I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7408 
To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make supple-
mental funds available for management of fish and wildlife species of 
greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife agen-
cies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 
Mr. WESTERMAN (for himself, Mr. BENTZ, Ms. HAGEMAN, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. 
CURTIS, Mr. CARL, Mr. LAMBORN, Ms. BOEBERT, Mrs. KIGGANS of Vir-
ginia, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. MOYLAN, 
Mrs. GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Ms. MALOY, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mr. 
ZINKE, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, and Mr. WITTMAN) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
to make supplemental funds available for management 
of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need 
as determined by State fish and wildlife agencies, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 3. GAO study. 
TITLE I—WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
Sec. 101. Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount. 
Sec. 102. Technical amendments. 
Sec. 103. Savings clause. 
TITLE II—TRIBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
Sec. 201. Indian Tribes. 
TITLE III—CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT FOR WILDLIFE 
REFUGES 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. Good neighbor authority for the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. 
Sec. 303. Stewardship end result contracting projects. 
TITLE IV—INCENTIVIZING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON 
PRIVATE LANDS 
Sec. 401. Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. 
Sec. 402. Designation of critical habitat. 
Sec. 403. Private land. 
TITLE V—FOREST INFORMATION REFORM 
Sec. 501. No additional consultation required. 
TITLE VI—PROVIDING FOR GREATER INCENTIVES TO RECOVER 
LISTED SPECIES 
Sec. 601. Protective regulations under Endangered Species Act of 1973. 
TITLE VII—RESCISSIONS AND REPEALS 
Sec. 701. Rescission of funds. 
Sec. 702. Repeal of certain programs. 
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SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to extend financial and 
technical assistance to States, territories, the District of 
Columbia, and Indian Tribes, including under the Pitt-
man-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 
et seq.), for the purpose of restoring habitat on State, 
Tribal, Federal, and private lands— 
(1) to recover species currently listed as threat-
ened or endangered under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or under State 
law; and 
(2) to prevent the need to list species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) or under State law. 
SEC. 3. GAO STUDY. 
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study to examine the progress of States, 
territories, the District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes to-
ward achieving the purpose described in section 2. 
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TITLE I—WILDLIFE CONSERVA-
TION AND RESTORATION 
SEC. 101. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
SUBACCOUNT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the Pittman-Robert-
son Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1) An amount equal to’’ 
and inserting ‘‘An amount equal to’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(2) subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (10) and (11); and 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) RESTORATION.—The term ‘restora-
tion’ means the implementation of conservation 
actions and practices that reestablish or en-
hance environmental conditions and ecosystem 
functions that benefit the diversity, resilience, 
health, and productivity of plants and animals. 
‘‘(B) REWILDING.—The term ‘rewilding’ 
means a restoration approach that prohibits 
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human management activities and relies only on 
natural processes to maintain or improve habi-
tat. 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is established in 
the fund a subaccount to be known as the 
‘Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Restoration 
Subaccount’. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts in the Sub-
account shall be available until expended, sub-
ject to future appropriations, for apportionment 
in accordance with this Act. 
‘‘(C) DEPOSITS INTO SUBACCOUNT.—Sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations made 
in advance for such purposes, the Secretary 
shall allocate not more than $300,000,000 to 
the Subaccount for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2029. 
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‘‘(D) TREATMENT
OF
REVENUE.—Funds 
received by a State fish and wildlife department 
as a result of a wildlife conservation and res-
toration program or project of such department 
that is carried out on Federal or State land and 
funded by the Subaccount shall be retained and 
used by such department to carry out additional 
authorized wildlife conservation and restoration 
programs or projects pursuant to this Act. 
‘‘(E) SUNSET.—No funds may be appro-
priated to the Subaccount after fiscal year 
2029. 
‘‘(3) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts 
transferred to the Subaccount shall supplement, but 
not replace, existing funds available to the States 
from— 
‘‘(A) the funds distributed pursuant to the 
Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) the fund. 
‘‘(4) INNOVATION GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
distribute 10 percent of amounts in the Sub-
account in each fiscal year through a competi-
tive grant program to State fish and wildlife de-
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partments, the District of Columbia fish and 
wildlife department, fish and wildlife depart-
ments of territories, or to regional associations 
of fish and wildlife departments (or any group 
composed of more than 1 such entity). 
