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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9776 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9776

   To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat 
                 connectivity, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2024

Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Lofgren) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, for a period to 
      be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat 
                 connectivity, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Corridors 
and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
    TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT 
                              CONNECTIVITY

Sec. 101. Program establishment.
  TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN 
                           WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

Sec. 201. Designation of American wildlife corridors.
Sec. 202. Management of American wildlife corridors.
Sec. 203. Resource sharing and coordination.
Sec. 204. Coordinating Committee.
Sec. 205. Effect.
                  TITLE III--TRIBAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

Sec. 301. Tribal Wildlife Corridors.
TITLE IV--WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM ON NON-FEDERAL LAND AND WATER

Sec. 401. Wildlife corridor grant program.
                           TITLE V-- FUNDING

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the 
        United States are part of a rich natural heritage and an 
        important legacy to pass on to future generations;
            (2) the populations of many native fish, wildlife, and 
        plant species in the United States are in decline;
            (3) scientists estimate that, in the United States, 34 
        percent of plants and 40 percent of animals are at risk of 
        extinction and 41 percent of ecosystems are at risk of range-
        wide collapse;
            (4) threats to the survival and diversity of many native 
        fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States include 
        the loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstruction of 
        natural habitats;
            (5) habitat fragmentation reduces native biodiversity by up 
        to 75 percent and impairs key ecosystem functions;
            (6) climate change threatens native fish, wildlife, and 
        plant species;
            (7) the document published by the Intergovernmental 
        Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 
        titled ``Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem 
        services'' (2019) found that--
                    (A) 1,000,000 wildlife and plant species worldwide 
                are now threatened with extinction; and
                    (B) 75 percent of the land-based environment, and 
                approximately 66 percent of the marine environment, 
                have been significantly altered by human actions;
            (8) the conservation of new and existing landscape and 
        seascape corridors, through which native species can transition 
        from 1 habitat to another, plays an important role in helping--
                    (A) to conserve native biodiversity; and
                    (B) to ensure resiliency against impacts from a 
                range of biotic and abiotic stressors;
            (9) the conservation, restoration, and establishment of new 
        ecological connections to facilitate the movement of species 
        into more suitable habitats is a key climate change adaptation 
        strategy;
            (10) the protection of new and existing corridors is often 
        1 of the first steps in restoration and recovery planning;
            (11) States have recognized the importance of habitat 
        connectivity, including through--
                    (A) at least 83 pieces of State legislation passed 
                in 20 States since 2019, which have supported actions 
                including identification of wildlife corridors and 
                coordination of State agencies, Tribes, non-
                governmental organizations, and other partners to 
                address habitat connectivity issues;
                    (B) a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian 
                Premiers' Conference on the importance of connectivity 
                for ecosystem adaptability and resilience, 
                biodiversity, and human communities; and
                    (C) a Western Governors' Association policy 
                resolution;
            (12) the document published by the Council on Environmental 
        Quality titled ``Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies 
        on Ecological Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors'' (March 21, 
        2023) acknowledges that ``connectivity is vital to ecosystem 
        health and functions'' and ``it is significant to humans as 
        well and supports the strong cultural and spiritual connections 
        that communities have to nature'';
            (13) Federal and State agencies continue to develop 
        policies to address--
                    (A) the importance of conserving fish, wildlife, 
                and plant corridors;
                    (B) the gap between science and management for at-
                risk species; and
                    (C) ecological connectivity; and
            (14) Federal policies consistently recognize the importance 
        of voluntary improvement projects by private landowners to 
        habitat conservation and restoration for native species.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to support a diverse array of fish and wildlife, 
        including species conserved under Federal, State, and Tribal 
        law, that have experienced or may experience habitat loss, 
        degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction to habitat 
        connectivity;
            (2) to provide long-term habitat connectivity for fish and 
        wildlife migration, dispersal, genetic exchange, and adaptation 
        to climate and other environmental change;
            (3) to restore fish and wildlife movements that have been 
        disrupted by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or 
        obstruction;
            (4) to facilitate coordinated landscape- and seascape-scale 
        connectivity planning and management across jurisdictions; and
            (5) to support in prioritizing, establishing, and managing 
        wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Collaborative partnership.--The term ``collaborative 
        partnership'' means a collaborative partnership established 
        under section 203(a).
            (2) Coordinating committee.--The term ``Coordinating 
        Committee'' means Coordinating Committee established under 
        section 204(a).
            (3) American wildlife corridor.--The term ``American 
        wildlife corridor'' means a corridor designated by the 
        Secretary concerned under section 201(b).
            (4) Habitat.--The term ``habitat'' means land, water, and 
        substrate necessary at any time during the life cycle of fish 
        and wildlife for spawning, breeding, feeding, growth to 
        maturity, or migration.
            (5) Habitat connectivity.--The term ``habitat 
        connectivity'' means the degree to which the landscape 
        (including terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic habitats) or 
        seascape facilitates fish and wildlife movement.
            (6) Habitat connectivity area.--The term ``habitat 
        connectivity area'' means an identified, distinct component of 
        the natural world in the United States that provides habitat 
        connectivity, a migration route, seasonal habitat, or a 
        dispersal area to a native species.
            (7) Indian land.--The term ``Indian land'' means land of an 
        Indian Tribe, or an Indian individual, that is--
                    (A) held in trust by the United States; or
                    (B) subject to a restriction against alienation 
                imposed by the United States.
            (8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (9) Military installation.--The term ``military 
        installation'' has the meaning given the term in section 100 of 
        the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670), and includes military off-shore 
        range complexes and off-shore operating areas.
            (10) Regional ocean partnership.--The term ``regional ocean 
        partnership'' means a regional organization of coastal or Great 
        Lakes States, territories, or possessions voluntarily convened 
        by Governors to address cross-jurisdictional ocean matters, or 
        the functional equivalent of such a regional ocean organization 
        designated by the Governor or Governors of a State or States.
            (11) Secretary concerned.--
                    (A) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary 
                concerned'' means the Secretary with applicable 
                jurisdiction from among the following:
                            (i) The Secretary of the Interior.
                            (ii) The Secretary of Transportation.
                            (iii) The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
                        through the Chief of the Forest Service.
                            (iv) The Secretary of Commerce, acting 
                        through the Administrator of the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
                            (v) The Secretary of Defense.
                    (B) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means 
                each of the Secretaries described in subparagraph (A).
            (12) Tribal wildlife corridor.--The term ``Tribal wildlife 
        corridor'' means a corridor established by the Secretary under 
        section 301.
            (13) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used 
        in a geographical sense, means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) the District of Columbia;
                    (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
                    (D) Guam;
                    (E) American Samoa;
                    (F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
                Islands;
                    (G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
                    (H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
                    (I) the Republic of Palau;
                    (J) the United States Virgin Islands; and
                    (K) all marine waters within the jurisdiction of 
                the United States.
            (14) Wildlife movement.--The term ``wildlife movement'' 
        means the passage of individual members or populations of a 
        native fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or 
        seascape.

    TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MAPPING OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND HABITAT 
                              CONNECTIVITY

SEC. 101. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish and maintain a 
habitat connectivity area mapping and science program to carry out this 
section.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to develop mapping and 
science to support Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and 
the public in efforts to protect habitat connectivity areas.
    (c) Wildlife Movement, Migration, and Habitat Connectivity 
Mapping.--
            (1) Mapping efforts.--The Director shall expand and build 
        upon existing agency efforts to map fish and wildlife habitat 
        connectivity areas. Such efforts shall include working with, 
        incorporating data from, and sharing data between--
                    (A) Federal agencies;
                    (B) State, Tribal, and local governments;
                    (C) nongovernmental organizations; and
                    (D) academic institutions.
            (2) Use of technology.--The Director shall--
                    (A) use new data management, visualization, and 
                analysis capabilities to analyze fish and wildlife 
                movements and delineate habitat connectivity areas; and
                    (B) share these capabilities with Federal, State, 
                local, and Tribal wildlife managers.
            (3) Distribution of maps.--The Director shall develop and 
        make available to the public--
                    (A) a database of fish and wildlife habitat 
                connectivity areas; and
                    (B) maps of habitat connectivity areas and American 
                wildlife corridors to guide land-use planning and on-
                the-ground management of fish and wildlife resources.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this section, the Director shall submit to the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate 
        a report that--
                    (A) provides an assessment of existing maps, data, 
                models, surveys, and descriptions of habitat 
                connectivity areas that have been developed by--
                            (i) Federal, State, Tribal, and local fish 
                        and wildlife agencies and natural heritage 
                        programs;
                            (ii) nongovernmental organizations; and
                            (iii) industry; and
                    (B) identifies gaps in information about native 
                species wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity 
                areas.
            (5) Proprietary interests and protected information.--In 
        carrying out this section, the Director shall--
                    (A) protect proprietary interests with respect to 
                confidential information and licensed data; and
                    (B) protect such information relating to the 
                habitats and ranges of specific native fish and 
                wildlife as the Director determines appropriate to 
                protect such fish and wildlife.
    (d) Wildlife Movement, Migration, and Habitat Connectivity 
Research.--The Director shall conduct research to help guide management 
of habitat connectivity areas, including--
            (1) a study to evaluate the impacts of climate change on 
        habitat connectivity areas and forecast how habitat 
        connectivity areas and American wildlife corridors may need to 
        shift to allow fish and wildlife to adapt;
            (2) a study to quantify the effect of ongoing and planned 
        development on habitat connectivity areas and American wildlife 
        corridors;
            (3) a study to develop new mapping methods to prioritize 
        critical wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; and
            (4) a study to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to 
        address habitat fragmentation and mitigation barriers to fish 
        and wildlife movement and migration through habitat 
        connectivity areas.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the United States Geological Survey.
            (2) Program.--The term ``program'' means the habitat 
        connectivity area mapping and science program established by 
        the Director under subsection (a).

