[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9776 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9776
To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat
connectivity, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2024
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Lofgren)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture,
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat
connectivity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Corridors
and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT
CONNECTIVITY
Sec. 101. Program establishment.
TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
Sec. 201. Designation of American wildlife corridors.
Sec. 202. Management of American wildlife corridors.
Sec. 203. Resource sharing and coordination.
Sec. 204. Coordinating Committee.
Sec. 205. Effect.
TITLE III--TRIBAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
Sec. 301. Tribal Wildlife Corridors.
TITLE IV--WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM ON NON-FEDERAL LAND AND WATER
Sec. 401. Wildlife corridor grant program.
TITLE V-- FUNDING
Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the
United States are part of a rich natural heritage and an
important legacy to pass on to future generations;
(2) the populations of many native fish, wildlife, and
plant species in the United States are in decline;
(3) scientists estimate that, in the United States, 34
percent of plants and 40 percent of animals are at risk of
extinction and 41 percent of ecosystems are at risk of range-
wide collapse;
(4) threats to the survival and diversity of many native
fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States include
the loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstruction of
natural habitats;
(5) habitat fragmentation reduces native biodiversity by up
to 75 percent and impairs key ecosystem functions;
(6) climate change threatens native fish, wildlife, and
plant species;
(7) the document published by the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
titled ``Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem
services'' (2019) found that--
(A) 1,000,000 wildlife and plant species worldwide
are now threatened with extinction; and
(B) 75 percent of the land-based environment, and
approximately 66 percent of the marine environment,
have been significantly altered by human actions;
(8) the conservation of new and existing landscape and
seascape corridors, through which native species can transition
from 1 habitat to another, plays an important role in helping--
(A) to conserve native biodiversity; and
(B) to ensure resiliency against impacts from a
range of biotic and abiotic stressors;
(9) the conservation, restoration, and establishment of new
ecological connections to facilitate the movement of species
into more suitable habitats is a key climate change adaptation
strategy;
(10) the protection of new and existing corridors is often
1 of the first steps in restoration and recovery planning;
(11) States have recognized the importance of habitat
connectivity, including through--
(A) at least 83 pieces of State legislation passed
in 20 States since 2019, which have supported actions
including identification of wildlife corridors and
coordination of State agencies, Tribes, non-
governmental organizations, and other partners to
address habitat connectivity issues;
(B) a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian
Premiers' Conference on the importance of connectivity
for ecosystem adaptability and resilience,
biodiversity, and human communities; and
(C) a Western Governors' Association policy
resolution;
(12) the document published by the Council on Environmental
Quality titled ``Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies
on Ecological Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors'' (March 21,
2023) acknowledges that ``connectivity is vital to ecosystem
health and functions'' and ``it is significant to humans as
well and supports the strong cultural and spiritual connections
that communities have to nature'';
(13) Federal and State agencies continue to develop
policies to address--
(A) the importance of conserving fish, wildlife,
and plant corridors;
(B) the gap between science and management for at-
risk species; and
(C) ecological connectivity; and
(14) Federal policies consistently recognize the importance
of voluntary improvement projects by private landowners to
habitat conservation and restoration for native species.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to support a diverse array of fish and wildlife,
including species conserved under Federal, State, and Tribal
law, that have experienced or may experience habitat loss,
degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction to habitat
connectivity;
(2) to provide long-term habitat connectivity for fish and
wildlife migration, dispersal, genetic exchange, and adaptation
to climate and other environmental change;
(3) to restore fish and wildlife movements that have been
disrupted by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or
obstruction;
(4) to facilitate coordinated landscape- and seascape-scale
connectivity planning and management across jurisdictions; and
(5) to support in prioritizing, establishing, and managing
wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Collaborative partnership.--The term ``collaborative
partnership'' means a collaborative partnership established
under section 203(a).
(2) Coordinating committee.--The term ``Coordinating
Committee'' means Coordinating Committee established under
section 204(a).
(3) American wildlife corridor.--The term ``American
wildlife corridor'' means a corridor designated by the
Secretary concerned under section 201(b).
(4) Habitat.--The term ``habitat'' means land, water, and
substrate necessary at any time during the life cycle of fish
and wildlife for spawning, breeding, feeding, growth to
maturity, or migration.
(5) Habitat connectivity.--The term ``habitat
connectivity'' means the degree to which the landscape
(including terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic habitats) or
seascape facilitates fish and wildlife movement.
(6) Habitat connectivity area.--The term ``habitat
connectivity area'' means an identified, distinct component of
the natural world in the United States that provides habitat
connectivity, a migration route, seasonal habitat, or a
dispersal area to a native species.
(7) Indian land.--The term ``Indian land'' means land of an
Indian Tribe, or an Indian individual, that is--
(A) held in trust by the United States; or
(B) subject to a restriction against alienation
imposed by the United States.
(8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(9) Military installation.--The term ``military
installation'' has the meaning given the term in section 100 of
the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670), and includes military off-shore
range complexes and off-shore operating areas.
(10) Regional ocean partnership.--The term ``regional ocean
partnership'' means a regional organization of coastal or Great
Lakes States, territories, or possessions voluntarily convened
by Governors to address cross-jurisdictional ocean matters, or
the functional equivalent of such a regional ocean organization
designated by the Governor or Governors of a State or States.