‘‘(B) PURPOSE.—Recipients of a grant 
issued under subparagraph (A) shall use such 
grant funds for the purpose of catalyzing inno-
vation of techniques, tools, strategies, or col-
laborative partnerships that accelerate, expand, 
or replicate effective and measurable recovery 
efforts for habitat of species of greatest con-
servation need and species listed under the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.). 
‘‘(C) REVIEW COMMITTEE.—The Secretary 
shall appoint a review committee comprised 
of— 
‘‘(i) 1 State Director from each re-
gional association of State fish and wildlife 
departments; 
‘‘(ii) the head of a department respon-
sible for fish and wildlife management in a 
territory; 
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‘‘(iii) 1 delegate from the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, for the 
purpose of providing technical assistance; 
‘‘(iv) 2 individuals who represent 2 
different nonprofit organizations, each of 
which participated in carrying out wildlife 
conservation 
and 
restoration 
activities 
using funds apportioned from the Sub-
account during the 5-year period ending on 
the date of appointment of such individual; 
and 
‘‘(v) 2 individuals who represent 2 dif-
ferent nonprofit hunting and fishing orga-
nizations who are each a member of— 
‘‘(I) the Hunting and Wildlife 
Conservation Council of the Depart-
ment of the Interior and Department 
of Agriculture and classified as rep-
resenting a ‘wildlife & habitat con-
servation/management 
organization’; 
or 
‘‘(II) the Sport Fishing and 
Boating Partnership Council of the 
Department of the Interior and classi-
fied as representing a ‘recreational 
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fishery resource conservation organi-
zation’. 
‘‘(D) SUPPORT FROM UNITED STATES FISH 
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.—Using not more than 
3 percent of the amounts distributed under sub-
paragraph (A) to carry out a competitive grant 
program, the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service shall provide any personnel or adminis-
trative support services necessary for such com-
mittee to carry out its responsibilities under 
this Act. 
‘‘(E) EVALUATION.—Such committee shall 
evaluate each proposal submitted under this 
paragraph and recommend projects for funding, 
giving preference to solutions that accelerate 
the recovery of habitat for species identified as 
priorities through regional scientific assess-
ments of species of greatest conservation need. 
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Funds apportioned 
from the Subaccount under paragraph (2)(B)— 
‘‘(i) shall be used for purposes and 
practices consistent with section 2 of the 
America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation 
Act; 
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shared with another State, territory, In-
dian Tribe, or foreign government; 
‘‘(vi) may be used to manage, control, 
and prevent invasive species, disease, and 
other risks to the habitat of species of 
greatest conservation need; 
‘‘(vii) may be used for forest and 
vegetation management activities if a pri-
mary purpose of such activity is to modify, 
improve, enhance, or create wildlife habitat 
or reduce the risk of damage or destruc-
tion to wildlife habitat due to wildfires, in-
sects, or disease, including— 
‘‘(I) planting, seeding, and har-
vesting; 
‘‘(II) mechanical thinning; 
‘‘(III) prescribed burning; 
‘‘(IV) chemical applications de-
signed to restore natural range vari-
ation including creating and maintain-
ing early seral communities; and 
‘‘(V) prescribed haying and graz-
ing practices; 
‘‘(viii) may be used to carry out vol-
untary, collaborative conservation work 
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with willing landowners consistent with 
section 2 of the America’s Wildlife Habitat 
Conservation Act to keep private lands 
working; and 
‘‘(ix) may be used to provide incen-
tives to private landowners to carry out 
habitat conservation work for threatened 
and endangered species or species of great-
est conservation need on the land owned by 
such private landowners and to provide fi-
nancial assistance or technical assistance 
to such private landowners to carry out 
such work. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITED
USES.—Funds appor-
tioned from the Subaccount may not be used 
for— 
‘‘(i) rewilding; 
‘‘(ii) the reintroduction or manage-
ment of a species in a manner not sup-
ported by the applicable State fish and 
wildlife management authorities; or 
‘‘(iii) climate-focused decisions that 
lack a connection to the State comprehen-
sive plan developed under section 4(e)(1). 
