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HR 5009

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

118th Congress Introduced by Buddy Carter and 10 co-sponsors

Reauthorizes and funds USFWS habitat restoration on private lands and multiyear international grants for elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles through FY2028.

Signed by President.
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Bill Summary · HR 5009

Summary — H.R. 5009: Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act (WILD Act)

Status: Enacted as Public Law No: 118-159 (signed by the President 2024-12-23)

Note on titles: The House report and original text identify H.R. 5009 as the "Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver reauthorization Act" (WILD Act). Enrolled language also includes an alternative short title referring to a National Defense Authorization Act variant; the operative statutory provisions reauthorize U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) conservation programs (see “Key provisions”).

Purpose

Reauthorize and extend federal authorization of appropriations for several USFWS wildlife habitat and international conservation grant programs that expired at the end of FY2023, and permit multi‑year grants for international species conservation projects.

Key provisions and changes

  • Reauthorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program through FY2028:
    • Authorization level: $75 million per year (existing authorization).
    • Program provides technical and financial assistance/grants to private landowners, tribes, schools, nonprofits, corporations and others to restore and improve wildlife habitat on private lands.
  • Reauthorizes the Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF) subaccounts through FY2028:
    • Subaccounts and typical authorizations: African Elephant ($5M/yr), Asian Elephant ($5M/yr), Rhinoceros & Tiger ($10M/yr), Great Ape ($5M/yr), Marine Turtle ($5M/yr) — combined authorization $30 million per year.
    • Authorizes USFWS to provide multiyear grants (up to five years) for international conservation projects; costs charged against authorized appropriations.
  • Section-by-section: Sections reauthorize each of the above-listed Acts (Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act; African Elephant Conservation Act; Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997; Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994; Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000; Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004) through FY2028.
  • Does not itself appropriate funds — it authorizes appropriations. Actual funding requires subsequent appropriations action.

Who is affected

  • Federal: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (program implementer).
  • Nonfederal partners: private landowners, tribes, state/local governments, schools, nonprofit organizations, corporations receiving grants or technical assistance.
  • International conservation partners and projects focused on elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles.
  • Indirectly benefits wildlife and habitat (restoration, anti‑poaching, human‑wildlife conflict mitigation).

Fiscal impact (CBO)

  • CBO estimate (assuming appropriation of authorized amounts): approximately $483 million over 2024–2028 and about $42 million after 2028.
  • Historical context noted in the report: Partners Program had restored over 7 million acres and leveraged roughly $4 private funds for every $1 of federal funds; MSCF projects (2015–2022) provided ~$92.5 million in grants and leveraged ~$200 million in additional funding.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced in the House (original referral 2023-07-27 by Rep. David P. Joyce); reported in House (H. Rept. 118‑366, 2024-01-30).
  • Passed House (suspension) 2024-02-05; received/considered by Senate and passed with amendment 2024-09-24.
  • House and Senate resolved differences in December 2024; enrolled bill presented to and signed by the President 2024-12-23 (Public Law No: 118‑159).
  • Authorization period established through fiscal year 2028. Continued program activity depends on annual appropriations matching the authorized levels.

Practical effect

If funded by appropriations, the law preserves federal authorization to continue and expand habitat restoration on private lands and international species conservation grants (including the ability to fund multiyear projects), sustaining ongoing conservation partnerships and anti‑poaching/trafficking efforts for the covered species through FY2028.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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