(11) Secretary concerned.--
(A) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary
concerned'' means the Secretary with applicable
jurisdiction from among the following:
(i) The Secretary of the Interior.
(ii) The Secretary of Transportation.
(iii) The Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(iv) The Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(v) The Secretary of Defense.
(B) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means
each of the Secretaries described in subparagraph (A).
(12) Tribal wildlife corridor.--The term ``Tribal wildlife
corridor'' means a corridor established by the Secretary under
section 301.
(13) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used
in a geographical sense, means--
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(I) the Republic of Palau;
(J) the United States Virgin Islands; and
(K) all marine waters within the jurisdiction of
the United States.
(14) Wildlife movement.--The term ``wildlife movement''
means the passage of individual members or populations of a
native fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or
seascape.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT
CONNECTIVITY
SEC. 101. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish and maintain a
habitat connectivity area mapping and science program to carry out this
section.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to develop mapping and
science to support Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and
the public in efforts to protect habitat connectivity areas.
(c) Wildlife Movement, Migration, and Habitat Connectivity
Mapping.--
(1) Mapping efforts.--The Director shall expand and build
upon existing agency efforts to map fish and wildlife habitat
connectivity areas. Such efforts shall include working with,
incorporating data from, and sharing data between--
(A) Federal agencies;
(B) State, Tribal, and local governments;
(C) nongovernmental organizations; and
(D) academic institutions.
(2) Use of technology.--The Director shall--
(A) use new data management, visualization, and
analysis capabilities to analyze fish and wildlife
movements and delineate habitat connectivity areas; and
(B) share these capabilities with Federal, State,
local, and Tribal wildlife managers.
(3) Distribution of maps.--The Director shall develop and
make available to the public--
(A) a database of fish and wildlife habitat
connectivity areas; and
(B) maps of habitat connectivity areas and American
wildlife corridors to guide land-use planning and on-
the-ground management of fish and wildlife resources.
(4) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Director shall submit to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate
a report that--
(A) provides an assessment of existing maps, data,
models, surveys, and descriptions of habitat
connectivity areas that have been developed by--
(i) Federal, State, Tribal, and local fish
and wildlife agencies and natural heritage
programs;
(ii) nongovernmental organizations; and
(iii) industry; and
(B) identifies gaps in information about native
species wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity
areas.
(5) Proprietary interests and protected information.--In
carrying out this section, the Director shall--
(A) protect proprietary interests with respect to
confidential information and licensed data; and
(B) protect such information relating to the
habitats and ranges of specific native fish and
wildlife as the Director determines appropriate to
protect such fish and wildlife.
(d) Wildlife Movement, Migration, and Habitat Connectivity
Research.--The Director shall conduct research to help guide management
of habitat connectivity areas, including--
(1) a study to evaluate the impacts of climate change on
habitat connectivity areas and forecast how habitat
connectivity areas and American wildlife corridors may need to
shift to allow fish and wildlife to adapt;
(2) a study to quantify the effect of ongoing and planned
development on habitat connectivity areas and American wildlife
corridors;
(3) a study to develop new mapping methods to prioritize
critical wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; and
(4) a study to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to
address habitat fragmentation and mitigation barriers to fish
and wildlife movement and migration through habitat
connectivity areas.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Geological Survey.
(2) Program.--The term ``program'' means the habitat
connectivity area mapping and science program established by
the Director under subsection (a).
TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
SEC. 201. DESIGNATION OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.
(a) Nominations.--
(1) Partner agencies nominations.--State, Tribal, and local
governments and collaborative partnerships may nominate Federal
lands and waters as American wildlife corridors.
(2) Coordinating committee nominations.--The Coordinating
Committee shall, not later than 2 years after the date on which
the Coordinating Committee is established and not less
frequently than every 5 years thereafter, nominate habitat
connectivity areas to be designated as American wildlife
corridors.
(b) Designation of American Wildlife Corridors.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall review each habitat
connectivity area within the jurisdiction of the Secretaries,
giving priority to areas nominated under subsection (a), and
designate habitat connectivity areas as a American wildlife
corridors according to the criteria established under
subsection (d).
(2) Nominated areas.--With respect to any area for which
the Secretary concerned receives a nomination under subsection
(a), the Secretary concerned shall make a determination under
paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date on which the
Secretary concerned receives such nomination.
(c) Management of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity
Areas.--Not later than 6 months after a designation under subsection
(b), the Secretaries shall make such land use and management plans (or
revisions of existing such plans) as the Secretaries determine
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) Prioritization Criteria.--The Secretaries shall establish
criteria to determine which habitat connectivity areas to designate as
American wildlife corridors. Such criteria shall include--
(1) whether such designation is in concert with existing--
(A) Federal land and resource management plans and
the ongoing management activities for wildlife
corridors or habitat connectivity areas on Federal
lands and waters;
(B) State, Tribal, and collaborative partnership
management plans; and
(C) Tribal wildlife corridors;
(2) the use of the best available science relating to--
(A) existing fish and wildlife habitat connectivity
areas; and
(B) potential future native species habitats
connectivity areas; and
(3) whether the unit of land or water is a priority for
conservation and restoration because the area--
(A) provides habitat connectivity and supports the
persistence,