Hawaii Native Species Conservation Act

Summary#

This bill would create the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program. The program would be run by the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It would give competitive grants, microgrants, cooperative agreements, and technical help to eligible entities to support conservation and recovery projects for native plants, fungi, and animals in the State.

The bill lists eligible entities: the State, units of local government, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and institutions of higher education. It sets program goals such as preventing and reducing invasive species, addressing climate change effects, restoring and protecting habitat, managing native populations, improving research and monitoring, and funding outreach and education. The Secretary must publish an annual request for proposals, develop yearly funding priorities and ranking criteria with Federal and State agency and stakeholder coordination, and require recusal for State representatives when the State applies.

The bill requires annual reports to Congress describing funded projects and their status. It also requires consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations for projects that affect the Native Hawaiian community and specifies that grant funds must supplement, not replace, other funds used for these purposes.

What it means for you#

• If you are an eligible entity, you may apply for grant funding for projects that match the program priorities and ranking criteria.
• Projects can include work on invasive species, habitat restoration, species monitoring, research, climate adaptation, and public outreach.
• The program may offer technical assistance and small grants.
• State or local officials who help set priorities must step aside from decisions on grants the State or their local government applies for.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes $30,000,000 for each of 10 fiscal years (the first fiscal year after enactment and the 9 fiscal years after that).
• Up to 5 percent of each year’s funds may be used for administrative expenses.
• The Federal share of project costs generally may not exceed 75 percent. The Secretary may allow the Federal share to be 100 percent at the Secretary’s discretion or when a project is carried out by a Native Hawaiian organization, significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness, or is a grant of $50,000 or less.
• At least 5 percent of each year’s funds must be used to award grants that meet the small-grant exceptions described above.
• Non-Federal cost shares may be provided as in-kind services, materials, or land access.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.