‘‘(ii) the project or program being 
funded benefits the habitat of a hunted or 
fished species and a species of greatest 
conservation need. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the fol-
lowing definitions apply: 
‘‘(A) PARTNERSHIPS.—The term ‘partner-
ships’ may include collaborative efforts with 
Federal agencies, State agencies, local agencies, 
Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, aca-
demic institutions, industry groups, and private 
individuals to implement a State’s Wildlife Con-
servation Strategy. 
‘‘(B) SPECIES
OF
GREATEST
CONSERVA-
TION NEED.—The term ‘species of greatest con-
servation need’ may be fauna or flora, and may 
include terrestrial, aquatic, marine, and inverte-
brate species that are of low population, declin-
ing, rare, or facing threats and in need of con-
servation attention, as determined by each 
State fish and wildlife department, with respect 
to funds apportioned to such State. 
‘‘(C) TERRITORY AND TERRITORIES.—The 
terms ‘territory’ and ‘territories’ mean the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, Amer-
ican Samoa, the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands, and the United States 
Virgin Islands. 
‘‘(D) 
WILDLIFE.—The 
term 
‘wildlife’ 
means any species of wild, freeranging fauna, 
including fish, and also fauna in captive breed-
ing programs the object of which is to reintro-
duce individuals of a depleted indigenous spe-
cies into previously occupied range.’’. 
(b) Section 3 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Res-
toration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO IN-
SPECTOR GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Office of the Inspector General of the De-
partment of the Interior 1⁄2 of 1 percent of the amounts 
made available under subsection (c) for the purposes of 
providing oversight and accountability with respect to ex-
penditure of funds authorized under such subsection, to 
remain available until September 30, 2029.’’. 
(c) ALLOCATION AND APPORTIONMENT OF AVAIL-
ABLE AMOUNTS.—Section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson 
Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘to the District of Columbia and to the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, each’’ and 
inserting ‘‘To the District of Columbia’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘to Guam’’ and 
inserting ‘‘To Guam’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘not more than 
one-fourth of one percent’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘not less than one-third of one 
percent’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) To the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, a sum equal to not less than 1 percent 
thereof.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A)— 
(i) by amending clause (i) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(i) one-half of which is based on the ratio 
to which the land and water area of such State 
bears to the total land and water area of all 
such States;’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii)—
(I) by striking ‘‘two-thirds’’ and 
inserting ‘‘one-quarter’’; and 
(II) by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) one-quarter of which is based upon 
the ratio to which the number of species listed 
as endangered or threatened under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) in such State bears to the total number of 
such species listed in all such States.’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (2)(B) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(B) The amounts apportioned under this 
paragraph shall be adjusted equitably so that 
no such State, unless otherwise designated, 
shall be apportioned a sum which is less than 
1 percent or more than 5 percent of the amount 
available for apportionment under— 
‘‘(i) subparagraph (A)(i); 
‘‘(ii) subparagraph (A)(ii); and 
‘‘(iii) the overall amount available for 
subparagraph (A).’’; and
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘3 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘1.85 percent’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(4)— 
(A) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(B) Not more than an average of 15 percent 
over a 5-year period of amounts apportioned to each 
State, territory, or the District of Columbia under 
this section for a wildlife conservation and restora-
tion program may be used for wildlife conservation 
education and wildlife-associated recreation.’’; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B), 
as so amended, the following: 
‘‘(C) 5 percent of amounts apportioned to each 
State, each territory, or the District of Columbia 
under this section for a wildlife conservation and 
restoration program shall be reserved for States and 
territories that include plants among their species of 
greatest conservation need and in the conservation 
planning and habitat prioritization efforts of their 
Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Each eligible State, 
territory, or the District of Columbia shall receive an 
additional 5 percent of their apportioned amount. 
Any unallocated resources shall be allocated propor-
tionally among all States and territories under the 
formulas of this section.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end following: 
‘‘(f) MINIMIZATION
OF PLANNING
AND REPORT-
ING.—Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to require 
a State to create a comprehensive strategy related to con-
servation education or outdoor recreation. 
‘‘(g) ACCOUNTABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than one year 
after the date of enactment of the Recovering Amer-
ica’s Wildlife Act of 2022 and every 3 years there-
after, each State fish and wildlife department shall 
submit a 3-year work plan and budget for imple-
menting its Wildlife Conservation Strategy and a re-
port describing the results derived from activities ac-
complished under subsection (e) during the previous 
3 years to the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice for review, which shall summarize such findings 
and submit a report to— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The format of the 3- 
year work plans, budgets, and reports required
under paragraph (1) shall be established by the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in consulta-
tion with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agen-
cies. 
