Senator Lindsey Graham is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that will fund locally led efforts to help prevent extinctions and help wildlife thrive nationwide.

“America’s wildlife are in crisis and this groundbreaking legislation tackles the problem at the magnitude that is necessary,” said Sara Green, Executive Director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. “We thank Senator Graham for cosponsoring this fiscally responsible effort to help at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures across every state, territory, and Tribal nation.”

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would send more than $14 million annually to South Carolina, which would use the money to help the 800 at-risk species identified by the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).

“These conservation dollars are akin to the historic Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funds put in place decades ago” said Robert Boyles, SCDNR Director. “What that legislation did for game and sportfish species, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will do for South Carolina’s imperiled wildlife resources such as the gopher tortoise, whimbrel, black rail, loggerhead sea turtle, and others listed in our State Wildlife Action Plan. We wholeheartedly thank Senator Graham for his leadership in supporting this important piece of legislation to benefit our state’s natural resources and its citizens.”

Nationwide, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act dedicates $1.4 billion annually to locally led wildlife restoration efforts. At least 15 percent of the funds will be used to help species already considered endangered or threatened on the tens of millions of acres under tribal management nationwide. Tribal Nations, such as the Catawba, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on their lands.

“Roughly one out of every three species of wildlife nationwide is at an increased level of risk,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are so grateful to Senator Graham for leading the way on this bold, bipartisan bill that will have an immediate impact in South Carolina and all across the country.”

An array of South Carolina entities have also endorsed the bill, including the Harry R. E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, SC Boating & Fishing Alliance, and local chapters of the Audubon Society, National Deer Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, and more.

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the bill in July with Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). A companion bill in the House has more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors.

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all South Carolinians, and we hope Senator Tim Scott and the rest of the delegation will join Senator Graham in cosponsoring this commonsense bill,” said Green.