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Extinction Prevention Act of 2026

Bill Number
H.R. 8850
Origin Chamber
House
Congress
119th Congress, Session 2
Status
Introduced
Latest Action
2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Last Updated
2026-06-04T08:08:03Z

AI-Generated Summary

Extinction Prevention Act of 2026 (H.R. 8850)

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill establishes four separate conservation funds to support efforts to protect and recover specific threatened and endangered species and their habitats. It aims to provide dedicated financial resources for conservation projects involving butterflies in North America, plants in the Pacific Islands, freshwater mussels in the United States, and desert fish in the Southwest United States, while fostering cooperation among governments, tribes, and other partners.

Key Provisions

Creates the North America Butterfly Conservation Fund. The Secretary of the Interior provides competitive grants (including multiyear grants) for projects involving habitat protection, research, monitoring, management plans, law enforcement, and education. Eligible applicants include state, tribal, and nonprofit entities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and specified Caribbean nations. Projects must demonstrate local consent and support where required. Priority is given to species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), projects with matching funds, and those ensuring long-term sustainability.

Establishes the Pacific Islands Plant Conservation Fund for threatened and endangered plants in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Similar grant program structure, with emphasis on ecosystem protection, research, and community involvement. No international component.

Creates the Freshwater Mussel Conservation Fund for U.S. freshwater mussels (order Unioinida). Grants support habitat restoration, population monitoring, and management plans, with a focus on urgency due to population declines. Eligible applicants include states, tribes, and research institutions.

Establishes the Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund for desert fish in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. Grants target habitat conservation and threat mitigation, with similar eligibility and review processes.

Common elements across titles:

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces new dedicated Treasury accounts for targeted conservation, modeled on existing wildlife funds but focused on specific taxa and regions. It does not amend the ESA or other statutes but directs use of ESA authorities for project implementation. No broad regulatory changes are made.

Potential Impacts

Main Stakeholders Affected

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill relies on existing ESA authority without creating new regulatory powers. It emphasizes matching funds, project sustainability, and local stakeholder engagement. No major constitutional issues are apparent in the text. The structure supports targeted, competitive funding rather than broad mandates, with built-in oversight through annual reports and public access to project documents.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

Recent Actions

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