SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Senator Alex Padilla 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 Howard Penn, executive director of the Planning and Conservation League. “We thank Senator Padilla 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 will send $59 million to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which the agency will use to implement its wildlife action plan. More than 1100 local species would benefit – including condors, California red-legged frogs and bighorn sheep. 

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

At least 15 percent of the funds will be used to help species already designated as endangered or threatened. Federally recognized tribal nations, such as the Blue Lake Rancheria and the Hoopa Valley Tribe, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on tribal lands. 

Currently 16 California members of the House of Representatives are among the 119 bipartisan supporters of the House version of the legislation. 

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all Americans. We hope Senator Feinstein and the rest of the California delegation will join Senator Padilla in cosponsoring this commonsense bill,” said Penn.