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‘‘(6) MINIMUM REQUIRED SPENDING FOR EN-
DANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY.—Not less than 15 
percent of the total amount apportioned to a State, 
territory, or the District of Columbia from the Sub-
account during the period of fiscal years 2025 
through 2029 shall be used for purposes described 
in paragraph (5)(A)(iii). 
‘‘(7) PUBLIC ACCESS TO PRIVATE LANDS NOT 
REQUIRED.—Apportionment of funds from the Sub-
account may not be conditioned upon the provision 
of public access to private lands, waters, or holdings. 
‘‘(8) REQUIREMENTS FOR MATCHING FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of 
the non-Federal fund matching requirement for 
a wildlife conservation and restoration program 
or project funded by the Subaccount, a State, 
territory, or the District of Columbia may use 
as matching non-Federal funds— 
‘‘(i) in-kind contributions of services 
and materials; 
‘‘(ii) voluntarily donated privately 
owned easements; 
‘‘(iii) in circumstances described in 
subparagraph 
(B), 
revenue 
generated 
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through the sale of State hunting and fish-
ing licenses; and 
‘‘(iv) other sources consistent with 
part 80 of title 50, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, as in effect on the date of the en-
actment of the America’s Wildlife Habitat 
Conservation Act. 
‘‘(B) CIRCUMSTANCES
DESCRIBED.—Rev-
enue described in subparagraph (A)(iii) may 
only be used to fulfill the requirements of such 
non-Federal fund matching requirement if— 
‘‘(i) no Federal funds apportioned to 
the State fish and wildlife department of 
such State from the Wildlife Restoration 
Program or the Sport Fish Restoration 
Program have been reverted because of a 
failure to fulfill such non-Federal fund 
matching requirement by such State dur-
ing the previous 2 years; and 
‘‘(ii) the project or program being 
funded benefits the habitat of a species 
that is a— 
‘‘(I) hunted or fished species; and 
‘‘(II) species of greatest con-
servation need. 
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‘‘(9) STATE
LAND
ACQUISITION.—Land ac-
quired by a State, territory, or the District of Co-
lumbia using funds apportioned from the Sub-
account— 
‘‘(A) may only be purchased from a willing 
seller; 
‘‘(B) may only be so acquired for the pur-
poses described in paragraph (5)(A)(iii); 
‘‘(C) may only be so acquired when no 
other source of funding is available to purchase 
such land; and 
‘‘(D) shall be open to the public for wild-
life-related outdoor recreation, including hunt-
ing, trapping, fishing, or recreational shooting 
to the extent allowed by State law.’’. 
(b) 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) by inserting ‘‘, after deducting the 
amount distributed pursuant to section 
3(c)(4),’’ after ‘‘Secretary of the Interior 
shall’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)— 
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(I) by striking ‘‘to the District of 
Columbia and to the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, each’’ and inserting 
‘‘To the District of Columbia’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘one-half’’ and 
inserting ‘‘one-fourth’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘to Guam’’ and 
inserting ‘‘To Guam’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘not more than 
one-fourth of 1 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘not less than one-third of 1 percent’’; 
and 
(iv) 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) 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;’’; 
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(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘3 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘one-third of 1 percent’’; 
(2) in subsection (e) in paragraph (3), by strik-
ing ‘‘75’’ and inserting ‘‘90’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end following: 
‘‘(f) ACCOUNTABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of the America’s Wildlife 
Habitat Conservation Act and every 2 years there-
after until the last day of fiscal year 2029, the head 
of each State fish and wildlife department shall sub-
mit to the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service a report describing, with respect to 
such department during the preceding 2 years, the 
following: 
‘‘(A) A summary of each activity carried 
out using funds apportioned from the Sub-
account, including— 
‘‘(i) an accounting of the administra-
tive costs associated with each such activ-
ity; 
‘‘(ii) an accounting of land acquired, 
if any, from willing sellers by each State 
fish and wildlife department using funds 
from the Subaccount, including— 
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‘‘(I) the number of acres ac-
quired; 
‘‘(II) the endangered species, 
threatened species, candidate species 
or species proposed for listing, or spe-
cies petitioned for listing under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or State law as-
sociated with the land acquired; 
‘‘(III) the justification for such 
land acquisition; and 
‘‘(IV) a detailed explanation re-
garding why other sources of funding 
were not used for the land acquisition; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the number of acres of habitat 
restored, enhanced, created, or conserved 
by each such activity. 
