Congressional negotiators have reached agreement on a spending bill that includes funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an extension of key renewable energy tax credits, and lifts the crude oil export ban.

Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

“Congress deserves credit for reaching a bipartisan budget deal that’s largely clean of anti-environmental riders, extends key clean energy tax credits, and makes permanent land conservation tax incentives. Unfortunately the package includes reversing the four decade policy of preventing U.S. crude oil exports without mitigating the impacts for wildlife and the million acres of wildlife habitat that will be impacted by additional drilling. With wildlife already facing the triple threat of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, the impacts from the export deal must be remedied with meaningful action in the months and years ahead. When it gets back to work, Congress has much to do to better protect and help recover America’s wildlife.”

Congress’ agenda for 2016 must include:

Passing bipartisan legislation to keep wildfire fighting from decimating the forest service budget and improve management practices for the benefit of wildlife and communities.
Passing bipartisan reform of the Toxic Control Substances Act to reduce threats to wildlife from unsafe chemicals.
Passing bipartisan legislation that secures $1.3 billion in dedicated funding for wildlife conservation so we can recover at-risk non-game species and reduce the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act.
Passing bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund and ensure that it is fully funded at $900 million.