• by Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

Fifteen local and national conservation groups have taken out a half-page print and digital ad buy in the Sunday Post and Courier thanking Senator Lindsey Graham for cosponsoring the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will prevent extinctions by dedicating $1.4 billion annually for collaborative efforts on behalf of at-risk wildlife species. South Carolina will receive $14 million each year to help hundreds of species in need, including bobwhite quail, gopher tortoises, black rails and loggerhead sea turtles.

“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 Senate bill has 32 bipartisan cosponsors — 16 of them Republicans, including Senator Graham. Senator Graham sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will vote on the bill next week. Nearly 170 representatives have signed onto the House version of the legislation.

“Saving the thousands of at-risk wildlife species will require bold, bipartisan leadership and unprecedented collaboration,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are so grateful to Senator Graham for leading the way on the historic Recovering America’s Wildlife Act that will have an immediate impact – saving species and creating jobs in South Carolina and all across the country.”

Nationwide, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act dedicates funding to collaborative wildlife restoration efforts, largely led by the states and Tribes. Federally recognized tribal nations, such as the Catawba in South Carolina, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on their lands.

A recent nationwide poll of nearly 1,199 likely voters found that 87 percent of likely voters supported the bill, with only 7 percent opposed.

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all South Carolinians. We hope to see this bill make it to the President’s desk this year,” said Green.

The ad was paid for by the National Wildlife Federation. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Hampton Wildlife Fund, Midlands Striper Club, Audubon South Carolina, South Carolina Waterfowl Association, Wildlife Action, South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, National Deer Alliance, and Ducks Unlimited joined the effort.