(Washington D.C.) – On Friday, June 21, The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R.8811) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with the support of recreational fishing industry advocates and conservation partners of the National Fish Habitat Partnership. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Representatives Wittman (R-VA), Dingell (D-MI), Kiggans (R-VA), and Thompson (D-CA) to reauthorize some of the most successful conservation programs in the country, including the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP).

“We applaud the House introduction of the ACE Act Reauthorization. This critical legislation will ensure that the National Fish Habitat Partnership remains a successful program in helping partners conserve fish habitat across the country,” said Robert Boyles, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “This legislation would not be possible without our partners in conservation. We also would like to thank Representatives Wittman (R-VA), Dingell (D-MI), Kiggans (R-VA) and Thompson (D-CA) for championing the reauthorization of this critical program.”

NFHP consists of 20 distinct Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHP’s) who coordinate with federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, local governments, and the private sector to leverage one another’s work to maximize benefits to fish habitat and the American people. In addition to coordinating activities among various partners, FHP’s have implemented over 1,700 conservation projects in all 50 states, generating over $400 million in leveraged funding. NFHP conservation projects have reconnected more than 9,800 miles of rivers and streams while conserving over 70,000 acres of river, lake, riparian, upland, estuary, and wetland habitat.

This introduction follows the passage of the Senate version S. 3791 on May 8, 2024.