  TITLE II--COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN 
                           WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

SEC. 201. DESIGNATION OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

    (a) Nominations.--
            (1) Partner agencies nominations.--State, Tribal, and local 
        governments and collaborative partnerships may nominate Federal 
        lands and waters as American wildlife corridors.
            (2) Coordinating committee nominations.--The Coordinating 
        Committee shall, not later than 2 years after the date on which 
        the Coordinating Committee is established and not less 
        frequently than every 5 years thereafter, nominate habitat 
        connectivity areas to be designated as American wildlife 
        corridors.
    (b) Designation of American Wildlife Corridors.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretaries shall review each habitat 
        connectivity area within the jurisdiction of the Secretaries, 
        giving priority to areas nominated under subsection (a), and 
        designate habitat connectivity areas as a American wildlife 
        corridors according to the criteria established under 
        subsection (d).
            (2) Nominated areas.--With respect to any area for which 
        the Secretary concerned receives a nomination under subsection 
        (a), the Secretary concerned shall make a determination under 
        paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
        Secretary concerned receives such nomination.
    (c) Management of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity 
Areas.--Not later than 6 months after a designation under subsection 
(b), the Secretaries shall make such land use and management plans (or 
revisions of existing such plans) as the Secretaries determine 
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
    (d) Prioritization Criteria.--The Secretaries shall establish 
criteria to determine which habitat connectivity areas to designate as 
American wildlife corridors. Such criteria shall include--
            (1) whether such designation is in concert with existing--
                    (A) Federal land and resource management plans and 
                the ongoing management activities for wildlife 
                corridors or habitat connectivity areas on Federal 
                lands and waters;
                    (B) State, Tribal, and collaborative partnership 
                management plans; and
                    (C) Tribal wildlife corridors;
            (2) the use of the best available science relating to--
                    (A) existing fish and wildlife habitat connectivity 
                areas; and
                    (B) potential future native species habitats 
                connectivity areas; and
            (3) whether the unit of land or water is a priority for 
        conservation and restoration because the area--
                    (A) provides habitat connectivity and supports the 
                persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of 
                fish and wildlife;
                    (B) has the potential to benefit more than 1 
                species of fish and wildlife; or
                    (C) has the potential to benefit a fish or wildlife 
                species that is listed as a threatened species or an 
                endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 
                1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
    (e) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall issue such regulations 
as the Secretaries determine necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 202. MANAGEMENT OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall manage American wildlife 
corridors in a manner that contributes to the long-term persistence, 
resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife through--
            (1) the maintenance, restoration, or improvement of habitat 
        connectivity, including establishment of clear goals and 
        monitoring plans;
            (2) the limitation of human infrastructure, development, 
        and activities that impede the natural movement of fish and 
        wildlife;
            (3) the implementation of strategies and activities that 
        enhance the ability of fish and wildlife to respond to changing 
        environmental conditions;
            (4) the use of existing conservation programs managed by 
        the Secretary concerned to contribute to the persistence, 
        resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife; 
        and
            (5) providing education and outreach regarding the benefits 
        of American wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas.
    (b) Coordinated Management.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this section, each of the Secretaries shall update 
all relevant regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, 
instructions, manuals, directives, notices, implementing actions, and 
other relevant documents and procedures to support the management and 
long-term conservation of habitat connectivity areas.
    (c) Land and Resource Management Plan Revision.--The Secretaries 
shall, during each land use or resource plan review, amend or revise 
each such plan to--
            (1) conserve, restore, and manage habitat connectivity 
        areas;
            (2) consider designating the land or water as a American 
        wildlife corridor under section 201(b).
    (d) Multiple Jurisdictions.--The Secretaries shall carry out 
conservation and restoration activities in American wildlife corridors 
that are subject to the jurisdiction of more than 1 of the Secretaries 
in consultation with each of the Secretaries concerned.
    (e) Road Mitigation.--In the case of American wildlife corridors 
that intersect, adjoin, or cross a new or existing State, Tribal, or 
local road or highway, the Secretaries shall consult with State, 
Tribal, and local transportation agencies, as appropriate, to identify 
and implement voluntary environmental mitigation measures--
            (1) to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused fish 
        and wildlife mortality while conserving or restoring habitat 
        connectivity; and
            (2) to mitigate damage to the natural movements of fish and 
        wildlife through strategies including--
                    (A) the construction, maintenance, or replacement 
                of fish and wildlife underpasses, overpasses, culverts, 
                fences, and other mitigation measures; and
                    (B) the maintenance, replacement, or removal of 
                dams, bridges, culverts, and other hydrological 
                obstructions.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than every 5 
years thereafter, the Coordinating Committee shall submit to Congress a 
report regarding the efforts of the Secretaries to carry out this Act 
and the effect of such efforts on the conservation and management of 
habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, wildlife movement, and 
migration routes on Federal land and water, including the following 
with respect to Federal land and waters:
            (1) A description of existing management practices relating 
        to the purposes of this Act.
            (2) An inventory of known wildlife movement structures and 
        fish passage projects.
            (3) A description of short- and long-term threats to 
        wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas.
            (4) A description of opportunities to conserve and improve 
        the quality and condition of habitat connectivity, seasonal 
        habitat, dispersal areas, wildlife movement, and migration 
        routes.
            (5) A description of opportunities to coordinate State, 
        Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnership 
        efforts to carry out this Act with other landscape-scale 
        conservation plans.
            (6) Strategies for climate adaptation and resilience with 
        respect to habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, wildlife 
        movement, and migration routes.
            (7) A description of opportunities to expand partnerships 
        with State, Tribal, and local governments, collaborative 
        partnerships, and the public to carry out the purposes of this 
        Act.
            (8) A description of current transportation programs, 
        funding mechanisms and other authorities that could be used to 
        conserve and improve habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, 
        dispersal areas, wildlife movement, and migration routes.