‘‘(3) GAO STUDY.—Not later than 7 years after 
the date of enactment of the Recovering America’s 
Wildlife Act of 2022, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to examine the 
progress of States, territories, the District of Colum-
bia, and Indian Tribes towards achieving the pur-
pose described in section 2 of that Act.’’. 
SEC. 102. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 2 of the Pittman-Robert-
son Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘including 
fish,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (9), by inserting ‘‘Indian 
Tribes, academic institutions,’’ before ‘‘wildlife con-
servation organizations’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Pittman-Rob-
ertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 3— 
(A) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking ‘‘(1) An amount equal 
to’’ and inserting ‘‘An amount equal to’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking paragraph (2); 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (9), as redesignated 
by section 101(a)(1), by striking ‘‘or an 
Indian tribe’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (10), as redesignated 
by section 101(a)(1), by striking ‘‘Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration Account’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; and 
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration Account’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Subaccount’’; 
(2) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 669c)— 
(A) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AC-
COUNT’’ and inserting ‘‘SUBACCOUNT’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Account’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘Ac-
count’’ and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; and
(3) in section 8 (16 U.S.C. 669g), in subsection 
(a), by striking ‘‘Account’’ and inserting ‘‘Sub-
account’’. 
SEC. 103. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 
U.S.C. 669 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 14 as section 16; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 13 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 14. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
‘‘Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enlarge 
or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of 
a State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife 
under the law and regulations of the State on lands and 
waters within the State, including on Federal lands and 
waters. 
‘‘SEC. 15. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO 
ALASKA. 
‘‘If any conflict arises between any provision of this 
Act and any provision of the Alaska National Interest 
Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) or the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.), then the provision in the Alaska National Interest 
Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native Claims Set-
tlement Act shall prevail.’’.
TITLE 
II—TRIBAL 
WILDLIFE 
CONSERVATION 
AND 
RES-
TORATION 
SEC. 201. INDIAN TRIBES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ACCOUNT.—The term ‘‘Account’’ means the 
Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Ac-
count established by subsection (b)(1). 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) TRIBAL SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVA-
TION NEED.—The term ‘‘Tribal species of greatest 
conservation need’’ means any species identified by 
an Indian Tribe as requiring conservation manage-
ment because of declining population, habitat loss, 
or other threats, or because of their biological or cul-
tural importance to such Tribe. 
(5) WILDLIFE.—The term ‘‘wildlife’’ means— 
(A) any species of wild flora or fauna in-
cluding fish and marine mammals;
(B) flora or fauna in a captive breeding, 
rehabilitation, and holding or quarantine pro-
gram, the object of which is to reintroduce indi-
viduals of a depleted indigenous species into 
previously occupied range or to maintain a spe-
cies for conservation purposes; and 
(C) does not include game farm animals. 
(b) TRIBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
AND RES-
TORATION ACCOUNT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
Treasury an account to be known as the ‘‘Tribal 
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account’’. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts in the Account 
shall be available for each fiscal year without further 
appropriation for apportionment in accordance with 
this title. 
(3) DEPOSITS
INTO
ACCOUNT.—Beginning in 
fiscal year 2023, and for each fiscal year thereafter, 
the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
$97,500,000 from the general fund of the Treasury 
to the Account. 
(c) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO INDIAN TRIBES.— 
Each fiscal year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall de-
posit funds into the Account and distribute such funds 
through a noncompetitive application process according to
guidelines and criteria, and reporting requirements deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in consultation 
with Indian Tribes. Such funds shall remain available 
until expended. 
(d) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
The distribution guidelines and criteria described in sub-
section (c) shall be based, in part, upon an Indian Tribe’s 
wildlife management responsibilities. Any funding allo-
cated to an Indian Tribe in Alaska may only be used in 
a manner consistent with the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the Alaska National 
Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), 
and Public Law 85–508 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska 
Statehood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21). Alaska Native 
Corporations or Tribes may enter into cooperative agree-
ments with the State of Alaska on conservation projects 
of mutual concern. 
(e) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary may distribute funds from 
the Account to an Indian Tribe for any of the fol-
lowing purposes: 
(A) To develop, carry out, revise, or en-
hance wildlife conservation and restoration pro-
grams to manage Tribal species of greatest con-
servation need and the habitats of such species, 
as determined by the Indian Tribe. 
(B) To assist in the recovery of species 
listed as an endangered or threatened species 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(C) For wildlife conservation education and 
wildlife-associated recreation projects. 
