To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program.
Sponsors
Ed Case
D-HI | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Case (for himself and Mr. Moylan) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act establishes a formal program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to combat invasive species on and near National Wildlife Refuge lands. The bill authorizes $15 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to create specialized strike teams in each Fish and Wildlife Service region, trained to detect and rapidly respond to invasive species threats before they become unmanageable.
Who Benefits and How
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service benefits directly by receiving $75 million over five years to hire staff, purchase equipment, and establish regional strike teams. Environmental consulting firms specializing in invasive species management gain new contracting opportunities for detection, eradication, and monitoring services. State wildlife agencies, tribal governments, nonprofit conservation organizations, and private landowners adjacent to refuges can receive grants, technical assistance, and direct financial support for invasive species control on their lands. Companies providing pest control services, environmental technology and mapping software, and emergency response training services gain procurement and partnership opportunities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the $15 million annual appropriation. Other federal agencies like the USDA, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Geological Survey face new coordination requirements and must adopt consistent taxonomy standards across Department of Interior databases when tracking invasive species, which may require system updates and additional staff time.
Key Provisions
- Establishes at least one invasive species strike team in each U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service region, trained in early detection and rapid response for multiple types of invasive species
- Authorizes the Secretary of Interior to provide financial assistance, technical support, grants, and cooperative agreements to federal, state, tribal, and local governments, nonprofits, and private landowners for invasive species management on lands adjacent to National Wildlife Refuges
- Requires strike teams to use integrated pest management techniques and standardized national reporting platforms like the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System and the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
- Mandates biennial reports to Congress (at 2 and 5 years after enactment) detailing each strike team's work and progress toward preventing, detecting, controlling, or eradicating priority invasive species
- Allows other federal and state agencies to request strike team assistance for invasive species emergencies under their jurisdiction through interagency agreements
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Establishes the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program to detect, control, and eradicate invasive species on and adjacent to National Wildlife Refuge lands
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Codify existing invasive species management efforts and provide stable funding authorization for coordinated rapid response teams across Fish and Wildlife Service regions"
Likely Beneficiaries
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (increased capacity and funding)
- State wildlife agencies (partnership opportunities and technical assistance)
- Native species and ecosystems (improved invasive species control)
- Environmental consultants and contractors (invasive species management services)
- Nonprofit conservation organizations (partnership and grant opportunities)
- Adjacent landowners (technical and financial assistance for invasive species control)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Federal taxpayers (appropriation of million per year, 2026-2030)
- Private entities managing invasive species (potential regulatory implications from improved detection)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A non-native organism whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health
A process of surveying for, reporting, and verifying the presence of a non-native species before the founding population becomes established or spreads widely
An invasive species that is a major concern based on potential impact on native species, ability to alter habitats, ability to harm human health, and severity of economic impact
The National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory and possession of the United States
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