SEC. 203. RESOURCE SHARING AND COORDINATION.

    (a) Collaborative Partnerships.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretaries may establish 
        collaborative partnerships with entities described in paragraph 
        (3) that are balanced, multistakeholder groups that are 
        transparent, nonexclusive, and reasonably representative of 
        affected interests to further the purposes of this Act that--
                    (A) establish agreement on--
                            (i) the role of Federal, State, Tribal, and 
                        local governments agencies;
                            (ii) how the Secretary concerned will 
                        coordinate efforts to conserve, restore, and 
                        manage habitat connectivity areas; and
                    (B) identify regional liaisons to represent the 
                collective Federal agencies in working with State, 
                Tribal, and local governments, collaborative 
                partnerships, and the public to carry out such 
                conservation, restoration, and management; and
            (2) Coordinators.--The Secretaries shall each appoint a 
        national-level coordinator to work with the regional liaisons 
        identified under paragraph (1)(B) and monitor implementation of 
        the efforts of collaborative partnerships.
            (3) Entities described.--The entities described in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    (A) Voluntary private landowners.
                    (B) Nonprofit organizations.
                    (C) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies.
                    (D) Elected officials.
                    (E) Stakeholder groups.
    (b) Resource Sharing.--The Secretaries shall partner with, and 
provide technical assistance and other resources to, State, Tribal, and 
local governments, collaborative partnerships, and voluntary private 
landowners to support the purposes of this Act.
    (c) Consultation.--The Secretaries shall implement this title in 
consultation with--
            (1) other relevant Federal agencies through the 
        Coordinating Committee;
            (2) State, Tribal, and local governments, including fish 
        and wildlife, natural resource management, and transportation 
        agencies;
            (3) with respect to any action that directly affects a 
        private landowner, such private landowner;
            (4) such other stakeholders as the Secretaries determine 
        appropriate; and
            (5) landscape- and seascape-scale partnerships, including--
                    (A) National Fish Habitat Partnerships;
                    (B) the Regional Fishery Management Councils 
                established under section 302(a) of the Magnuson-
                Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
                U.S.C. 1852(a));
                    (C) relevant regional ocean partnerships;
                    (D) the Climate Science Centers of the Department 
                of the Interior;
                    (E) Migratory Bird Joint Ventures; and
                    (F) the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network.

