Overview
Title
To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 9776 is a plan to help animals move safely between different homes in nature, so they don't get trapped or hurt by things like roads and buildings. It involves working together with lots of different groups to make sure animals can travel safely.
Summary AI
H.R. 9776, titled the "Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024," aims to conserve wildlife corridors and improve connectivity between habitats in the United States. It acknowledges the decline of many species due to habitat fragmentation and climate change, and promotes partnerships with federal, state, Tribal, and local governments, as well as private landowners, to protect and restore these vital connections. The bill establishes programs for mapping habitats, creating grants to support conservation on non-federal lands, and includes a focus on Tribal wildlife corridors. Funding is authorized for these efforts starting in fiscal year 2026.
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AnalysisAI
The recent bill introduced in the United States Congress seeks to enhance the conservation of wildlife corridors and improve habitat connectivity. These efforts are vital for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the survival of various plant and animal species. This bill, named H.R. 9776, is a comprehensive attempt to address environmental challenges such as habitat loss, climate change, and ecosystem fragmentation that threaten wildlife in the U.S.
General Summary
The bill's main objective is to establish a robust framework to map, designate, and manage wildlife corridors, ensuring the safe movement of wildlife across fragmented habitats. This involves creating partnerships among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, as well as private landowners and non-governmental organizations. Key aspects include a grant program for non-federal lands, scientific research to guide corridor management, and specific provisions for tribal wildlife corridors.
Summary of Significant Issues
One notable concern surrounding the bill is its lack of detailed oversight mechanisms and auditing processes to ensure funds are used appropriately. Without such measures, there is a risk of mismanagement or misuse of resources.
Additionally, the bill assumes recurring appropriations, meaning funds are allocated annually without defined limits or a sunset provision. This could potentially lead to indefinite spending without thorough periodic review.
Another critical issue is related to transparency. The exemption from the Freedom of Information Act for certain tribal information could reduce public visibility into how these resources are managed.
The bill also encompasses complex and technical language, making it potentially challenging for the general public to fully understand its content and implications. There is a need for clearer explanations to ensure the intended effects are communicated effectively.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The enactment of this bill could have profound effects on biodiversity conservation efforts across the United States. By promoting habitat connectivity and enhancing existing infrastructure, the bill aims to improve the resilience of wildlife populations to environmental changes. Public safety could also benefit from reduced wildlife-related road accidents if these corridors effectively guide animal movements.
However, the absence of specific oversight and performance metrics may lead to inefficiencies, reducing the potential positive impacts. Furthermore, ongoing financial commitments without a clear plan for evaluating success might burden taxpayers without delivering proportional environmental benefits.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Conservation Groups and Scientists: These stakeholders are likely to see the bill as a positive step in preserving the nation's natural heritage. The emphasis on collaboration and scientific research aligns with conservation goals to protect and manage ecosystems effectively.
Tribal Communities: The bill provides opportunities for tribes to establish dedicated wildlife corridors, which supports their sovereignty and traditional ecological knowledge. However, the discretion to withhold information due to FOIA exemptions might create concerns about transparency.
Private Landowners: The bill encourages voluntary participation through partnerships but lacks detailed guidelines on how private interests will be managed or compensated, posing potential uncertainties.
Government Agencies: Agencies at various levels may find themselves with increased responsibilities to coordinate and implement corridor initiatives. Yet, the technical requirements and broad guidelines could pose operational challenges if not adequately planned.
In conclusion, while the bill has noble intentions to enhance wildlife conservation and connectivity, it requires careful balancing of transparency, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement to achieve tangible and equitable outcomes.
Financial Assessment
The "Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024," known as H.R. 9776, involves several financial commitments and appropriations to support the conservation and enhancement of wildlife corridors across the United States.
Financial Summary
The bill authorizes significant funding spread across various sections and titles, which will take effect starting in the fiscal year 2026. Specifically:
- $5,000,000 is authorized annually to the Secretary of the Interior for science and mapping of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas (Title I).
- For Title II, which involves collaboration, partnership, and conservation on federal land and water, the appropriations for each fiscal year are:
- $20,000,000 to the Secretary of the Interior
- $18,000,000 to the Secretary of Transportation
- $10,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture
- $9,000,000 to the Secretary of Commerce
- $3,000,000 to the Secretary of Defense
- The bill allocates $50,000,000 per year to support Tribal wildlife corridors (Title III).
- Additionally, $75,000,000 is authorized annually for a grant program aimed at improving wildlife corridors on non-Federal land and water (Title IV). Notably, at least 10% of these funds must be used for projects directly conserving, restoring, or enhancing big game migration corridors or seasonal habitat.
Analysis in Relation to Identified Issues
A critical concern is the absence of specified mechanisms for oversight and auditing processes to ensure that the funds are used appropriately and effectively. Without clear guidelines, there could be a risk of financial mismanagement or misuse, which aligns with the issue identified around potential ambiguities in expenditure control (Issues 1).
The appropriations are set to recur annually beyond 2026 with no specified endpoint or sunset clause. This indefinite nature of funding raises concerns about ongoing commitments without mandatory periodic reviews or assessments, which may lead to unchecked or perpetual spending (Issues 5).
The complexity and bureaucracy introduced by the requirement for consultation and recommendations from various committees could slow the process of grant allocation. This method may hinder the timely distribution of funds and potentially add layers of administrative processes that could consume financial and human resources (Issues 4).
Furthermore, the bill doesn't provide specific funding sources or mechanisms for the initiatives proposed, leading to potential uncertainties in securing and managing these financial resources. This lack of clarity can complicate the implementation and continuation of the proposed activities (Issues 8).
