National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Partnership Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5711 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5711

To allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts or agreements with eligible entities to carry out habitat management activities in units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 10, 2026

Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

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A BILL

To allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts or agreements with eligible entities to carry out habitat management activities in units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Partnership Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.

(a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means-- (A) a State, local, or territorial government; (B) an Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); (C) a business; (D) a nonprofit organization, including Refuge Friends groups; and (E) any other public or private entity with the demonstrated capability to assist the Secretary in achieving habitat management goals in the System, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Habitat management activity.-- (A) In general.--The term ``habitat management activity'' means any activity to create, maintain, enhance, or restore habitat for fish, wildlife, or plants in the System. (B) Inclusions.--The term ``habitat management activity'' includes-- (i) mowing; (ii) discing; (iii) tillage; (iv) planting and seeding; (v) spraying and other means of managing vegetation; (vi) operating wells, pumps, and other water delivery and control structures; (vii) irrigation work; (viii) actions that support waterfowl, migratory bird, and resident bird recruitment across breeding grounds; (ix) reducing hazardous fuels, including prescribed fire; (x) establishment of appropriate native vegetation; (xi) management of invasive species and wildlife disease; (xii) protection of species of concern, including species listed as a threatened species or an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and (xiii) any other activity to restore or improve fish and wildlife habitat, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Secretary.--The ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (4) System.-- (A) In general.--The term ``System'' means the National Wildlife Refuge System. (B) Exclusions.--The term ``System'' does not include-- (i) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (ii) land on which the removal of vegetation is prohibited or restricted by an Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation (including the applicable implementation plan); or (iii) a wilderness study area. (b) Contracting Authority.--The Secretary may enter into a contract or agreement with an eligible entity to carry out habitat management activities in any unit of the System. (c) Requirement.--Any habitat management activity carried out by an eligible entity pursuant to a contract or agreement entered into under subsection (b) shall be-- (1) directed by staff responsible for the management of the applicable System unit where the habitat management activity is carried out; (2) consistent with goals contained in the Comprehensive Conservation Plan or other management plan of the applicable System unit approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (3) consistent with existing statutory mandates, individual System unit purposes, overarching System mission, and the maintenance of biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the System as guided by the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). (d) Receipts.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may collect monies from a contract or agreement entered into under subsection (b) if the collection is a secondary objective of negotiating the contract or agreement that will best achieve the purposes of this section. (2) Use.--Monies collected under paragraph (1) shall-- (A) be retained by the Secretary; (B) be available for expenditure without further appropriation at the System unit from which the monies are collected or at any other System unit; (C) supplement and not supplant annual appropriations for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (D) be available until expended. (3) Relation to other laws.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the value of services received by the Secretary under a contract or agreement entered into under subsection (b), and any payments made or resources provided by an eligible entity or the Secretary shall not be considered monies received from the System. <all>