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Bill Would Authorize FWS to Restore Coastal Landscapes that Provide Habitat to Fish and Wildlife Under Federal Jurisdiction

Senate Bill 1381, the “Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023,” would authorize the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to assess, protect, restore, and enhance important coastal landscapes that provide habitat to migratory birds, threatened or endangered species, interjurisdictional fish, and marine mammals over which FWS has management authority. It was introduced by Senator Ben Cardin and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Bill Would Require Contractors to Resume Border Wall Construction and Provide Blanket Exemptions from the ESA, NEPA, and Multiple Other Environmental and Conservation Laws

House Resolution 989, the “Build the Wall Now Act,” would direct resumption of the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and would exempt all related construction from the Administrative Procedure Act, the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and multiple other environmental laws. The bill was reintroduced by Representative Jim Banks and has been referred to nine committees, including the House Committee on Natural Resources, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on the Judiciary.

FWS Proposes Rule Changes Relating to Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons on Tribal Land

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing a revised process for establishing special regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands for migratory bird hunting seasons. The proposal includes elimination of the current requirement that Tribes submit annual proposals to FWS for review and approval. FWS will accept public comments on the proposed rule change through May 8, 2023.

Bill Would Allow Livestock Producers to Kill Black Vultures

House Resolution 1437 would authorize livestock producers to take black vultures without a Migratory Bird Depredation Permit if they believe the vultures will cause injury or death to livestock. The bill was introduced by Representatives John Rose and Darren Soto and has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill text is not yet publicly available.

Advocacy Groups Urge FWS to Enforce MBTA to Protect Brown Pelicans in Florida

The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Pelicans, Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Humane Society of the United States, and the American Bird Conservancy are urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) if Florida fails to address threats to protected coastal birds at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. According to the groups, state-sanctioned fishing activities at the pier are injuring and killing a significant number of brown pelicans and other migratory coastal birds when they become hooked or entangled in fishing gear. The groups argue that these casualties all constitute illegal takes under the MBTA that require FWS intervention.