WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 18, 2024 – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, which authorizes several important conservation programs. The legislation already passed the House of Representatives and will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

The package includes reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), among other provisions.

"America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act impacts many of North America’s foundational conservation programs," said DU CEO Adam Putnam. "From national initiatives like NAWCA to regional partnerships like the Chesapeake Bay Program, this bill will strengthen our ability to conserve wetlands and other waterfowl habitat in all 50 states. Its passage indicates a strong finish for the 118th Congress, and we thank Reps. Wittman and Thompson and Sens. Carper and Capito for their leadership. We look forward to carrying this bipartisan momentum for conservation into the new year."

NAWCA is a voluntary matching grant program that leverages non-federal and federal funds for wetland restoration. Since its enactment in 1989, NAWCA has conserved almost 32 million acres and created an average of 7,500 new jobs annually. Every dollar spent by the federal government, on average, receives a $3 match from program partners like Ducks Unlimited. NAWCA grants totaling more than $2.1 billion have leveraged over $4.3 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. The ACE Act reauthorizes NAWCA at $60 million a year until 2030.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and, historically,  one of the most productive bodies of water in the world. The Chesapeake Bay program is a unique regional partnership, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whose mission is to reverse the degradation of the bay and restore its watershed and wildlife. The ACE Act reauthorizes appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million through 2030 .

The Chesapeake WILD Act is  a grant program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to support habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay region. In addition, the legislation calls on the Secretary of Interior to work with federal, state and local agencies and organizations to identify, prioritize and implement restoration activities within the watershed.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is also reauthorized under the ACE Act. NFWF leverages public funds to raise private dollars that help sustain and restore important wildlife habitat across the nation, including more than 22,100 projects since its creation in 1984.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to Follow DU’s Twitter feed – @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
 

Media Contact:
Parker Williams
(202) 621-1646
pwilliams@ducks.org