Overall, while H.R. 9776 specifies considerable financial investments in conserving wildlife corridors, the structure for financial management and oversight requires more detailed attention to avoid potential administrative inefficiencies or financial misdirection. The absence of performance indicators also makes it difficult to measure the efficacy of the allocated funds and the success of the initiatives (Issues 1, 7).
Issues
The bill lacks specific details on the oversight and auditing processes to ensure that funds are used appropriately and goals are met, potentially leading to mismanagement or misuse of funds (Sections 1, 3, 101, 201, 202, 203, 204, 401, 501).
There is potential ambiguity in the term 'Indian land,' which lacks specificity about what constitutes restrictions, possibly leading to legal challenges or interpretations (Section 3).
The exemption from the Freedom of Information Act in Section 301 could raise concerns about transparency, as it allows significant discretion in withholding information.
Criteria for awarding grants require consultation and recommendations from several committees, which might slow down the process and introduce bureaucracy (Section 401).
The appropriations for wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas are recurrent for each fiscal year after 2026 without defined limits or sunset provisions, potentially leading to indefinite spending without periodic review (Section 501).
The provision of meaningful consultation for the expansion of Tribal Wildlife Corridors into public lands could benefit from further definition to ensure transparency and thoroughness (Section 301).
No specific metrics or performance indicators are provided to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated wildlife corridors, potentially leading to difficulties in measuring the success of the initiative (Sections 101, 201, 204).
The text lacks specific funding sources for many initiatives, which could lead to uncertainty or problems in implementation (Sections 2, 201, 301, 401).
The language used throughout is technical and complex, which may be challenging for a general audience to fully understand, necessitating further explanation or context to ensure transparency and public understanding (Sections 1, 2, 101, 201).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title; table of contents Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024 lays out the framework for enhancing wildlife connectivity through a series of titles that include establishing a mapping program for wildlife corridors, designating American and tribal wildlife corridors, managing resources through partnerships, and creating a grant program to support wildlife corridors on non-federal lands. Additionally, it authorizes funding to implement these measures.
2. Findings and purposes Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress highlights the importance of preserving native species and their habitats, which are threatened by factors like habitat loss and climate change. The Act aims to enhance habitat connectivity, support biodiversity, and facilitate coordinated conservation efforts across various jurisdictions.
3. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text defines various terms used in a legislative bill, such as “Collaborative Partnership,” “Habitat Connectivity,” and “Indian Tribe.” Each term is explained to clarify its meaning within the context of the bill, covering aspects like government partnerships, land areas for wildlife, and roles of different Secretaries in the U.S. government.
101. Program establishment Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program for mapping and studying habitat connectivity areas to support wildlife movement and conservation efforts. This involves collaborating with various agencies and organizations, utilizing technology, publishing maps, and conducting research on environmental impacts and new mapping methods, while protecting sensitive information.
201. Designation of American wildlife corridors Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines a process for designating and managing American wildlife corridors. It specifies that state, Tribal, local governments, collaborative partnerships, and a Coordinating Committee can nominate areas, and the Secretaries will review these nominations using certain criteria to prioritize habitats that preserve wildlife connectivity and support conservation efforts.
202. Management of American wildlife corridors Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines how U.S. Secretaries should manage wildlife corridors to help fish and wildlife thrive by maintaining and improving habitat connectivity, limiting disruptive human activities, and collaborating with various governmental agencies. They must create plans within two years to update relevant documents, revise land management plans, coordinate activities across multiple jurisdictions, address road impacts on wildlife, and report to Congress every five years on their progress and ongoing challenges.
203. Resource sharing and coordination Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines plans for collaboration among government agencies, nonprofits, private landowners, and other stakeholders to manage and conserve natural habitats. It establishes roles for coordinators, describes the entities involved, and highlights the importance of resource sharing and consultation with various groups to achieve the Act's goals.
204. Coordinating Committee Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines the creation of a Coordinating Committee by the Secretaries within 180 days after the law is enacted. This committee will develop a strategy within a year to nominate and support American wildlife corridors, ensure consistency with various government levels in conserving these areas, and educate the public about their benefits.
205. Effect Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section clarifies that states and Indian Tribes maintain their authority over fish and wildlife management in wildlife corridors and prohibits seizing private property or restricting its use without the owner's consent. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense can waive certain requirements for military installations if needed for military readiness, with public notification unless it's a national security risk.
301. Tribal Wildlife Corridors Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes guidelines for Indian Tribes to nominate areas as Tribal Wildlife Corridors to improve habitat connectivity. It outlines the nomination process, criteria for selection, and the role of the Secretary of the Interior, while also ensuring the protection of sensitive information and respecting tribal sovereignty and consent.
401. Wildlife corridor grant program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes a wildlife corridor grant program managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which gives grants to eligible entities, like private landowners and governmental agencies, to improve animal habitats and migration paths on non-Federal lands. It also details administrative cost limits, procedures for accepting donations, and annual project reporting requirements.
501. Authorization of appropriations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section authorizes funding for various wildlife corridor and habitat connectivity projects starting in fiscal year 2026, with specific amounts allocated annually to different federal departments, including $5 million for science, $60 million in total for partnerships, $50 million for tribal corridors, and $75 million for non-federal land projects, with a portion reserved for big game migration.
Money References
- (a) Science and mapping of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out title I $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
- (b) Collaboration, partnership, and conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas on federal land and water.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter— (1) to the Secretary of the Interior, $20,000,000; (2) to the Secretary of Transportation, $18,000,000; (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture, $10,000,000; (4) to the Secretary of Commerce, $9,000,000; and (5) to the Secretary of Defense, $3,000,000.
- (c) Tribal wildlife corridors.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title III $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
- (d) Wildlife corridor grant program on non-Federal land and water.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out title IV $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.