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House Approves Historic Investments in Wildlife, Resilience, Clean Energy

President’s Leadership Brought People Together to Secure Landmark Investments in Climate, Clean Energy Solutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Build Back Better Act is a critical milestone in securing the largest legislative investments in policies and programs since the New Deal that will create jobs, strengthen community resilience, address environmental injustices, slow climate change, and recover wildlife. 

“The Build Back Better Act will be the largest investment ever in climate action, natural resource restoration, community resilience and revitalization, clean water and air, and good-paying jobs since the New Deal. We thank President Biden and Speaker Pelosi for uniting the caucus to secure historic victories for people and wildlife alike,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “From the unprecedented investments in restoring our natural resources and establishing a Civilian Climate Corps to the expansion of domestic manufacturing and deployment of cleaner energy, transportation, and materials, these investments will help us achieve the promise of a clean energy future that leaves no community behind.”

The Build Back Better Act includes a range of provisions and investments that will benefit people and wildlife alike, including:

  • $555 billion for clean energy and climate solutions across the building, transportation, industrial, power, and other sectors 
  • More than $27 billion for on-farm conservation and U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs, which will enable farmers, ranchers, and foresters to sequester carbon and reduce emissions on working lands
  • $6 billion for conservation, restoration, and protection of coastal and marine habitats and resources, including fisheries, to enable coastal communities to prepare for extreme storms and other changing climate conditions as well as for projects that support natural resources that sustain coastal and marine resource dependent communities 
  • Over $2 billion to improve wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, including $225 million to help families struggling to afford water and wastewater bills and nearly $2 billion to help local communities address stormwater and wastewater overflows that pollute local waters
  • $9 billion for replacement of lead water service lines and $970 million for lead service line replacement in rural areas
  • $200 million to recover endangered and threatened species
  • $40 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grasslands restoration
  • $10 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners to conduct wildlife corridor mapping and conservation
  • $250 million for restoration and resilience work in national wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas
  • Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from development that threatened pristine wildlife habitat and lands essential for the Gwich'in people
  • $50 million for non-lethal tools to reduce conflicts between people and livestock, and predators and other wildlife, on national forests and grasslands
  • Support for updating nationwide flood maps, which will support planning efforts to guide smart growth and disaster recovery, keeping development out of flood prone areas
  • $570 million across agencies for efforts to facilitate environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act
  • $2.5 billion for the Urban and Community Forest Assistance program, which will increase tree canopy in underserved communities, providing a wide array of climate and co-benefits
  • $3 billion in Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants to support clean air, climate resilience, and adaptation projects in disadvantaged communities 
  • Reforming oil and gas leasing by increasing royalty and rental rates, levying new inspection and conservation fees as well as fees for idled oil and gas wells, and eliminating noncompetitive leasing
  • $27 billion for federal, state, and Tribal forests to support programs that improve wildfire response, wildfire prevention, protect old-growth stands, and restore forests by planting trees across the country

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More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

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