What’s Happening with the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA)?

The History of CARA

red-spotted newt

While Congress is currently not considering passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), it has recently enacted new legislation (the State Wildlife Grants program) to target ‘species of conservation concern.’ This legislation is seen as a short-term resolution to stalled CARA efforts. Wildlife conservationists continue to hope that CARA will gain momentum once again and become a permanent and reliable source of funding to protect the nation’s diverse wildlife and their habitats. Below is a brief overview of past CARA efforts.

CARA was historic conservation legislation that had been the U.S. Congress House Resolution 701 (H.R. 701). H.R. 701 would have enabled communities all across the country to expand parks and recreation, preserve open space farmland, protect wildlife and endangered species, and preserve historic buildings—more than three times the amount currently spent on those purposes. CARA would have guaranteed $3.1 billion annually for 15 years to state, federal and local conservation programs such as wildlife restoration, parks and outdoor recreation, coastal conservation and historic preservation. CARA’s funding would have come from a portion of the income of federal offshore oil and natural gas leases. Since the mid-1950s, all of the revenue (about $4-5 billion annually) collected from oil and gas leases in the Outer Continental Shelf has been sent to the Federal Treasury. Conversely, revenue from oil and gas development on interior federal lands is generally shared 50-50 with states where development occurs. CARA would have extended this onshore precedent by sharing offshore revenues with states and needed federal conservation programs.

CARA would have reinvested one of our nation’s finite natural resources into a lasting natural legacy of wildlife, lands and waters. CARA was considered the most important conservation-funding legislation in half a century, leading to broad bipartisan support within Congress and across the nation. More than 5,000 conservation, civic, religious and business organizations remain CARA supporters.

Wildlife Funding

Among CARA’s strong advocates were supporters of funding for wildlife. CARA’s Title III would have provided $350 million annually for vitally needed state fish and wildlife conservation, recreation and education programs. These new funds would have been used to sustain a diverse array of fish and wildlife and their habitats. Title III’s goals were:

(1) to prevent species from becoming endangered
(2) to enhance the outdoor recreational experience
(3) to foster a responsible stewardship ethic through conservation education efforts

In 2000-2001, the House passed CARA by an overwhelming margin of 315-102. Sixty-five senators pledged their support to CARA, yet there was never a Senate vote, and CARA was not enacted into law. Instead, temporary funding was provided to address basic CARA concerns, including $100 million for state wildlife conservation.

Resistance to enact CARA may continue in the current Congress because of the budget situation and a future of deficit spending. The shift of Congress’ focus from domestic issues, like education and environment, to homeland security and military action overseas is likely to affect CARA’s passage as well.

For more information on CARA and on new funding programs recently passed by Congress, visit the Teaming with Wildlife Web site, www.teaming.com.