releases: https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-senator-padilla-introduce-bipartisan-wildlife-movement
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-senator-padilla-introduce-bipartisan-wildlife-movement | Congressman Zinke, Senator Padilla introduce the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act | 2024-06-24 | 2024 | 2024-06 | Republican | House | MT | Ryan K. Zinke | Z000018 | zinke.house.gov | zinke | https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today, Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT) and Democrat Congressman Don Beyer (VA) introducedThe Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Zinke made the announcement at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters in Missoula, MT, where he was joined by representatives from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Boone and Crocket Club, Mule Deer Foundation and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. In 2018, Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors” which committed federal and state agencies to collaborate and ensure the health and longevity of big game migration corridors and identify critical wintering habitat. This legislation will build off Secretarial Order 3362 by codifying Zinke’s Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program. This grant will provide funding to eligible entities for conservation work in support of big game wildlife migration corridors and habitat connectivity. It will codify SO 3362 as well as the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program and USDA’s Migratory Big Game Initiative. Big game species defined in the legislation as native species of large mammals, including deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose, for which State and Tribal wildlife agencies have established regulated means and methods of take- rely on migration corridors for winter and summer range habitat. These corridors can cross swaths of both public and private land with obstacles such as fencing, highways, subdivisions, and other development which can block wildlife movement and lead to drastic downturns in big game herd populations. The bill would: 1. Create the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program 2. Establish the State and Tribal Migration Research Program 3. Add migration corridors and seasonal habitat conservation efforts as eligible for financial assistance under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. 4. Direct United States Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units to map big game corridors and movement areas Read the full text of the bill here. Image More photos from the press conference can be found here. “Wildlife follow the path that has been bred and programmed into them over generations with no understanding of the distinctions between private and public or federal and state land. That’s why collaboration and partnerships are so important when managing migratory species such as Pronghorn, big horn, and Mule Deer,” said Congressman Zinke. “It has been five years since I signed S.O. 3362 and a lot of quality conservation work has been done to promote big game habitat in that time, and now is the time to solidify the intent and purpose of the program to promote public-private partnerships in conservation and focus on migratory big game. I thank Representative Beyer, Senator Padilla, for joining me in this critical effort.” “With one in five migratory species facing the threat of extinction, recognizing connectivity corridors can help us understand biodiversity loss and better protect the migration patterns of iconic American species, like the Pronghorn,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Our Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would provide the necessary grants and technical assistance to enhance wildlife connectivity and enable the collection and analysis of data on wildlife movement areas. Additionally, this bill would support the U.S. Geological Service mapping efforts that track wildlife movement to accurately identify active corridors and migration patterns. I thank my colleagues and conservation leaders who worked with us to craft this important bill and urge my colleagues to support it as we seek to protect our wildlife diversity by ensuring that species can move freely across landscapes and access vital resources.” “Wildlife across the country face additional barriers to their migration, threatening the vibrant biodiversity of our nation and putting human lives at risk,” said Senator Padilla. “From the sprawling urban wilderness of Griffith Park to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Atlantic Flyway, protecting wildlife corridors is a crucial bipartisan priority, and I am glad to work across the aisle to better conserve, restore, and enhance habitat connectivity and migration routes across the nation.” Statements of Support: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-07T21:11:47Z |