RENO — Senator Jacky Rosen has signed onto a bipartisan wildlife conservation bill, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, that will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to locally-led efforts to help at-risk wildlife species nationwide. 

“We’re facing a looming wildlife crisis, and this is the most important piece of wildlife legislation  in the past fifty years,” said Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “We thank Senator Rosen for co-sponsoring this fiscally responsible effort to help at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures across every state, territory and Tribal nation.”

The bill would send $25 million to the Nevada Department of Wildlife which the agency will use to implement its wildlife action plan. The plan identifies 247 priority species, including the desert tortoise, golden eagle and Lahontan cutthroat trout.

“We are appreciative of Senator Rosen’s support for this historic legislation,” said Alan Jenne, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “Wildlife is integral to our way of life in Nevada, and this bill allows us to implement common sense conservation actions to proactively support at-risk species.”

A similar bill passed the House last session, with support from Representatives Horsford, Lee, and Titus. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto also cosponsored a Senate version last session. It passed out of committee but never received a floor vote, despite having 47 bipartisan cosponsors.

“Saving the thousands of at-risk wildlife species will require bold, bipartisan leadership,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are so grateful to Senator Rosen for leading the way on the historic Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill will have an immediate impact – saving species, creating jobs and protecting our way of life in Nevada and all across the country.”

Federally recognized tribal nations, including Nevada’s seventeen nations such as the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada and the Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation, Nevada, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on the lands they manage.

"Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all Americans. During the last Congress, Senator Cortez Masto was a cosponsor of this bill and we look forward to her support and joining Senator Rosen in cosponsoring this commonsense bill. We urge the rest of the Nevada delegation to follow both Senators and help get this legislation across the finish line. ” said Kuhlman.