Fast Facts:

  • H.R. 5650, Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2016, was introduced by Reps. Young (R-AK) and Dingell (D-MI).
  • The bill recommends $1.3 billion be directed to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program, from existing oil and gas royalties.
  • "That is why this bill is so important. It addresses state conservation needs","said John Tomke, past president of Ducks Unlimited.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 7, 2016 - Today, Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced H.R. 5650, Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2016. This bipartisan legislation would help promote conservation efforts across the country and provide the states with important conservation dollars. The legislation calls for $1.3 billion annually in existing revenue from oil and gas royalties to be dedicated to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program. Volunteers for Ducks Unlimited sit on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, the group that provided recommendations for this legislation to Congress in March.

"Ensuring resources are accessible for state-based conservation efforts is challenging," said John Tomke, Blue Ribbon Panelist and past president of Ducks Unlimited. "That is why this bill is so important. It addresses state conservation needs while guaranteeing wildlife, habitats and our natural resources are protected and preserved for generations to come. I am proud of the work of the Blue Ribbon Panel and I would especially like to thank Congressman Young and Congresswoman Dingell for their continued dedication to conservation and for introducing this legislation."

The Blue Ribbon Panel, co-chaired by Dave Freudenthal, former Governor of Wyoming, and Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops and Wetlands America Trustee, is comprised of more than 25 business and conservation leaders dedicated to wildlife conservation. In March, the panel recommended a $1.3 billion trust fund be built from existing fees from energy companies and to have this trust implement conservation projects across the states. John Newman, John Tomke and Connie Parker are DU board members selected to sit on the Blue Ribbon Panel.

For more information and updates of the bill, click here.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.6 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Tucker Clare Nelson
(202) 347-1530
tnelson@ducks.org