Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025
Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would create new federal funding and programs to help wildlife move safely across landscapes. It establishes a grant program through the Department of the Interior to fund projects that improve habitats in areas where animals travel and migrate. At least half the grant money must specifically support big game (like elk, deer, and moose) movement corridors. The bill also creates a research program to help states and tribal nations study and better understand where wildlife moves and how to manage these movement areas effectively. **Who It Affects:** The bill impacts wildlife conservation organizations, state fish and wildlife agencies, Native American tribes, landowners, and ultimately the animals themselves.
It extends and expands an existing "Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program" that currently works with private landowners. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who depend on healthy wildlife populations would also be indirectly affected. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill would authorize funding through fiscal year 2031.
CRS Official Summary
Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025This bill establishes additional support for wildlife movement areas. It also reauthorizes and modifies (1) the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and (2) wildlife-related cooperative research and training programs.Specifically, the bill establishes within the Department of the Interior a grant program for projects that improve or conserve habitat quality in movement areas of terrestrial vertebrate species. At least 50% of the amounts made available to carry out the grant program must be used for projects that directly conserve, restore, or enhance big game movement areas.Interior must also establish a research program that provides funds to state fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes to collect and analyze data on the identification, characteristics, or management of movement areas.The bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to allow Interior to use program funds to provide technical assistance to other federal agencies to implement voluntary programs with a focus on migration corridor or seasonal habitat conservation efforts on private and tribal land.The bill also reauthorizes through FY2031 cooperative research and training programs for fish and wildlife resources. At least 50% of the funding must be used for projects that improve habitat quality in movement areas of big game and other wildlife.Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Geological Survey to work with, and provide technical assistance to, federal agencies, states, and Indian tribes to build on existing efforts to map movement areas.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.