Sponsors (2)
The bill directs sustained federal funding to Hawaii-focused native species conservation—boosting local capacity and accountability while concentrating benefits geographically and creating matching, administrative, and eligibility constraints that may limit participation and add federal costs.
Federal grantees, program staff, and Hawaii conservation projects will get predictable funding of $30 million per year for 10 years, enabling sustained program operations and multi-year planning.
Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, universities, and Hawaii state/local governments are eligible to receive grants and fully federally funded projects, increasing local capacity to carry out conservation work.
Residents of Hawaii — especially rural and Indigenous communities — will benefit from invasive species control and habitat restoration projects that improve ecosystem services and climate resilience.
Mainland organizations and multi-state conservation efforts are excluded because the program is geographically limited to Hawaii, reducing opportunities for outside technical expertise and broader regional gains.
The bill commits $300 million over 10 years in new federal spending, which could increase budgetary pressures or require offsets funded by taxpayers.
A federal cost-share cap (75%) and the requirement that program funds supplement, not supplant, may prevent underfunded local groups from completing larger projects if they cannot provide matching funds or replace shifted local dollars.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive federal grant program funding Hawaii native species conservation with $30M/year for 10 years, cost-share rules, priorities, and annual reporting.
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Brian Emanuel Schatz · Last progress March 5, 2025
Creates a federal grant program to fund projects that protect, restore, and monitor native plants, fungi, and animals in Hawaii. It funds eligible State and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and colleges through competitive grants, microgrants, and cooperative agreements, limits federal cost share to 75% with specific exceptions, and requires annual reporting to Congress. Authorizes $30 million per year for ten years (first fiscal year after enactment plus nine succeeding years) and caps administrative spending at 5% of annual funds. The program must set annual, evidence-based funding priorities in coordination with federal and State agencies and include consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations for projects that affect Native Hawaiian communities.