WASHINGTON — The National Wildlife Federation has joined over 170 wildlife,  environmental, and agriculture groups in sending a letter today to leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees in support of the American Prairie Conservation Act (S. 1913, H.R. 3939). The bill would protect native prairies across the country through a nationwide “sodsaver” provision. This provision would limit taxpayer funded crop insurance subsidies on native grasslands that are converted to crop production. The groups are encouraging the inclusion of this provision in the 2018 Farm Bill.

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

“America’s prairies are one of our most precious endangered ecosystems. We urge the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to include the American Prairie Conservation Act in the next Farm Bill as a vehicle to protect essential habitat for monarch butterflies, ducks, pheasants, raptors, songbirds, and pollinators. This letter demonstrates the strong support of diverse stakeholders for this common-sense, bipartisan bill to conserve one of America’s most iconic American landscapes and the hundreds of species that call it home.”

The full letter to the leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees can be found here.