Senator Klobuchar Backs Bipartisan Bill To Help Minnesota’s At-Risk Wildlife

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Senator Amy Klobuchar 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 thousands of at-risk wildlife species nationwide.

"This is the most important proposal for wildlife we've seen in the past fifty years," said Brad Gausman, Executive Director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation. "We thank Senator Klobuchar for co-sponsoring this effort to help Minnesota's at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures."

The bill will send $21 million to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which the agency will use to implement its wildlife action plan. Nearly 350 local species would benefit - including common loons, brook trout, and trumpeter swans.

"Saving the thousands of at-risk wildlife species will require bold, bipartisan leadership and unprecedented collaboration," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "We are so grateful to Senator Klobuchar for leading the way on the historic Recovering America's Wildlife Act which will create jobs helping wildlife in Minnesota and all across the country."

Federally recognized tribal nations, such as the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and Mdewakanton Sioux Indians, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on tribal lands.

The bill currently has 19 Senate cosponsors, including ten Republicans.

"Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all Americans. We hope the entire Minnesota delegation will join Senator Klobuchar in supporting this commonsense bill," said Gausman.