May 8, 2025
Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Mr. Cline) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird Treaty Program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Urban Bird Treaty Program
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
According to the 2025 State of Birds Report, bird populations continue to decline and have resulted in a 50 percent loss of tipping point bird population species in the last 50 years. The report found that policies to reverse bird declines carry benefits such as healthier working lands, cleaner water, and more resilient landscapes that can withstand fires, floods, and drought.
(2)
Nearly 96 million Americans—more than a third of United States adults—engage in birdwatching every year, generating $279,000,000,000 in annual economic output from these birder expenditures—including spending $108,000,000,000 annually on birding-related trips and equipment, directly supporting local businesses and 1.4 million American jobs.
(3)
Maintaining an abundance of healthy, well-distributed green spaces and bird habitats in and near communities reduces the risk of cross-transmission between wild birds and domestic poultry by dispersing bird populations, minimizing overlap at concentrated feeding or resting areas, and enabling earlier disease detection and response through coordinated monitoring.
(4)
Enhancing bird habitat and stewardship in populated areas serves not only to conserve bird populations and connect people to nature, but also to strengthen the ecological infrastructure necessary to mitigate the spread of wildlife-borne diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
(b) Urban Bird Treaty Program
(1) In general
The Director shall establish a program for the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas, to be known as the Urban Bird Treaty Program
.
(2) Program duties
In carrying out the Program, the Director shall—
(A)
work with and support covered entities to—
(i)
protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species;
(ii)
reduce urban hazards to birds;
(iii)
engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; and
(iv)
educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas;
(B)
provide technical and financial assistance through partnerships with covered entities to build capacity for, plan, and carry out projects related to activities described in subparagraph (A); and
(C)
facilitate collaboration and information sharing among covered entities and the public with respect to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of urban bird habitats.
(3) Grant program
(A) In general
The Director shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities for the purposes of conducting research, planning, assessments, management, building capacity, monitoring, collaboration and information sharing, workforce training, and accomplishing related activities as described in paragraph (2) with respect to the conservation, restoration, enhancement or management of urban birds and the habitats of urban birds.
(B) Applications
To be eligible for a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Director an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate.
(C) Administration
(i) Agreement
The Director shall enter into an agreement with the Foundation for the Foundation to administer the grant program established under subparagraph (A) pursuant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(ii) Application of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act
Section 10(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)) shall not apply with respect to—
(I)
an agreement entered into under clause (i); or
(II)
amounts made available to carry out this section.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Covered entity
The term covered entity means—
(A)
a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B)
a nongovernmental organization;
(C)
a community group; and
(D)
an academic institution.
(2) Director
The term Director means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3) Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a Tribal, State, or municipal agency;
(B)
a nongovernmental organization;
(C)
a community group; and
(D)
an academic institution.
(4) Foundation
The term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)).
(5) Program
The term Program means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(6) Urban
The term urban has the meaning given the term urban area in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.