species across the nation. The bill allows state and tribal wildlife agencies to invest $27 million in shovel-ready projects here in Montana to restore our grasslands, forests, and riparian areas so that our wildlife can survive and thrive, while also helping prevent species from being listed under the Endangered Species Act.
We thank Senator Tester for continuing to be a champion of public lands and conservation, and MWF will continue to work with him and all elected officials in support of policies that help protect Montana families, communities, and businesses, fuel our outdoor economy and maintain the values that make Montana the Last Best Place.
Senator Tester was awarded by Montana conservation organizations for his leadership on defending the Land and Water Conservation Fund (2018).
Many people have never heard of two of the most important conservation laws of the 20th century: the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act of 1950. But hunters and anglers know these laws well, since they have provided the foundation for game and sportfish conservation for decades. Under P-R and D-J (as the laws are known), the federal excise taxes on guns, ammunition, archery equipment, and fishing gear are dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife and providing access for the public to enjoy the resources. These dollars are kept out of the federal budget, helping ensure that wildlife management avoids the dysfunction that plagues our political system.
Passage of the Pittman-Robertson Act was one of the National Wildlife Federation’s first major accomplishments, and the Montana Wildlife Federation was there from day one. We also helped pass Dingell-Johnson Act as well.
Just like the hunting license model at the state level, Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson embody a “user-pays” system in which hunters and anglers finance wildlife management. Over the last 80+ years, these programs have provided the foundation for the recovery and management of our most treasured game and sportfish species. From mule deer to pronghorn to cutthroat trout – animals that were on the brink of extinction a century ago are now abundant.
While many hunters and anglers know that their excise tax dollars go into Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson, the programs are not well known to the general public. In addition, because Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson are funded by taxes on hunters and anglers, Americans who don’t hunt and fish aren’t contributing to the program’s work to protect our wildlife heritage. Hunters and anglers are shouldering almost the entire burden of funding wildlife management. While most of us are glad to do so, we can’t do it alone – and we shouldn’t have to.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (HR 3742) would build upon – and expand – the success of this model by dedicating $1.4 billion of federal funding to conserve at-risk species, which are primarily the non-game fish and wildlife that currently lack adequate funding. This bold legislation presents an opportunity to build the “third leg” of the American wildlife conservation funding system: providing a way for all Americans to support wildlife conservation alongside hunters and anglers.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is the direct result of a recommendation from a Blue Ribbon Panel that included leaders from hunting organizations, other conservation groups, wildlife agencies, businesses, and even the oil and gas industry. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would see more than $29 million in new funding as a result of this program.
If conservationists, wildlife managers, the oil and gas industry, and outdoor businesses can find common ground, our political leaders should be able to take action to adopt their recommendations. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was introduced by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) and 60 cosponsors of both parties. That unprecedented about of bipartisan support speaks to how important this issue is.
We need to act now to carry the legacy of Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson into the next century and enact dedicated funding to prevent all of our wildlife from becoming endangered.
There is a disease coming to Montana that could decimate one of Montana’s most charismatic and economically important animals. But it is an animal that is misunderstood by many and not fully understood by biologists. Hibernating bats can be affected by White Nose Syndrome (WNS) and millions of bats across North America have been killed by the disease. WNS is caused by a fungus that grows in dark, damp and cool places. Places such as caves, which happen to be one of the favorite places of some bat species. WNS was first detected in 2006 in upstate New York and has spread west in the following years.
WNS has not arrived in Montana yet but most scientists agree it is only a matter of time before it arrives. Scientists from the state have been working hard for nearly 10 years trying to understand the life cycle and habits of bats across the state. With a better understanding of these things, scientists can truly gauge the impact of WNS on Montana’s bats and make informed management decisions that may impact bats.
As a caver, I have been very fortunate to assist state and federal scientists and land managers access bat hibernacula and roosts in caves. During the winter biologists from the Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have been trying to determine the places where bats hibernate and increase their understanding of the lives bats lead. During the spring, biologists enter caves to monitor bat hibernacula and test bats for the fungus that causes WNS.
Recently, I asked my friend and fellow caver Lauri Hanauska-Brown (the Non-Game Wildlife Management Bureau chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks), what is one thing that would really help bats? The answer she gave was much simpler than I anticipated. She said bats and other non-game wildlife would really benefit from a dedicated source of funding to prevent them from becoming endangered. The best way to get that funding she told me, would be for Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would secure almost $30 million annually to the state of Montana for conservation actions targeted at bats and hundreds of other Montana species. This money could make a large impact on the programs that are helping biologists understand bats and hopefully help them weather the coming storm.
As a caver and bat enthusiast, I am asking that you help me protect bats and other non-game species by sending a message to our congressional delegation and ask them to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
By MWF Member and Engagement Coordinator Zach Angstead.
Jeff Lukas
Elk Campaign Manager
Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.