SEC. 204. COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

    (a) Coordinating Committee.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish a 
coordinating committee composed of representatives of the Secretaries.
    (b) Strategy for Prioritization.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the Coordinating Committee is established, the 
Coordinating Committee shall develop a strategy--
            (1) for nominating American wildlife corridors for 
        designation under section 203(a);
            (2) to support the fulfillment of the purposes of this Act;
            (3) to ensure coordination and consistency with Federal, 
        State, Tribal, and local governments and collaborative 
        partnerships in conserving wildlife corridors or habitat 
        connectivity areas;
            (4) to provide education or outreach regarding the benefits 
        of wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; and
            (5) such other measures as the Coordinating Committee 
        determines necessary for implementation of this Act.

SEC. 205. EFFECT.

    (a) Jurisdiction of States and Indian Tribes.--Nothing in this 
title affects the jurisdiction of a State or an Indian Tribe with 
respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of 
hunting, fishing, and trapping, in a American wildlife corridor or a 
Tribal Wildlife Corridor.
    (b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section authorizes--
            (1) any seizure of private property through eminent domain; 
        or
            (2) the imposition of any restriction on the use of private 
        land without the consent of the landowner.
    (c) Defense Waivers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may waive any 
        requirement of this title with respect to a military 
        installation if such Secretary determines that such waiver is 
        necessary--
                    (A) to ensure the preparedness of the Armed Forces; 
                or
                    (B) to support the military mission of the military 
                installation.
            (2) Public notice.--The Secretary of Defense shall publish 
        each waiver issued under paragraph (1) unless such Secretary 
        determines that such publication will have a negative effect on 
        national security.

                  TITLE III--TRIBAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

SEC. 301. TRIBAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Nominations.--An Indian Tribe may nominate a 
                corridor within the jurisdiction of such Indian Tribe 
                as a Tribal wildlife corridor by submitting an 
                application to the Secretary of the Interior at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as such Secretary, in consultation with the Director of 
                the Bureau of Indian Affairs, may require.
                    (B) Determination.--Not later than 90 days after 
                the date on which the Secretary of the Interior 
                receives an application under subparagraph (A), such 
                Secretary shall determine whether the nominated Tribal 
                Wildlife Corridor described in the application meets 
                the criteria established under paragraph (2).
                    (C) Publication.--On approval of an application 
                under subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Interior 
                shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the 
                establishment of the Tribal Wildlife Corridor, which 
                shall include a map and description of the Tribal 
                Wildlife Corridor.
            (2) Criteria.--
                    (A) Establishment of criteria.--Not later than 18 
                months after the date of the enactment of this section, 
                the Secretary of the Interior shall establish criteria 
                for determining whether to designate a corridor 
                nominated by an Indian Tribe under paragraph (1)(A) as 
                a Tribal Wildlife Corridor.
                    (B) Required criteria.--The criteria established 
                under subparagraph (A) shall include consideration of 
                the historical, present, and potential future role of 
                the areas as a habitat connectivity area.
            (3) Termination.--An Indian Tribe may elect to terminate 
        the designation of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor within the 
        jurisdiction of such Tribe by notifying the Secretary of the 
        Interior of such election.
    (b) Coordination of Land Use Plans.--Section 202 of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Indian tribes by'' and inserting 
                the following: ``Indian Tribes--
            ``(1) by'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) for the purposes of determining whether the land use 
        plans for land in the National Forest System would provide 
        additional habitat connectivity to benefit the purposes of a 
        Tribal wildlife corridor established under section 301 of the 
        Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 
        2024.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Tribal Wildlife Corridors.--On the establishment of a Tribal 
Wildlife Corridor under section 301 of the Wildlife Corridors and 
Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024, the Secretary shall 
conduct a meaningful consultation with the Indian Tribe that 
administers the Tribal Wildlife Corridor to determine whether, through 
the revision of 1 or more existing land use plans, the Tribal Wildlife 
Corridor can--
            ``(1) be expanded into public lands; or
            ``(2) otherwise benefit habitat connectivity (as defined in 
        section 2 of that Act) between public lands and the Tribal 
        Wildlife Corridor.''.
    (c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to Indian Tribes relating to the establishment, management, 
and expansion of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor, including assistance with 
accessing wildlife data and working with voluntary private landowners 
to access Federal and State programs to improve habitat connectivity on 
non-Federal land.
    (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be construed to--
            (1) authorize the Federal Government to conduct any 
        activity on Indian land without the consent of each affected 
        Indian Tribe; or
            (2) alter or waive the Federal trust responsibility to 
        Indian Tribes.
    (e) Exemption From Freedom of Information Act.--
            (1) Exemption.--Information described in paragraph (2) is 
        not subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United 
        States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of Information 
        Act''), if the head of the agency that receives the 
        information, in consultation with the Secretary and the 
        affected Indian Tribe, determines that disclosure may--
                    (A) cause a significant invasion of privacy;
                    (B) risk harm to human remains or resources, 
                cultural items, uses, or activities; or
                    (C) impede the use of a traditional religious site 
                by practitioners.
            (2) Information described.--Information referred to in 
        paragraph (1) is information received by a Federal agency--
                    (A) pursuant to this section relating to--
                            (i) the location, character, or ownership 
                        of human remains of a person of Indian 
                        ancestry; or
                            (ii) resources, cultural items, uses, or 
                        activities identified by an Indian Tribe as 
                        traditional or cultural because of the long-
                        established significance or ceremonial nature 
                        to the Indian Tribe; or
                    (B) pursuant to the Native American Graves 
                Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et 
                seq.).

