Charleston Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Tom Carper have introduced the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at bolstering wildlife conservation efforts and protecting ecosystems from evolving threats. The bill seeks to continue habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, and enhance public-private partnerships in the United States.

"The ACE Act includes important provisions to support conservation and habitat restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, which will help boost our state's outdoor recreation industry, especially in the Eastern Panhandle," said Senator Capito, the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.

Senator Carper, the Chairman of the EPW Committee, highlighted the significance of the ACE Act in protecting the nation's natural beauty and conserving wildlife. "This legislation once again reauthorizes programs such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and the Chesapeake Bay Program, which help preserve vital ecosystems, restore habitat, and conserve wildlife," he said.

The ACE Act recognizes the shared responsibility of wildlife conservation among the federal government, state partners, and stakeholders like hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers. It aims to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat by reauthorizing key acts such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act, and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

In addition to addressing the threats posed by emerging wildlife diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease, the bill also focuses on protecting livestock from predators and combating invasive species.

The legislation has garnered support from various organizations and associations, including Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Wildlife Federation, American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

The ACE Act is co-sponsored by Senators Ben Cardin, John Boozman, Alex Padilla, Roger Wicker, Sheldon Whitehouse, Markwayne Mullin, and Chris Van Hollen.

With its comprehensive approach to wildlife conservation and its bipartisan support, the ACE Act holds promise for the preservation and protection of America's diverse ecosystems and wildlife.