News

ÃÛèÖAPP’s 2023 Bird Budget: Federal Funding Priorities to Bring Birds Back

In the next fiscal year, Congress must build upon recent funding success to continue investment in ecosystems and communities across the country.
By ÃÛèÖAPP
Published July 21, 2022

Birds are telling us that we must do more to invest in their future. Federal funding is key to bringing birds back from a decline of 3 billion birds since 1970, by investing in ÃÛèÖAPP solutions, conserving natural resources, building resilient communities, and protecting birds. As Congress considers the FY23 budget proposal from President Biden, ÃÛèÖAPP urges increased investment for federal agencies and programs that will reduce carbon emissions, conserve our lands and waters, and restore bird populations.Ìý

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in 2021, made historic five-year investments in many conservation areas. Congress must build upon this success by ensuring that annual appropriations for conservation programs continue to increase, in order to rebuild staff and operations from four years of budget cuts. The IIJA funding should be considered a down payment to begin rebuilding our bird populations; but annual investments through the appropriations process are still critical.ÌýÌý

As the ÃÛèÖAPP crisis continues to impact communities throughout the nation, Congress must seize this opportunity to address the multiple, ongoing challenges we are facing – extended drought and wildfire in the west, billion-dollar storm events ravaging coastal communities, the toxic spread of invasive species, and negative impacts to human health related to systemic underinvestment. Federal dollars should put disadvantaged communities first; ensuring federal funding helps those who need it most and repairing historic underinvestment.Ìý

ÃÛèÖAPP supports the following investments in the FY23 appropriations bills:Ìý

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Energy and WaterÌý

  • $725 million for Everglades restoration efforts and $15 million for Everglades operations and maintenance within the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersÌýÌý
  • $55 million for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program within the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersÌý
  • $20 million for WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program within the Bureau of ReclamationÌý
  • $15 million for aquatic ecosystem restoration program within the Bureau of ReclamationÌý
  • $535 million for the EERE Solar Program within the Department of EnergyÌý
  • $345 million for the EERE Wind Program within the Department of EnergyÌý
  • $100 million for Office of Electricity: Energy Storage within the Department of EnergyÌý
  • $750 million for ARPA-E within the Department of EnergyÌý
  • Full funding and staffing of Renewable Energy Coordination Offices (RECOs), which are essential to realizing our renewable energy and conservation goals.Ìý

InteriorÌý

  • $74 million for Greater Sage-Grouse ConservationÌý
  • We strongly urge Congress to exclude the Greater Sage-Grouse rider, which prohibits the DOI from using any funds to make decisions regarding the listing of the greater sage-grouse as threatened or endangered.Ìý
  • $7.9 million for NMBCAÌý
  • $712 million for the National Wildlife Refuge System Refuge Operations and MaintenanceÌý
  • $60 million for NAWCAÌý
  • $90 million for State and Tribal Wildlife GrantsÌý
  • $74.3 million for Migratory Bird ManagementÌý
  • $19.9 million for Migratory Bird Joint VenturesÌý
  • $5 million for the Saline Lakes Integrated Water Availability Assessment at USGSÌý
  • $15 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration ProgramÌý
  • $15.4 million for USFS International ProgramsÌý
  • $74.5 million for USGS Species Management Research

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Environmental Protection AgencyÌý

  • Full funding for the EPA Geographic Programs, including:Ìý
  • $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)Ìý
  • $1 million for the Chesapeake Bay programÌý
  • $50 million for the Puget Sound programÌý
  • $50 million for the National Estuary ProgramÌý
  • $10 billion for the Clean Water SRFÌý
  • $10 billion for the Drinking Water SRFÌý

Commerce, Justice, and ScienceÌý

  • $50.45 million for CZM and ServicesÌý
  • Including $10 million for Regional Ocean PartnershipsÌý
  • $132 million for Coastal Management GrantsÌý
  • $60 million for the National Oceans and Coastal Security FundÌý
  • $140 million for the National Sea Grant College ProgramÌýÌý
  • $42 million for the NERR SystemÌýÌý
  • The NERR program should be funded at $32 million for NERR system operations and $10 million for NERR System procurement, acquisition, and construction.Ìý
  • $84.5 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected AreasÌý
  • $78.2 million for NASA Applied SciencesÌýÌý

State and Foreign OperationsÌý

  • $150.2 million for the GEF and $41.5 million for the InterAmerican FoundationÌý
  • $1.5 million for Migratory BirdsÌý

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