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Policy News

New Report Details Looming U.S. Wildlife Crisis

America harbors a remarkable array of fish and wildlife, yet many are in serious trouble and up to one-third of U.S. species are at increased risk of extinction. Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, and pollution all pose threats to our wildlife—threats that are being amplified by a rapidly changing climate. Reversing America’s Wildlife... Read More

Bipartisan Support for RAWA Grows as 36 Lawmakers Co-Sponsor Bill

36 U.S. lawmakers signed on to support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) this past week. AFS Executive Director Doug Austen made the rounds with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on Capitol Hill. They met with Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Gene Green (D-Tex.) to secure sponsors for... Read More

World Water Day Brings Good News on Clean Water Rule (WOTUS)

On this World Water Day, AFS learned that a troubling policy rider related to the Clean Water Rule was removed from the Omnibus budget bill for Fiscal Year 2018.  The rider would have allowed EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule without following the Administrative Procedures Act. That means the agencies could ignore public... Read More

President’s Budget Eliminates Funding for Cooperative Units

President Trump’s 2019 budget proposes to slash funding for the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program (CRU), which would eliminate 40 units in 38 states that are highly valued by fish and wildlife professionals. Be the voice for fish! Call your members of Congress today and tell them that you support the work of the Cooperative... Read More

Senate Commerce Committee to Consider Modern Fish Act

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Wednesday, February 28, at 10:00 a.m. to consider S. 1520, Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 and a number of nominations. Sponsors of the Modern Fish Act include Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Deb Fisher (R-Neb.), Jim Inhofe... Read More

Hearing Held on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

AFS is proud to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). The congressional hearing on February 15 was a great step toward advancing this important legislation to provide state fish and wildlife agencies with the resources they need to conduct proactive conservation and to reverse species population declines. Witness Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation... Read More

State Wildlife Action Plan Success Story: The Guadalupe Bass

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) will secure $1.3 billion annually for state fish and wildlife agencies to undertake significant, proactive conservation of imperiled species. This will provide dedicated funding for State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), which assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to prevent... Read More