Press Releases

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that the U.S. House has passed H.R. 2773, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), which includes mandatory federal funding of $1.3 billion annually to states, including $60 million to Hawai’i, to assist in managing wildlife species in greatest need of protection.

“The act will direct an estimated $60 million each year to Hawai‘i to help implement our wildlife action plan, which will make a crucial difference as we strive to save critically endangered species and preserve our uniquely diverse ecosystems,” said Case. “Overall, the measure will provide over $1.3 billion annually to assist programs across the country to conserve, restore and protect wildlife and their habitats.”

Ulalia Woodside, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy Hawai'i and Palmyra, said: "Hawai‘i has less than one percent of the land of the United States, but we are home to nearly half of the country’s endangered species and climate change is exacerbating the situation. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide much-needed resources to help prevent the extinction of our rarest forest birds and to fund important recovery work across Hawaii’s landscapes and ecosystems. Mahalo a nui loa to our Representatives for valuing our natural resources." 

Case pointed out that under current law, on average, individual endangered species on the mainland receive 10 times more federal funding than those in Hawai‘i. He worked in his Committee to revise the formula to direct more funding to the states like Hawai‘i that are home to species of the greatest conservation need.

Of the nearly 1,600 endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act today, almost 500 are found in Hawai‘i. Just last year, nine more of Hawaii’s endemic species were officially reclassified as extinct.

Case explained that “the world is in the middle of an extinction crisis, and, unfortunately, Hawai‘i is at its center. As a result of climate change, invasive species and other environmental stressors, Hawai‘i has become the invasive species capital of the world. RAWA will help save countless species that would otherwise be lost."

RAWA focuses on preventative measures to conserve and restore the nation’s fish and wildlife, helping to avoid more restrictive “emergency room” protections of the Endangered Species Act. This approach to conservation supports the outdoor recreation economy and provides regulatory certainty for farmers, small businesses and industry.

RAWA now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration. 

Click here for bill text.

Click here for a fact sheet from the Natural Resources Committee.

Attachments:

·        pictures of endangered wildlife – photos courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

·        video of endangered forest birds courtesy Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i Palmyra https://www.dropbox.com/s/dggnlyot4ocjeb9/Native%20birds%20and%20forests.mp4?dl=0

###