Sponsors
The bill secures modest, predictable funding and extends authorization for a conservation program—helping scientists and state/local managers plan and continue work—while imposing a small fixed taxpayer cost and creating potential administrative ambiguity by using a generic 'Secretary' reference.
State and local governments and conservation scientists get continued program authorization through FY2026–FY2029, preserving continuity of conservation-related activities.
Scientists and resource managers receive predictable, multi-year funding of $470,000 annually for FY2026–FY2029 for the Secretary's program, improving planning and program delivery.
Changing agency references to the generic 'Secretary' may create ambiguity about which agency is responsible, potentially complicating implementation for scientists and state/local governments.
Taxpayers incur a fixed annual cost of $470,000 for FY2026–FY2029, which is a new budget obligation and could limit flexibility if program needs exceed that amount.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Modifies an existing conservation and recreation statute to change which federal officials/agencies are named and to update funding timing and amounts. It replaces specific agency references with broader "Secretary" language, extends the covered fiscal years to 2026–2029, and specifies an annual appropriation of $470,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to the Secretary of Commerce.
Introduced May 5, 2025 by Nicholas J. Begich · Last progress December 16, 2025