{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-kennedy-bipartisan-legislation-to-restore-wetlands-and-migratory-bird-habitats-passes-senate-and-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Heinrich, Kennedy Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Wetlands and Migratory Bird Habitats Passes Senate and Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, and U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) announced that their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2030 has passed the Senate, as part of the America\u2019s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis reauthorization will continue to support our most successful public-private conservation partnership, and I'm proud to see it head to the President\u2019s desk,\" said Heinrich. \"The bipartisan North American Wetlands Conservation Act helps conserve New Mexico\u2019s unique waterfowl and the wetlands they depend on for our future generations while investing in our flourishing outdoor recreation economy. The President should sign this bill immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cLouisiana\u2019s wetlands are a big part of our state\u2019s outdoor sportsman culture and geographical beauty. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an important step to preserve our wildlife and protect our environment\u2019s natural defense system,\u201d said Kennedy.\n\nNAWCA was originally enacted in 1989 to provide federal matching grants\u2014in partnership with funding from state and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations\u2014for projects that conserve North America\u2019s wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife.\n\nNew Mexico has 14 NAWCA projects either completed or underway, which have conserved 22,632 acres of wildlife habitat. NAWCA funding of more than $5.7 million stimulated partner contributions of over $14 million in the state.\n\nAbout NAWCA:\n\nWetlands secure freshwater supplies, recharge aquifers, and mitigate soil erosion and flooding. In addition, waterfowl, migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife depend on wetlands for habitat, food, and migration stopovers. This wildlife also supports a multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy, including fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. NAWCA funding has been critical to acquiring, restoring, and enhancing wetlands in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. In total, more than 3,300 NAWCA projects have contributed to the conservation and restoration of more than 32 million acres of wetlands all across North America.\n\nNAWCA has provided a great return on investment, generating, on average, two additional dollars for every federal dollar. Over the program\u2019s history, federal grants totaling more than $2.28 billion have spurred $4.53 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. NAWCA funds have also supported an average of 7,500 jobs each year and more than $5 billion in annual economic activity.\n\nThe legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).\n\nThe North American Wetlands Conservation Act is endorsed by Ducks Unlimited, Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Delta Waterfowl, Boone and Crockett, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Audubon, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Outdoor Industry Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Restore America\u2019s Estuaries.\n\nA one-page summary of the bill is here.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-kennedy-bipartisan-legislation-to-restore-wetlands-and-migratory-bird-habitats-passes-senate-and-heads-to-presidents-desk"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.894610933959484, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}