‘‘(B) A summary of the results and effec-
tiveness of each activity carried out using funds 
apportioned from the Subaccount, including, if 
determinable— 
‘‘(i) any change in the population 
trends of species of greatest conservation 
need; and 
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‘‘(ii) any reduction in threats to spe-
cies of greatest conservation need. 
‘‘(2) SUMMARY REPORT.—The Secretary shall, 
not later than 180 days after each deadline for the 
submission of reports under paragraph (1), submit 
a report summarizing each report received by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1) to— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(3) STATE DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘State’ includes the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.’’. 
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)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 304(d)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 4(e)’’; and 
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(B) by inserting ‘‘Indian Tribes,’’ before 
‘‘wildlife conservation organizations’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Pittman-Rob-
ertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 2— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(6) 
through (11) as paragraphs (7) through (12), 
respectively; 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
following: 
‘‘(6) the term ‘species of greatest conservation 
need’ means, with respect to funds apportioned to a 
State, terrestrial, aquatic, or marine fauna or flora 
that the State fish and wildlife department of such 
State determines are— 
‘‘(A) of low or declining population; or 
‘‘(B) facing threats and in need of con-
servation attention;’’; 
(C) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(8) 
through (12), as so redesignated by subpara-
graph (A) of this paragraph, as paragraphs (9) 
through (13), respectively; and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 
following: 
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‘‘(8) the term ‘Subaccount’ means the Wildlife 
Habitat Conservation and Restoration Subaccount 
established by section 3(c)(2)(A);’’; 
(2) in section 3— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (10), as so redesig-
nated by section 101(a)(3) of this Act, by 
striking ‘‘or an Indian tribe’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (11), as so redesig-
nated by section 101(a)(3) of this Act— 
(I) by striking ‘‘Wildlife Con-
servation and Restoration Account’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘those species 
with the greatest conservation need as 
defined by the State wildlife conserva-
tion and restoration program’’ and in-
serting ‘‘species of greatest conserva-
tion need’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration Account’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Subaccount’’; 
(3) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 669c)— 
(A) in subsection (d)— 
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(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘WILD-
LIFE CONSERVATION
AND RESTORATION 
ACCOUNT’’ and inserting ‘‘SUBACCOUNT’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Wildlife Conservation 
and Restoration Account’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘Wild-
life Conservation and Restoration Account’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’; and 
(4) in section 8 (16 U.S.C. 669g), in subsection 
(a), by striking ‘‘Wildlife Conservation and Restora-
tion Account’’ and inserting ‘‘Subaccount’’. 
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. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act may be con-
strued to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, 
or responsibility of a State, territory, or the District of 
Columbia to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife 
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on lands and waters within the State, territory, or the Dis-
trict of Columbia including on Federal lands and waters. 
‘‘(b) NO FUNDS AUTHORIZED FOR DAM REMOVAL 
OR MODIFICATION.—None of the funds made available 
under this Act may be used to remove a federally owned 
dam or modify a federally owned dam in a manner that 
reduces storage or diversion capacity. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION ON LAND TRANSFERS.—The Fed-
eral Government may not accept a transfer, donation, or 
exchange of land or an interest in land from a State gov-
ernment, a fish and wildlife department of the District of 
Columbia or a territory, or a regional association of fish 
and wildlife departments if such land or interest in land 
was purchased using funds apportioned under this Act. 
‘‘(d) TERRITORY DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘territory’ has the meaning given the term in section 
3(c)(1). 
‘‘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 or the Alaska Native Claims Set-
tlement Act, then the provision in the Alaska National In-
terest Lands Conservation Act or the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act shall prevail.’’. 
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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) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the 
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 
U.S.C. 669a). 
