​WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES LEGISLATION 

America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act – includes several conservation initiatives including reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Program. It also includes provisions for the establishment of a chronic wasting disease coordinating task force and advisory board on reducing human-predator conflicts. It was passed by the Senate and House.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) - international treaty regulating trade in threatened and endangered wildlife. 
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (Public Law 86-68) - established to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to facilitate research and technical assistance between natural resource agencies and universities. 
Endangered Species Act - provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and their habitats 
Farm Bill – omnibus law that is re-authorized approximately every five years that includes an array of agricultural programs, including several conservation programs such as  Conservation Reserve and Stewardship Programs (CRP, CSP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), and Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP).
Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act – provides financial assistance for state fish restoration and management plans and projects. Its authority has been expanded over the years and now includes funding for coastal wetlands, boating safety and infrastructure, and waste water treatment. 
Great American Outdoors Act – enacted in 2020 to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million per year and provide $9.5 billion to address a maintenance backlog on National Parks.
Hatch Act of 1887 - provides capacity funding for agricultural research programs at state Agricultural Experiment Stations, including soil and water conservation and use; forestry, range management, and multiple use of forest and rangelands.
Lacey Act - prohibits the trade if wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.
Land and Water Conservation Fund – provides funds and matching grants to federal, state, and local governments for the acquisition and easements of land and water.
McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grants - provides capacity funding for forestry and forest-related research programs at state Agricultural Experiment Stations, including research on land management for timber production and other related products of the forest and wildlife habitat improvement of food and habitat for wildlife.
National Environmental Policy Act – requires all Federal agencies to prepare environmental assessments or environmental impact statements for major federal actions. The implementation regulations were revised significantly in 2020 by the Council on Environmental Quality. 
Pittman-Robertson – supports state wildlife restoration programs and hunter education, as well as cooperative projects among states through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. The funds are generated through an 11 percent excise tax on long guns, ammunition, and archery equipment and a 10 percent excise tax on handguns. 

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