Federal funding for natural resources and the environment continues to erode and presently accounts for less than one percent of overall federal discretionary spending. In addition, pass-through funds from federal excise taxes paid by anglers, hunters, and recreational shooters fall increasingly short of help state fish and wildlife agencies meet their base needs for conserving fish and wildlife. Priorities include:
Provide adequate base funding to federal land management agencies to enable them to meet their legislative mandates to sustain fish and wildlife populations, provide access for fishing and other recreation, deliver ecosystem services to communities, and allow careful, science-informed development that helps sustain the country’s economy. Lack of funding, ongoing litigation, conflicting policy changes, and other factors have paralyzed federal land management and reduced agencies’ capacity to manage the lands under their care.
Protect existing dedicated funding—exempt Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration funds from mandatory spending accounts that are subject to budget sequestration.
Increase funding and capacity for education, management, and prevention to combat priority aquatic invasive species in partnership with the states.