(3) 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). 
(4) RESTORATION.—The term ‘‘restoration’’ 
means the implementation of conservation actions 
and practices that reestablish or enhance environ-
mental conditions and ecosystem functions that ben-
efit the diversity, resilience, health, and productivity 
of plants and animals. 
(5) REWILDING.—The term ‘‘rewilding’’ means 
a restoration approach that prohibits human man-
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agement activities and relies only on natural proc-
esses to maintain or improve habitat. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) TRIBAL SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVA-
TION NEED.—The term ‘‘Tribal species of greatest 
conservation need’’ means, with respect to an Indian 
Tribe, any terrestrial, aquatic, or marine fauna or 
flora that such Indian Tribe determines is— 
(A) of low or declining population, 
(B) facing threats and in need of conserva-
tion attention; or 
(C) of cultural importance to such Indian 
Tribe. 
(8) WILDLIFE.—The term ‘‘wildlife’’ means any 
species of— 
(A) wild, free-ranging fauna, including 
fish; and 
(B) fauna in a captive breeding program 
the object of which is to reintroduce individuals 
of a depleted indigenous species into previously 
occupied range of such species. 
(b) TRIBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
AND RES-
TORATION ACCOUNT.— 
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(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 until expended, subject to future 
appropriations, for each fiscal year for apportion-
ment in accordance with this section. 
(3) DEPOSITS
INTO
ACCOUNT.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Account 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2029. 
(4) SUNSET.—No funds may be appropriated to 
the Account after fiscal year 2029. 
(c) 
DISTRIBUTION
OF
AMOUNTS
TO
INDIAN 
TRIBES.—Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall distribute 
amounts in the Account through a noncompetitive grant 
program according to guidelines, criteria, and reporting 
requirements determined by the Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in consulta-
tion with Indian Tribes. 
(d) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The distribution guidelines 
and criteria described in subsection (c) shall be 
based, in part, upon the wildlife management re-
sponsibilities of an Indian Tribe. 
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(2) INDIAN TRIBES IN ALASKA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Any amounts allocated 
to an Indian Tribe in Alaska under this section 
may only be used in a manner consistent with 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the Alaska National In-
terest 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). 
(B) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—An In-
dian Tribe in Alaska may enter into a coopera-
tive agreement with the State of Alaska regard-
ing a conservation project of mutual concern. 
(e) USE OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), amounts distributed to an Indian Tribe 
under subsection (c)— 
(A) shall be used for purposes consistent 
with section 2; 
(B) shall be used to carry out, develop, or 
enhance wildlife and habitat conservation and 
restoration programs; 
(C) shall be used to assist in the restora-
tion of habitat for species found in the lands 
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and waters of such Tribe that are listed as en-
dangered species, threatened species, candidate 
species or species proposed for listing, or spe-
cies petitioned for listing under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
or under State or Tribal law; 
(D) may be used for management of ani-
mals, including harvesting; 
(E) may be used for the conservation and 
restoration of habitat for Tribal species of 
greatest conservation need whose range is 
shared with another State, territory, Indian 
Tribe, or foreign government; 
(F) may be used to manage, control, and 
prevent invasive species, disease, and other 
risks to the habitat of Tribal species of greatest 
conservation need; and 
(G) may be used for forest and vegetation 
management activities if the primary purpose of 
such activity is to modify, improve, enhance, or 
create wildlife habitat or reduce the risk of 
damage or destruction to wildlife habitat due to 
wildfires, insects, or disease, including— 
(i) planting, seeding, and harvesting; 
(ii) mechanical thinning; 
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(iii) prescribed burning; 
(iv) chemical applications designed to 
restore natural range of variation including 
creating and maintaining early seral com-
munities; and 
(v) prescribed haying and grazing 
practices. 
(2) PROHIBITED
USES.—Amounts distributed 
to an Indian Tribe under subsection (c) may not be 
used for— 
(A) rewilding; or 
(B) the reintroduction or management of a 
species in a manner not supported by the appli-
cable Tribal fish and wildlife management au-
thorities. 
(f) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—With respect to any 
grant issued under subsection (c) that exceeds $100,000, 
the Federal share of total costs of the project funded 
through such grant may not exceed 90 percent. 
