U.S. House of Representatives Passes Ace Act Reauthorization
Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives passed the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8811). The ACE Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA) in the House, and Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) in the Senate (S. 3791), reauthorizes some significant conservation programs, including the National Fish Habitat Partnership (Title II).
“We applaud the US House for making this reauthorization a reality,” said Robert Boyles, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Partnership. “We appreciate the support and hard work of the reauthorization co-sponsors to get this bill over the finish line before the end of the session.”
Due to minor differences from the version of the ACE Act (
S. 3791) passed unanimously by the Senate this Spring, the bill will now need to be passed again in the upper chamber to be enacted before being signed into law.
In addition to the National Fish Habitat Partnership, ACE also reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program, which provides critical funding for conservation measures to reduce pollution and improve water quality in our nation’s largest estuary. The bill also reauthorizes the North American Wetland Conservation Act, as well as effort to efforts to combat aquatic invasive species under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, funding for livestock depredation compensation and prevention, continuation of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and establishment of the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force.
Since 2006, NFHP has implemented over 1,500 conservation projects in all 50 states, generating over $380 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.
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership: Since 2006, NFHP has supported over 1,500 projects benefiting fish habitat throughout all 50 states. This effort works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest effect on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships that are organized around key fish species, geographic areas, or important fish habitats. In 2020, NFHP was recognized by Congress as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act. NFHP guidance and policies are developed in conjunction with our partnerships and National Fish Habitat Board. For more information, visit: https://fishhabitat.org/.
