PORTLAND, OR — Senator Ron Wyden 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.

The bill passed the House on a bipartisan vote in June. The Senate bill now has 42 cosponsors overall, including 16 Republicans. 

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

The bill would send $24.8 million to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife which the agency will use to implement its wildlife action plan. The plan identifies 294 priority species, including the red-legged frog, western meadowlark and Chinook salmon. 

Curt Melcher, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife added, “From my perspective, passing this bill would be the most significant moment in fish and wildlife conservation in the United States this century. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would allow us to fully implement the Oregon Conservation Strategy and truly begin to address species conservation proactively instead of the reactive, emergency approach.”

Federally recognized tribal nations, including the nine tribes in Oregon, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on the lands they manage. 

Representatives Blumenauer, Bonamici, Defazio and Schrader are among the more than 230 representatives who voted to pass the House version of the legislation.