(g) PUBLIC ACCESS NOT REQUIRED.—Amounts dis-
tributed to an Indian Tribe under subsection (c) 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 amounts de-
posited under subsection (b)(3) for each fiscal year, not 
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more than 3 percent shall be used by the Secretary for 
administrative costs. 
(i) ACCOUNTABILITY.— 
(1) TRIBAL REPORTS.—Not later than the last 
day of fiscal year 2029, each Indian Tribe that re-
ceives funds under this section shall submit to the 
Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs a report 
describing, with respect to such Indian Tribe during 
the preceding 5 years, the following: 
(A) A summary of each activity carried out 
using funding received under subsection (c), in-
cluding— 
(i) an accounting of the administrative 
costs associated with each such activity; 
and 
(ii) the number of acres of habitat re-
stored, enhanced, or conserved by each 
such activity. 
(B) A summary of the results and effec-
tiveness of each activity carried out using fund-
ing received under subsection (c), including, if 
determinable— 
(i) any change in the population 
trends of species of greatest conservation 
need; and 
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(ii) any reduction in threats to species 
of greatest conservation need. 
(2) SUMMARY REPORT.—The Director of the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs shall, not later than 180 
days after each deadline for the submission of re-
ports under paragraph (1), submit a report summa-
rizing each report received by the Director under 
paragraph (1) to— 
(A) the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
(j) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section may 
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 section and any provision of the Alaska National In-
terest 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 Settlement Act shall prevail. 
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TITLE III—CONSERVATION AND 
MANAGEMENT FOR WILDLIFE 
REFUGES 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) AUTHORIZED RECREATION SERVICES.—The 
term ‘‘authorized recreation services’’ means similar 
and complementary recreation enhancement or im-
provement services carried out— 
(A) on Federal land, non-Federal land, and 
land owned by or held in trust for an Indian 
Tribe; and 
(B) by the Secretary, a Governor, or a 
county, as applicable, pursuant to a good neigh-
bor agreement. 
(2) AUTHORIZED
RESTORATION
SERVICES.— 
The term ‘‘authorized restoration services’’ means 
similar and complementary forest, rangeland, and 
watershed restoration services— 
(A) carried out— 
(i) on land administered by the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
non-Federal land, and land owned by an 
Indian Tribe; and 
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(ii) by the Secretary, a Governor, an 
Indian Tribe, or a county; and 
(B) in the case of forest, rangeland, and 
watershed restoration services carried out on 
land administered by the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service, such services shall be con-
sistent with the purposes for which such lands 
were established. 
(3) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘county’’ means— 
(A) the appropriate executive official of an 
affected county or parish; or 
(B) in any case in which multiple counties 
or parishes are affected, the appropriate execu-
tive official of a compact of the affected coun-
ties or parishes. 
(4) FOREST, RANGELAND, AND
WATERSHED 
RESTORATION SERVICES.— 
(A) The term ‘‘forest, rangeland, and wa-
tershed restoration services’’ means an activ-
ity— 
(i) to reduce hazardous fuels; 
(ii) to restore or improve fish, wildlife, 
and their habitats; 
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(iii) to remove vegetation or other ac-
tivities to promote healthy forest structure 
and composition; 
(iv) to treat insect- or disease-infected 
trees; 
(v) to control noxious or exotic weeds; 
(vi) to reestablish native plant species; 
or 
(vii) to maintain a road or trail to re-
store or maintain water quality. 
(B) The term ‘‘forest, rangeland, and wa-
tershed restoration services’’ does not include— 
(i) construction, reconstruction, re-
pair, or restoration of paved roads or park-
ing areas, other than— 
(I) activities described in sub-
paragraph (A)(vii); or 
(II) the reconstruction, repair, or 
restoration of a National Wildlife Ref-
uge System road or other road on 
United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice land that is necessary to carry out 
authorized restoration services pursu-
ant to a good neighbor agreement; or 
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(ii) construction, alteration, repair, or 
replacement of public buildings or works. 
(5) GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT.—The term 
‘‘good neighbor agreement’’ means an agreement or 
contract authorized by section 302(a). 
