What’s IN vs. OUT of the Omnibus for Wildlife
The United States Congress released the details of its 2022 omnibus spending bill earlier this week. Here's the good and bad news for biodiversity:
Bad News First
The bill does not include the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. RAWA is the single best measure to invest in on-the-ground local biodiversity conservation efforts across the United States.
Nor does the omnibus provide necessary increases in funding for our land and wildlife management agencies.
“Right after 190 other countries around the globe made a commitment to protecting biodiversity, the United States passed up the opportunity to demonstrate real leadership on this issue," said Wildlands Network Executive Director Katie Davis. "We should be focused on proactive solutions; instead Congress opted to provide just enough money to maintain the flawed status quo.”
On the Bright Side
Congress did include $2.5 million in funding for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a critical linkage for California wildlife, including imperiled populations of mountain lions. Kudos to the National Wildlife Federation and Representative Ted Lieu for their leadership in moving this forward!
The bill also contains funding for natural disaster response and preparedness. While this is needed, it doesn’t address the underlying causes of these issues, nor does it fund the structural shifts we need to sustain nature nationwide.
Wildlands Network is committed to pushing forward proactive, solutions-oriented government policy and funding proposals to address the biodiversity crisis. We believe government investment and action are paramount for a vibrant future. Join us as we continue to push for meaningful change in 2023!
