PHOENIX – Senator Kyrsten Sinema has signed onto a bipartisan wildlife conservation bill, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, that will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to locally-led efforts to help at-risk wildlife species nationwide.

“We’re facing a looming wildlife crisis, and this is the most important piece of wildlife legislation  in the past fifty years,” said Scott Garlid, the Executive Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “We thank Senator Sinema for co-sponsoring this fiscally responsible effort to help at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures across every state, territory and Tribal nation.”

The bill would send $31 million to the Arizona Game and Fish Department which the agency will use to implement its wildlife action plan. The plan identifies 531 priority species, including the prairie falcon, Arizona treefrog and Apache trout. 

“Arizona’s outdoors – including our parks, trails, and wildlife – are part of what makes our state so great. Our bipartisan legislation creates strong careers, supports our hunters and anglers, and grows our economy – all while ensuring future generations of Arizonans can enjoy our state for years to come,” Senator Sinema said in a statement. 

The bill also includes $97.5 million annually for wildlife conservation efforts led by federally recognized tribes.

“As sovereign entities responsible for managing tens of millions of acres, tribal nations don’t just manage wildlife and their habitats for biological and scientific purposes. We also manage them for our own well-being and livelihoods,” said Gloria Tom, Director of the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We have the necessary knowledge to restore our ecosystems, but are lacking the financial resources to fully carry out our plans. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act is absolutely vital for the success of our conservation work and the alignment of our efforts with the principles and knowledge of the Navajo Nation. We thank Senator Sinema for supporting this crucial bill.” 

“Saving the thousands of at-risk wildlife species will require bold, bipartisan leadership,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are so grateful to Senator Sinema for leading the way on the historic Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill will have an immediate impact – saving species, creating jobs and protecting our way of life in Arizona and all across the country.”

A similar bill passed the House last session, with support from five Arizona representatives. Senators Sinema and Kelly also cosponsored a Senate version last session. It passed out of committee but never received a floor vote, despite having 47 bipartisan cosponsors

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all Americans. We hope the entire Arizona delegation will join Senator Sinema in cosponsoring this commonsense bill and help it get across the finish line,” said Garlid.