(6) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor or any other appropriate executive offi-
cial of an affected State or a territory or possession 
of the United States. 
(7) 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). 
(8) RECREATION ENHANCEMENT OR IMPROVE-
MENT
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘recreation enhance-
ment or improvement services’’ means— 
(A) establishing, repairing, restoring, im-
proving, relocating, constructing, or recon-
structing new or existing— 
(i) trails or trailheads; 
(ii) shooting ranges; 
(iii) paved or permanent roads or 
parking areas that serve existing recreation 
facilities or areas; 
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(iv) fishing piers, wildlife viewing plat-
forms, docks, or other constructed features 
at a recreation site; 
(v) boat landings; 
(vi) hunting or fishing sites; or 
(vii) levees and drainage structures to 
improve wetland habitat; and 
(B) activities that create, improve, or re-
store access to existing recreation facilities or 
areas. 
(9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 302. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY FOR THE UNITED 
STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into a 
cooperative agreement or contract with a Governor, an In-
dian Tribe, or a county to carry out authorized restoration 
services or authorized recreation services. 
(b) APPROVAL OF FOREST, RANGELAND, AND WA-
TERSHED RESTORATION SERVICES.—The Secretary shall 
provide or approve any forest, rangeland, and watershed 
services to be carried out on land administered by the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service under this section. 
(c) RESTORATION ACTIVITIES REQUIRING TIMBER 
SALES.— 
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(1) APPROVAL
OF
SILVICULTURE
PRESCRIP-
TIONS AND MARKING GUIDES.—The Secretary shall 
provide or approve all silviculture prescriptions and 
marking guides to be applied on Federal land in all 
timber sale projects conducted under this section. 
(2) TREATMENT OF REVENUE.—Funds received 
from the sale of timber by a Governor, an Indian 
Tribe, or a county under a good neighbor agreement 
shall be retained and used by the Governor, Indian 
Tribe, or county, as applicable— 
(A) to carry out authorized restoration 
services or authorized recreation services on 
Federal land under the good neighbor agree-
ment; and 
(B) if there are funds remaining after car-
rying out authorized restoration services or au-
thorized recreation services under subparagraph 
(A), to carry out authorized restoration services 
or authorized recreation services on Federal 
land within the State under other good neigh-
bor agreements. 
(d) RETENTION
OF
NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION ACT OF 1969 RESPONSIBILITIES.—Any de-
cision required to be made under the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with 
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respect to any authorized restoration services or author-
ized recreation services to be conducted under this section 
on land administered by the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service may not be delegated to a Governor, an Indian 
Tribe, or county. 
(e) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall 
make each good neighbor agreement available to the pub-
lic. 
(f) EXCLUSIONS.—The authority provided by this 
section does not apply to— 
(1) a component of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; 
(2) land on which the removal of vegetation is 
prohibited or restricted by an Act of Congress or a 
Presidential proclamation (including the applicable 
implementation plan) and for which there is no au-
thority to otherwise manage or permit such actions 
consistent with the purposes for which the lands 
were established; or 
(3) a wilderness study area. 
SEC. 
303. 
STEWARDSHIP 
END 
RESULT 
CONTRACTING 
PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into an 
agreement or contract with a private person or other pub-
lic or private entity to perform forest, rangeland, and wa-
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tershed restoration services that are consistent with the 
purposes for which the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service lands that are the subject of the agreement were 
established and local and rural community needs. 
(b) AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS.— 
(1) PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE.—A source for 
performance or an agreement or contract entered 
into under subsection (a) shall be selected on a best- 
value basis, including consideration of source under 
other public and private agreements or contracts. 
(2) CONTRACT
FOR
SALE
OF
FOREST
PROD-
UCTS.—A contract entered into under this section 
may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be consid-
ered a contract for the sale of forest products under 
such terms as the Secretary may prescribe without 
regard to any other provision of law. 
(3) TERM.—The Secretary may enter into an 
agreement or contract under subsection (a) for an 
initial period of not more than 20 years. 
