National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4219

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-16: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Last Updated

2026-04-27T14:55:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation aims to formally authorize and establish the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This program focuses on preventing, detecting, and responding to invasive species—non-native organisms that harm ecosystems, economies, or health—on and near lands and waters managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The goal is to protect native wildlife and habitats through coordinated, rapid actions.

Key Provisions

• Program Establishment: The Secretary of the Interior, through the USFWS Director, must create the program, including at least one invasive species strike team in each of the USFWS's seven regions. These teams will be trained to handle early detection (surveying and verifying new invasive species before they spread widely) and rapid response for various types of invasive species.
• Team Activities: Strike teams will:
• Conserve, manage, and restore habitats to support native species.
• Perform surveillance, mapping, monitoring, eradication, containment, and management of invasive species using integrated pest management (a combined approach of methods like biological controls and chemicals).
• Conduct outreach, training, and exercises, including using the Incident Command System (a standardized emergency response framework).
• Apply risk assessments, research, and evaluations to improve effectiveness.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: The program requires working with federal, state, tribal, local governments, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits, and private entities to share resources and priorities. It also mandates developing consistent standards for identifying species across Department of the Interior databases and using national reporting tools (e.g., Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System).
• Assistance and Agreements: The Secretary can provide financial aid, technical help, contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to manage adjacent properties. Upon request, strike teams can assist other federal or state agencies in responding to invasive species outside refuge boundaries.
• Coordination: Management actions must align with nearby landowners and state agencies.
• Reporting Requirements: Biennial reports (at 2 and 5 years after enactment) to congressional committees and the public, summarizing team activities and progress on priority invasive species (those with high impacts on natives, habitats, health, or economy).
• Funding: Authorizes $15 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the program.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new, dedicated program within the USFWS, which previously managed invasive species on an ad hoc basis under broader authorities like the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966. It mandates structured strike teams, standardized tools, and interagency agreements, shifting from reactive to proactive, prevention-focused strategies. It also explicitly authorizes funding and reporting, which were not previously specified for this purpose.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances USFWS capacity for invasive species control, potentially reducing long-term costs from unchecked spread (e.g., habitat damage). It fosters interagency cooperation, easing burdens on state and tribal resource managers, but requires new staffing and training.
• Citizens and Environment: Improves protection of public lands and adjacent properties, benefiting communities near refuges through healthier ecosystems, reduced economic losses (e.g., from invasive plants harming agriculture), and safer conditions (e.g., species affecting human health). No direct international relations impacts, though it supports U.S. biodiversity commitments.
• Broader Effects: Could prevent invasive species from spreading to non-refuge areas, aiding overall national environmental health, but implementation depends on funding availability.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily USFWS and Department of the Interior; secondarily, other agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey or Department of Agriculture that may request assistance.
• State, Tribal, Local Governments: Benefit from partnerships, technical aid, and coordinated responses, especially in managing shared borders with refuges.
• Nongovernmental and Private Entities: Nonprofits, landowners, and businesses near refuges gain access to grants, expertise, and tools for invasive species control.
• General Public and Environment: Citizens relying on refuges for recreation or livelihoods (e.g., fishing, farming) see indirect benefits from preserved habitats and native species.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Builds on existing invasive species laws (e.g., Executive Order 13112 on Invasive Species) without overriding them, emphasizing voluntary partnerships to avoid property rights conflicts. The authorization of appropriations is advisory, meaning Congress must still approve funds.
• Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over public lands (Property Clause of the Constitution) and does not infringe on state powers, as it encourages rather than mandates state involvement.
• Political: Supports bipartisan environmental conservation goals, potentially appealing to rural districts with refuges. It highlights invasive species as a non-partisan threat, but success hinges on sustained funding amid budget debates; no major controversies anticipated, as it focuses on domestic wildlife protection.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

Cosponsors (1)

Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-16: Subcommittee Hearings Held
• 2026-04-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
• 2025-06-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-06-27: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-27: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E631)
• 2025-06-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-27 — PDF (8 pages)