TITLE IV--WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM ON NON-FEDERAL LAND AND WATER

SEC. 401. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative 
agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish 
and administer a wildlife corridor grant program (referred to in this 
section as the ``grant program'').
    (b) Grants.--Not later than 180 days after funds are made available 
to carry out this section, the Foundation, in consultation with the 
Secretary and Coordinating Committee, shall make grants to eligible 
entities to carry out projects that--
            (1) are consistent with criteria established by a technical 
        advisory committee convened by the Foundation and consisting of 
        balanced representation from relevant Federal, State, and 
        Tribal government agencies, affected private landowners, and 
        nongovernmental organizations with relevant expertise;
            (2) are recommended or approved for funding by a review 
        committee convened by the Foundation, including members of the 
        Coordinating Committee; and
            (3) increase habitat connectivity and fish and wildlife 
        movement and migration on non-Federal lands and waters.
    (c) Administrative Support.--The Foundation may expend not more 
than 5 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this section for 
administrative expenses in each fiscal year.
    (d) Donations.--The Foundation may solicit and accept donations of 
amounts to carry out this section.
    (e) Disclosure of Use.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and not less frequently than annually 
thereafter, the Secretary and the Foundation shall publish a 
description of projects funded by grants issued under subsection (b) 
during the preceding calendar year.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a private landowner;
                    (B) a State, Tribal, or local government or any 
                agency thereof responsible for managing wildlife, 
                natural resources, or transportation;
                    (C) an agricultural cooperative;
                    (D) a water, irrigation, or rural water district or 
                association, or other organization with water delivery 
                authority, including acequias and land grant 
                communities in the State of New Mexico;
                    (E) an institution of higher education;
                    (F) a nongovernmental organization;
                    (G) a collaborative partnership; or
                    (H) any group of entities described in subparagraph 
                (A) through (G).
            (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
            (3) Grant program.--The term ``grant program'' means the 
        wildlife corridor grant program established pursuant to 
        subsection (a).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

                           TITLE V-- FUNDING

SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Science and Mapping of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat 
Connectivity Areas.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of the Interior to carry out title I $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
    (b) Collaboration, Partnership, and Conservation of Wildlife 
Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Areas on Federal Land and Water.--
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II for fiscal 
year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter--
            (1) to the Secretary of the Interior, $20,000,000;
            (2) to the Secretary of Transportation, $18,000,000;
            (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture, $10,000,000;
            (4) to the Secretary of Commerce, $9,000,000; and
            (5) to the Secretary of Defense, $3,000,000.
    (c) Tribal Wildlife Corridors.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out title III $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 
and each fiscal year thereafter.
    (d) Wildlife Corridor Grant Program on Non-Federal Land and 
Water.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the 
Interior to carry out title IV $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and 
each fiscal year thereafter. Each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent 
of the total funds shall be reserved for projects that directly 
conserve, restore, or enhance big game migration corridors or seasonal 
habitat.
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