(4) OFFSETS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
apply the value of forest products removed as 
an offset against the cost of forest, rangeland, 
and watershed restoration services received pur-
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suant to an agreement or contract under this 
section. 
(B) VALUE OF OFFSET.—The value of tim-
ber or other forest products used as an offset— 
(i) shall be determined using appro-
priate methods of appraisal commensurate 
with the quantity of products to be re-
moved; and 
(ii) may— 
(I) be determined using a unit of 
measure appropriate to the contracts; 
and 
(II) may include valuing products 
on a per-acre basis. 
(C) 
CONTRACTING
OFFICER.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary may determine the appropriate con-
tracting officer to enter into and administer an 
agreement or contract under this section. 
(c) RECEIPTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may collect 
monies from an agreement or contract under this 
section if the collection is a secondary objective of 
negotiating the contract that will best achieve the 
purpose of this section. 
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(2) DISPOSITION AND AVAILABILITY OF MON-
EYS.—Monies from an agreement or contract under 
this section shall remain available until expended for 
forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services 
at the project site from which the monies are col-
lected, or at another project site. 
(d) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the value of services received 
by the Secretary under a stewardship contract project con-
ducted under this section, and any payments made or re-
sources provided by the contractor or Secretary, shall not 
be considered monies received from United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service lands. 
(e) COSTS OF REMOVAL.—Notwithstanding the fact 
that a contractor did not harvest the timber, the Secretary 
may collect deposits from a contractor covering the costs 
of removal of timber or other forest products. 
(f) PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT GUARANTEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may require 
performance and payment bonds under sections 
28.103–2 and 28.103–3 of the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation, in an amount that the contracting offi-
cer considers sufficient to protect the investment in 
receipts by the Federal Government generated by 
the contractor from the estimated value of the forest 
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products to be removed under a contract under this 
section. 
(2) EXCESS
OFFSET
VALUE.—If the offset 
value of the forest products exceeds the value of the 
resource improvement treatments, the Secretary 
may— 
(A) use the excess to satisfy any out-
standing liabilities from cancelled agreements or 
contracts; or 
(B) if there are no outstanding liabilities 
described in subparagraph (A), apply the excess 
to other authorized stewardship projects. 
(g) 
CANCELLATION
CEILINGS.—Notwithstanding 
section 3903(b)(1) of title 41, United States Code, the 
Secretary may obligate funds in stages that are economi-
cally or programmatically viable to cover any potential 
cancellation or termination costs for an agreement or con-
tract under this section. 
(h) MONITORING AND EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a monitoring and evaluation process that accesses 
the stewardship contracting projects conducted 
under this section. 
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(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Other than the Secretary, 
participants in the process described in this para-
graph may include— 
(A) any cooperating governmental agen-
cies, including Tribal governments; and 
(B) other interested groups or individuals. 
TITLE IV—INCENTIVIZING WILD-
LIFE CONSERVATION ON PRI-
VATE LANDS 
SECTION 401. CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS 
WITH ASSURANCES. 
(a) LISTING DETERMINATIONS.—Section 4(b)(1) of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1533(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS 
WITH
ASSURANCES.—In making a determination 
under subsection (a)(1) with respect to a species, the 
Secretary shall take into account the net conserva-
tion benefit (as that term is defined in section 
10(k)) of any Candidate Conservation Agreement 
with Assurances or any programmatic Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with Assurances (as those 
terms are defined in that subsection) relating to 
such species.’’. 
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(b) CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS WITH 
ASSURANCES.—Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(k) 
CANDIDATE
CONSERVATION
AGREEMENTS 
WITH ASSURANCES.— 
‘‘(1) PROPOSED AGREEMENT.—A covered party 
may submit a proposed Agreement to the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the receipt of a proposed Agree-
ment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ap-
prove the proposed Agreement if the Secretary de-
termines that the proposed Agreement— 
‘‘(A) sets forth specific management activi-
ties that the covered party will undertake to 
conserve the covered species; 
‘‘(B) provides a positive estimate of the net 
conservation benefit of such management activi-
ties to the covered species; 
‘‘(C) requires the Director of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service to determine, 
to the maximum extent practicable, the existing 
population levels of the covered species or the 
existing quality of habitat; 
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