The Senate passed a bill late Thursday night that seeks to restore funding for endangered species programs to protect gorillas and elephants in Africa and India, while guarding the U.S. against invasive pests from other countries.
The bipartisan Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver (WILD) Act was passed by unanimous consent, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praising the bill’s emphasis on reauthorizing the programs.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., pointed out that in addition to the gorillas and elephants, the bill also seeks to guard the U.S. against invasive pests from other countries that can ravage crops and kill off indigenous fish.
“The WILD Act will enhance conservation efforts in America and around the world,” Barrasso said Friday. His Democratic counterpart on the committee, Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, said the bill would “give these creatures a fighting chance.”
The WILD Act reauthorizes programs to protect gorillas, tigers, Asian and African elephant species, and rhinos, while nearly doubling the amount of money for the Department of Interior to run the sea turtle program.
The congressional authorization required to fund the programs had been left to expire in many cases, and the WILD Act restores funding, and even increases it in certain areas.
For example, appropriations for the Great Ape program are extended through 2022, while funds to cover administrative costs were increased from $100,000 to $150,000. The sea turtle program received a $80,000 boost to $150,000.
The Senate took the lead on passing the bill, which now requires the House to file suit before it can be sent to President Trump’s desk. The House has taken a different tack that looks to give the Interior Department authority to preclude the listing of endangered species, according to a bill introduced this year by several Texas Republicans. Environmentalists are looking to block that measure.
