HR-3276-119
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 659.
Sponsored by Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
What it does
This bill would direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a voluntary "Urban Bird Treaty Program" to protect and restore bird habitats in urban areas, reduce hazards to birds, and support community science and education. It would also create a competitive grant program, potentially administered through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to fund related projects, with $200,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2033.
Who benefits
Municipal and Tribal governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, community groups, and academic institutions that could receive grants; bird species and ecosystems in urban areas; researchers and educators involved in bird monitoring; residents of cities who may see improved green space or educational programming. Small and midsize cities benefit from the equitable geographic distribution requirement.
Who is hurt
No group bears direct regulatory burden or cost, since participation is voluntary; federal taxpayers fund the modest appropriation. Entities that apply for grants but are not selected would not benefit, and cities without organized applicants (e.g., those lacking nonprofit or academic partners) may see less funding despite the distribution requirement.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that urban areas pose significant hazards to migratory birds, including collisions with buildings and habitat loss, and that a coordinated federal program can leverage local partnerships to address this efficiently. They contend the voluntary, grant-based structure minimizes federal overreach while providing technical and financial assistance that many under-resourced municipalities and community groups otherwise could not access on their own.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that the program creates another federal grant bureaucracy with recurring appropriations despite modest funding levels, and that similar bird conservation work already occurs through existing programs and private conservation organizations without new federal statutory authority. They contend that exempting the grant agreement from standard National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act provisions reduces oversight and transparency over how these federal funds are administered.