Capito’s WILD Act heads to Biden’s desk to be signed into law

The U.S. Senate on Sept. 24 passed a bipartisan bill offered by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to reauthorize federal wildlife habitat and conservation programs. 

The Senate amended and then passed by voice vote the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver (WILD) Reauthorization Act, H.R. 5009. The original bill was identical to S. 2395 which was cosponsored in July 2023 by Sen. Capito alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). 

“By passing the WILD Act, the Senate advanced the reauthorization of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program that supports our conservation and habitat restoration efforts throughout the country, including West Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region,” said Sen. Capito, who is the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “I appreciate [Senate Environment and Public Works Committee] Chairman Carper for leading on this legislation with me as we help strengthen conservation and wildlife programs in America and around the world.”

The bipartisan legislation will reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which enables wildlife and habitat conservation in all 50 states and territories, and the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, which support the global conservation of imperiled species, including rhinos, elephants, tigers, great apes and turtles. 

While the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5009 on Feb. 5, the amended bill now returns to the House for final passage before it would go to the president’s desk. 

“Across our nation and around the world, climate change and habitat loss are threatening wildlife,” said Sen. Carper. “The bipartisan WILD Act tackles these threats head-on by enabling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to promote voluntary conservation efforts.”

Additionally, the bill will help ensure the United States remains a global leader in protecting and conserving wildlife, he said.

“I thank Senator Capito for her partnership on this important legislation and our colleagues for passing it through the Senate,” added Sen. Carper.

The WILD Act is supported by several organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the World Wildlife Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, and The Nature Conservancy, among others.