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Declares findings on the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of bats and documents the widespread threat posed by white-nose syndrome (WNS). It summarizes the scale of WNS spread and species declines, quantifies bats’ value to U.S. agriculture, and highlights federal, state, tribal, nonprofit, university, and international monitoring and research partnerships addressing the disease. Emphasizes the roles of Interior Department components and the Forest Service in response efforts, notes the scale of the North American Bat Monitoring Program’s data collection, and recognizes recent international progress in understanding, slowing, and treating white-nose syndrome. The text makes no new funding commitments or regulatory changes—it is a statement of findings and facts intended to raise awareness and support ongoing multi-jurisdictional efforts.
The bill aims to protect bats and preserve the large agricultural value they provide by funding coordinated monitoring, research, and outreach—improving conservation and disease response—at the cost of modest federal spending, potential limits on some land uses, and possible public concern about wildlife disease.
U.S. farmers and agricultural workers save an estimated $3.7 billion annually because bats reduce crop pests and lower pest-control costs.
Conservation managers, scientists, and state and tribal governments gain substantially improved capacity to monitor and respond to bat population declines and white-nose syndrome through consolidation of ~94,000,000 records and stronger international/interagency partnerships.
The general public and conservation organizations benefit from federal outreach and education that increases understanding of bats' ecological roles and reduces harmful actions toward bats.
U.S. taxpayers and state governments may face increased federal spending or reallocation of agency resources to support coordination and monitoring, raising costs or diverting funds from other programs.
Nearby homeowners, local governments, and some businesses could see new or expanded conservation measures restrict certain land uses on public lands, limiting development or economic activities in affected areas.
Members of the public and local health or government agencies could face costs and public backlash if emphasis on bat conservation heightens fears about wildlife disease and triggers costly mitigation or control efforts.
Introduced October 16, 2025 by Peter Welch · Last progress October 28, 2025