May 13, 2025
Mr. Beyer (for himself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To provide for the conservation and designation of habitat connectivity areas, with support from the voluntary conservation programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as American wildlife corridors, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Habitat connectivity area designation
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) American wildlife corridor
The term American wildlife corridor means a habitat connectivity area, including any adjacent lands to such habitat connectivity area that is designated under subsection (c)(2).
(2) Directors
The term Directors means the Secretary of the Interior acting through—
(A)
the Director of the United States Geological Survey; and
(B)
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3) Habitat connectivity
The term habitat connectivity means the degree to which landscapes, waterscapes, and seascapes allow species to move freely, including during seasonal migration and in response to changing environmental conditions, and ecological processes to function unimpeded.
(4) Habitat connectivity area
The term habitat connectivity area means an area of intact habitat or a distinct component of the landscape, waterscape, or seascape the designation of which, under subsection (c)(2), may provide habitat connectivity.
(5) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Identification of habitat connectivity areas
(1) Identification
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall identify habitat connectivity areas, including any lands adjacent to such identified habitat connectivity areas, that may improve habitat connectivity in such areas.
(2) Maps
Subject to section 1244(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(b)), as amended by section 3 of this Act, and section 1619 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, upon identifying habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall—
(A)
develop maps of the identified habitat connectivity areas, including any adjacent lands described in paragraph (1); and
(B)
expand and build upon any existing efforts by the Department of Agriculture in developing such maps.
(3) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary identifies habitat connectivity areas, including any adjacent lands, under paragraph (1), and periodically thereafter upon any new identifications under such paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—
(A)
includes a description of habitat connectivity areas identified under paragraph (1);
(B)
includes a review of any associated data or surveys relating to activities carried out under paragraph (1);
(C)
includes the maps developed under paragraph (2) in aggregate form; and
(D)
identifies gaps in information with respect to carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2), including—
(i)
information relating to whether the identified habitat connectivity areas are being used as a wildlife corridor;
(ii)
additional information required to identify additional habitat connectivity areas; and
(iii)
any other information the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, determines necessary.
(c) Designation of American wildlife corridors
(1) Criteria
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to establish criteria, for the purpose of designating habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (2), that—
(A)
considers whether a designation is in concert with existing land and resource management plans; and
(B)
determines, using the best-available science, whether a habitat connectivity area identified under subsection (b)(1), including any adjacent lands as described in that subsection—
(i)
supports the persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife;
(ii)
has the potential to benefit more than 1 species of fish and wildlife; or
(iii)
has the potential to benefit fish or wildlife species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
(2) Designation
Not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes criteria pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate habitat connectivity areas identified under subsection (b)(1), including any adjacent lands that may provide additional habitat connectivity, using the criteria established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, as an American wildlife corridor for the purposes of encouraging the long-term maintenance and conservation of the American wildlife corridor.
(d) Conservation of American wildlife corridors
(1) Technical assistance
(A) In general
The Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall develop and establish technical standards and requirements, including best practices for the long-term conservation of an American wildlife corridor, to provide technical assistance, outreach, and education with respect to the conservation of the applicable American wildlife corridor.
(B) Authorized actions of Secretary
In providing technical assistance under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may encourage producers to—
(i)
implement strategies and activities that will promote sustainable production and conservation of wildlife habitats concurrently;
(ii)
maintain or improve habitats and habitat connectivity in American wildlife corridors;
(iii)
establish wildlife monitoring plans; and
(iv)
implement strategies and activities that enhance the ability of fish and wildlife to respond to changing environmental conditions.
(2) Contract modification
In furthering the purposes of an American wildlife corridor designation under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary may—
(A)
give priority for enrollment or reenrollment in a conservation program administered by the Secretary; and
(B)
terminate or modify an existing contract entered into with the Secretary under such a conservation program if—
(i)
the producer agrees to the termination or modification of such contract; and
(ii)
land subject to such contract will be enrolled in—
(I)
the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq.); or
(II)
the healthy forests reserve program under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.).
(e) Cooperative agreements
To carry out this section, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with—
(1)
Federal agencies;
(2)
State, Tribal, and local governments;
(3)
nongovernmental organizations; or
(4)
institutions of higher education.
Sec. 3. Administrative requirements
(a) Privacy of personal information relating to Natural Resources Conservation Programs
Section 1244(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(b)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting , including the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2025
after Farm Service Agency
.
(b) Regulatory certainty
Section 1244(p) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(p)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting , or an American wildlife corridor (as such term is defined by section 2(a) of the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2025),
after wildlife resource concern
; and
(2)
in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , or an American wildlife corridor,
after wildlife resource concern
.