Larsen votes to protect Washington state’s environment

Secures $21+ Million to Support Washington’s State Wildlife Action Plan

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), bipartisan legislation that invests $1.3 billion to assist states, territories and Tribes in conserving, restoring and protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat. In passing RAWA, Larsen secured more than $21 million for Washington state to help manage fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need. RAWA passed the House by a final vote of 231 to 190 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“A healthy environment is vital to Northwest Washington’s way of life, economy and wildlife,” said Larsen. “This bipartisan bill delivers critical resources to support local efforts to protect endangered species, make wildlife conservation more effective, boost Washington’s outdoor economy and combat climate change.” 

Washington state and other states, territories and Tribal governments carry out most wildlife management and conservation through State Wildlife Action Plans, but these plans rely on consistent federal funding. Current federal funding sources, like the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Act, are inadequate. 

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: 

·         Provides Tribes critical funding for wildlife conservation. RAWA provides a $97.5 million annual non-competitive Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration grant program to assist Tribes in carrying out wildlife conservation and habitat restoration efforts. 

·         Protects threatened and endangered species. At least 15 percent of RAWA funding must be spent on species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act or are considered threatened or endangered under Tribal law, including Southern Resident killer whales. 

·         Makes wildlife conservation more effective and cost-efficient. RAWA funding helps states, territories and Tribes put conservation measures in place for species before they become threatened or endangered, making species protection less difficult and less costly. RAWA will also provide much-needed funding for non-hunted species. 

·         Addresses climate change by building more resilient ecosystems. State Wildlife Action Plans often include habitat restoration projects (e.g., removing invasive species, fighting wildlife disease) that simultaneously benefit forest, watershed and coastal health. These improvements help make ecosystems more resilient to severe weather events caused by climate change, including wildfires, hurricanes and drought. 

·         Boosts the outdoor economy. By supporting wildlife conservation, RAWA funds boost the $887 billion U.S. outdoor economy, which already supports over 7.6 million jobs nationwide, including more than 113,900 jobs in Washington state. A portion of RAWA funds also support wildlife education. 

As co-chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, Larsen is fighting to protect important species like orcas and salmon and oppose rollbacks of vital conservation laws like the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Last year, Larsen introduced the bipartisan Protecting Our Marine Mammals Act to protect marine mammals nationwide, including Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound. 

For a summary of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, click here.