(D) To manage a Tribal species of greatest 
conservation need and the habitat of such spe-
cies, the range of which may be shared with a 
foreign country, State, or other Indian Tribe. 
(E) To manage, control, and prevent 
invasive species as well as diseases and other 
risks to wildlife. 
(F) For law enforcement activities that are 
directly related to the protection and conserva-
tion of wildlife. 
(G) To develop, revise, and implement 
comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies 
and plans for such Tribe. 
(H) For the hiring and training of wildlife 
conservation and restoration program staff. 
(2) CONDITIONS ON THE USE OF FUNDS.—
(A) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.—In order 
to be eligible to receive funds under subsection 
(c), a Tribe’s application must include a pro-
posal to use funds for at least one of the pur-
poses described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
of paragraph (1). 
(B) IMPERILED
SPECIES
RECOVERY.—In 
distributing funds under this section, the Sec-
retary shall distribute not less than 15 percent 
of the total funds distributed to proposals to 
fund the recovery of a species, subspecies, or 
distinct population segment listed as a threat-
ened species, endangered species, or candidate 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or Tribal law. 
(C) LIMITATION.—In distributing funds 
under this section, the Secretary shall distribute 
not more than 15 percent of all funds distrib-
uted under this section for the purpose de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(C). 
(f) NO MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.—No Indian 
Tribe shall be required to provide matching funds to be 
eligible to receive funds under this Act. 
(g) PUBLIC ACCESS NOT REQUIRED.—Funds appor-
tioned from the Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restora-
tion Account shall not be conditioned upon the provision 
of public or non-Tribal access to Tribal or private lands, 
waters, or holdings. 
(h) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Of the funds depos-
ited under subsection (b)(3) for each fiscal year, not more 
than 3 percent shall be used by the Secretary for adminis-
trative costs. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO INSPEC-
TOR GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department 
of the Interior 1⁄2 of 1 percent of the amounts made 
available this section for the purposes of providing over-
sight and accountability with respect to expenditure of 
funds authorized under this section, to remain available 
until September 30, 2029. 
(j) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as modifying or abrogating a treaty with any 
Indian Tribe, or as enlarging or diminishing the authority, 
jurisdiction, or responsibility of an Indian Tribe to man-
age, control, or regulate wildlife. 
(k) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO 
ALASKA.—If any conflict arises between any provision of 
this Act and any provision of the Alaska National Interest 
Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) or the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.), then the provision in the Alaska National Interest 
Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native Claims Set-
tlement Act shall prevail. 
TITLE 
III—ENDANGERED 
SPE-
CIES RECOVERY AND HABI-
TAT CONSERVATION LEGACY 
FUND 
SEC. 301. ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY AND HABITAT 
CONSERVATION LEGACY FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the 
‘‘Endangered Species Recovery and Habitat Conservation 
Legacy Fund’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Fund’’). 
(b) FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 2023 
through 2026, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund 
$187,500,000. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts in the Fund 
shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), 
as provided in subsection (e), without further appropria-
tion or fiscal year limitation. 
(d) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may request 
the Secretary of the Treasury to invest any portion 
of the Fund that is not, as determined by the Sec-
retary, required to meet the current needs of the 
Fund. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—An investment requested 
under paragraph (1) shall be made by the Secretary 
of the Treasury in a public debt security— 
(A) with a maturity suitable to the needs 
of the Fund, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
(B) bearing interest at a rate determined 
by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into 
consideration current market yields on out-
standing marketable obligations of the United 
States of comparable maturity. 
(3) CREDITS TO FUND.—The income on invest-
ments of the Fund under this subsection shall be 
credited to, and form a part of, the Fund. 
(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts in the Fund shall be 
used for recovering the species managed under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), in 
addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes, 
as follows:
(1) ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY GRANT 
PROGRAM.—$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2023 through 2026, to remain available until ex-
pended, shall be used to establish and implement a 
grant and technical assistance program, to be known 
as the ‘‘Endangered Species Recovery Grant Pro-
gram’’, to provide competitive matching grants for 
the purpose of recovering species listed as a threat-
ened species or an endangered species under section 
4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1533) by addressing the backlog in the development 
of recovery plans, and implementing the backlog of 
activities identified in existing recovery plans, under 
subsection (f) of that section (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)). 
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to estab-
lish and cooperatively manage the Endangered Spe-
cies Recovery Grant Program in accordance with the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). 
(2) INTERAGENCY
CONSULTATION
RESPON-
SIBILITIES.—$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2023 through 2026, to remain available until ex-
pended, shall be used for the United States Fish and