BISMARCK, N.D. — Nine local and national conservation groups have purchased digital ads and a half-page print ad in the Saturday Bismarck Tribune thanking Senator Kevin Cramer for cosponsoring the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. 

The bipartisan bill will dedicate $1.4 billion annually for collaborative efforts on behalf of at-risk wildlife species. North Dakota Game and Fish will receive $14.7 million each year to help more than 110 species in need, including whooping cranes, western meadowlarks and northern pintails. 

Click to view the print ad in Saturday's paper.

“We’re facing a looming wildlife crisis, and this is the most important piece of wildlife legislation  in the past fifty years,” said John Bradley, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. “We thank Senator Cramer for co-sponsoring this fiscally responsible effort to help at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures across every state, territory and Tribal nation.” 

The Senate bill has 32 bipartisan cosponsors, including 16 Republicans. More than 160 representatives have signed onto the House version of the legislation. Senator Cramer sits on the Senate EPW committee, which could vote on the bill in early April, during National Wildlife Week. 

“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 Cramer for leading the way on the historic Recovering America’s Wildlife Act that will have an immediate impact – saving species and creating jobs in North Dakota and all across the country.”

Nationwide, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act dedicates funding to collaborative wildlife restoration efforts, largely led by the states and Tribes. Federally recognized tribal nations, such as the Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, would share $97.5 million annually.

A recent nationwide poll of nearly 1,199 likely voters found that 87 percent of likely voters supported the bill, with only 7 percent opposed. 

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all North Dakotans. We hope to see this bill make it to the President’s desk this year,” said Bradley. 

The National Wildlife Federation paid for the ads. The North Dakota Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Badlands Conservation Alliance, the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust and Audubon North Dakota participated in the campaign.