Roanoke
Eight Pointer
State Policy Chairs
I hope you’re all well. I wanted you to see the attached press release about congress passage of the ACE Act today. You’ve all answered the call and done what was necessary and more to make sure this passed. It’s time to celebrate so I encourage y’all to watch DU social media, repost, notify others, and most importantly thank your member of Congress (house and senate) for living this along!
This is a big deal! Thank you!
House passage of the ACE Act is great achievement for conservation
Package containing NAWCA reauthorization heads to President’s desk
Read release online »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 1, 2020 – The United States House of Representatives
unanimously passed the bi-partisan America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act today,
which affects many important wetland habitat and wildlife conservation programs. The
legislation, previously passed by the Senate, will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed
into law.
The package includes several important conservation measures including reauthorization of the
North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Chesapeake Watershed Investments
for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act, reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay
Program and reauthorization of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, among other
provisions.
“The passage of the ACE Act today is fantastic news for the conservation community,” said DU
CEO Adam Putnam. “In a package filled with vitally important conservation provisions, perhaps
none are more crucial to waterfowl habitat than the reauthorization of NAWCA. Thank you to all
the members of Congress who have identified the importance of conservation and worked with
DU and others to achieve one of our highest legislative priorities. We’re elated to see such game-
changing legislation pass both chambers of Congress, and we stand ready to help implement this
important piece of America’s conservation legacy once the President signs it into law.”
NAWCA is a voluntary matching grant program that leverages non-federal and federal funds for
wetland restoration. Since enactment in 1989, NAWCA has conserved more than 30 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 is the nation’s most successful wetlands conservation program. The ACE Act
reauthorizes NAWCA at $60 million a year until 2025.
The ACE Act could not have been passed by both chambers of Congress without steadfast
support from members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle. DU owes a special
thanks to members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission for their year-round
commitment to supporting policy priorities that conserve waterfowl habitat. Those members
include Sen. Martin Heinrich (NM), Sen. John Boozman (AR), Rep. Mike Thompson (CA), and
Rep. Rob Wittman (VA).
DU also thanks Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC) as well as Sen. John Barrasso (WY), Sen. Tom
Carper (DE), Rep. Rob Bishop (UT) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) for their work to guide this
important conservation legislation through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works and the House Natural Resources Committee.
In addition to NAWCA reauthorization, the ACE Act also creates or reauthorizes other
conservation programs that support waterfowl habitat in important wildlife ecosystems across the
country.
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 $90 million through 2025.
The Chesapeake WILD Act will create a grant program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to support habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay region. In addition, the Secretary of
Interior must 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 (NFWF) 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 18,600 projects since its creation in 1984.
For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to Follow DU’s Twitter feed –
@DUNews1937 – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.
I hope you’re all well. I wanted you to see the attached press release about congress passage of the ACE Act today. You’ve all answered the call and done what was necessary and more to make sure this passed. It’s time to celebrate so I encourage y’all to watch DU social media, repost, notify others, and most importantly thank your member of Congress (house and senate) for living this along!
This is a big deal! Thank you!
House passage of the ACE Act is great achievement for conservation
Package containing NAWCA reauthorization heads to President’s desk
Read release online »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 1, 2020 – The United States House of Representatives
unanimously passed the bi-partisan America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act today,
which affects many important wetland habitat and wildlife conservation programs. The
legislation, previously passed by the Senate, will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed
into law.
The package includes several important conservation measures including reauthorization of the
North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Chesapeake Watershed Investments
for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act, reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay
Program and reauthorization of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, among other
provisions.
“The passage of the ACE Act today is fantastic news for the conservation community,” said DU
CEO Adam Putnam. “In a package filled with vitally important conservation provisions, perhaps
none are more crucial to waterfowl habitat than the reauthorization of NAWCA. Thank you to all
the members of Congress who have identified the importance of conservation and worked with
DU and others to achieve one of our highest legislative priorities. We’re elated to see such game-
changing legislation pass both chambers of Congress, and we stand ready to help implement this
important piece of America’s conservation legacy once the President signs it into law.”
NAWCA is a voluntary matching grant program that leverages non-federal and federal funds for
wetland restoration. Since enactment in 1989, NAWCA has conserved more than 30 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 is the nation’s most successful wetlands conservation program. The ACE Act
reauthorizes NAWCA at $60 million a year until 2025.
The ACE Act could not have been passed by both chambers of Congress without steadfast
support from members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle. DU owes a special
thanks to members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission for their year-round
commitment to supporting policy priorities that conserve waterfowl habitat. Those members
include Sen. Martin Heinrich (NM), Sen. John Boozman (AR), Rep. Mike Thompson (CA), and
Rep. Rob Wittman (VA).
DU also thanks Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC) as well as Sen. John Barrasso (WY), Sen. Tom
Carper (DE), Rep. Rob Bishop (UT) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) for their work to guide this
important conservation legislation through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works and the House Natural Resources Committee.
In addition to NAWCA reauthorization, the ACE Act also creates or reauthorizes other
conservation programs that support waterfowl habitat in important wildlife ecosystems across the
country.
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 $90 million through 2025.
The Chesapeake WILD Act will create a grant program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to support habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay region. In addition, the Secretary of
Interior must 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 (NFWF) 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 18,600 projects since its creation in 1984.
For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to Follow DU’s Twitter feed –
@DUNews1937 – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.