Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill extends federal funding for wildlife restoration and wetlands conservation programs by seven years, from 2026 to 2033. It amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to continue making interest earned on the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund available for conservation purposes.
Who Benefits and How
State wildlife agencies benefit by receiving continued federal funding for conservation programs and public access projects. Hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts benefit from maintained wildlife habitats and continued public access to outdoor areas. Conservation organizations benefit from sustained funding for wetlands and habitat restoration programs. The outdoor recreation industry benefits from the economic activity generated by continued access to wildlife areas.
Who Bears the Burden and How
No new costs or burdens are imposed by this legislation. The funding comes from interest earned on existing excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment that are already collected under the Pittman-Robertson Act.
Key Provisions
- Extends availability of interest on obligations held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund through 2033.
- Modifies section 3(b)(2)(C) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act by replacing 2026 with 2033.
- Authorizes continued use of interest earnings to support state wildlife restoration, wetlands conservation, and public access work.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Extends the availability of interest earned on Federal wildlife restoration funds from 2026 to 2033, enabling continued funding for wetlands conservation and public access programs.
Key Policy Areas
Wildlife Conservation, Natural Resources, Public Lands
Primary Purpose
Extends the availability of interest earned on Federal wildlife restoration funds from 2026 to 2033, enabling continued funding for wetlands conservation and public access programs.
Policy Domains
Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025
Identified Gains
- State wildlife agencies
- Hunters and anglers
- Wetlands conservation programs
- Public wildlife-area visitors
Identified Costs
- Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund administrators
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
Signed into LawSigned by President.
Became Public Law No: 119-40.
Presented to President.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7734)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous …
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous …
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to …
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment …
Passed House (inferred from eh version)
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, Outdoor recreation industry
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology