Charleston Leader

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Tom Carper have introduced the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, a legislation aimed at bolstering wildlife conservation efforts across the country. The bill seeks to protect and preserve ecosystems from threats such as invasive species and wildlife diseases.

"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.

Senator Carper emphasized the importance of the ACE Act in protecting the nation's natural beauty and conserving wildlife. He stated, "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. The ACE Act also recognizes that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility between the federal government, state partners, and many stakeholders, including hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers."

The ACE Act focuses on conserving wildlife and their habitats 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. It also addresses emerging wildlife diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease, protects livestock from predators, and combats invasive species.

The bipartisan legislation has garnered support from Senators Ben Cardin, John Boozman, Alex Padilla, Roger Wicker, Sheldon Whitehouse, Markwayne Mullin, and Chris Van Hollen.

In addition, the ACE Act has received endorsements from prominent organizations including Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsmens Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

The full text of the bill can be accessed here.