For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2014
Ryan Roberts rroberts@fishwildlife.org
NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION ACT ADVANCES THROUGH SENATE EPW COMMITTEE – Bill will Head to Senate Floor
(Washington, DC) – The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (S. 2080) en bloc, in a package with six other water resource and conservation bills on April 3, 2014.
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced S. 2080, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA) on March 5, 2014. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) – an unprecedented national partnership effort aimed squarely at protecting, restoring and enhancing the nation’s fish habitats.
Both Senators Cardin and Crapo sit on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Senator Cardin is the Chair of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Senator Crapo is a long-time supporter of NFHCA. Previous versions of NFHCA have enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress, including bipartisan approval by the Environment and Public Works Committee in two different Congresses. The bill passed today includes modifications to language in earlier versions of NFHCA that were made in consultation with several Senators and their staffs from both sides of the aisle. “I want to thank our co-sponsors for their help in ensuring that the National Fish Habitat Action Plan will someday become a major tool to deliver conservation in the United States. This is one more step in ensuring that the visioning in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan will one day be codified through this important piece of legislation.” said, Kelly Hepler, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “We were certainly encouraged with today’s advancement by the committee and hope that the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act will go to the Senate floor in this session of Congress.” The bill can now proceed to the U.S. Senate floor for approval, action on the bill will be determined at a later date.
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, The National Fish Habitat Partnership has been a partner in 417 projects in 46 states benefiting fish habitat. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, and private funding sources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects. The national partnership implements the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and supports 18 regional grassroots partner organizations.
For more information visit:
http://fishhabitat.org/