New Bipartisan Legislation from Moskowitz and Donalds Streamlines State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program, Supports Conservation Efforts in Florida

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressmen Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) and Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) introduced their bipartisan Make SWAPs Efficient Act to expedite the process under which the federal government must approve state wildlife protection grant funding. The law would institute a 180-day timeline for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to review wildlife action plans, which are a prerequisite for states to receive federal resources under the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program.

No set timeline currently exists for the agency to review wildlife action plans. Through the Make SWAPs Efficient Act, federal funding for critical conservation programs could get out the door faster, ensuring that the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program continues to achieve its goal while cutting red tape at the Department of Interior. 

“Florida depends on the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program to help protect the diverse ecosystems that call our state home, but it takes far too long for the federal government to approve wildlife conservation action plans under it,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “So I’m teaming up with Congressman Donalds on commonsense legislation that will institute a timeline for officials to sign off on these strategies and get these targeted funds out more quickly. By streamlining this conservation tool, our bill will cut red tape and help ensure our public lands and Florida wildlife stay protected from coast to coast.”

“As we continue to peel back the labyrinth of federal bureaucracy that has paralyzed the basic functions of our federal government, we must turn to the Department of Interior,” said Congressman Donalds. “Currently, it’s taking over a year and a half to approve basic state wildlife protection plans to ensure non-game species do not become threatened or endangered. This is unacceptable, and this is why I introduced H.R. 1676 to expedite this timeline to just 180 days. We are making our government efficient again whether bureaucrats in Washington like it or not.”

Since 2000, the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program has provided funding for the development, revision, and implementation of wildlife conservation and restoration plans and programs. States must develop and submit wildlife conservation strategies—otherwise known as State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs)—to receive funding under the program, but no timeline currently exists for the federal government to approve SWAPs.

Under the Make SWAPs Efficient Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior must consider a state’s wildlife action plan within 180 days. If it does not, the SWAP is “deemed approved.” 

States must submit SWAPs every ten years to receive funding under the program. This year alone, more than 45 states have SWAPs due, and in previous cases, wildlife action plans have taken more than eighteen months to be approved before funds can be released.

The bipartisan, commonsense Make SWAPs Efficient Act from Moskowitz and Donalds has received support from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; All Florida; Ducks Unlimited; and Florida Commercial Watermen’s Conservation.

For more information on the bipartisan bill, click HERE.

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