John Boozman (R-AR)
National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Partnership Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is cited as the National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Partnership Act. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts or agreements with eligible entities to carry out habitat management activities in units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Eligible entities include State, local, or territorial governments, Indian Tribes, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Habitat management activities include mowing, planting, irrigation, reducing hazardous fuels, managing invasive species, and protecting species of concern. The bill requires these activities to be directed by refuge management staff and remain consistent with existing conservation plans and statutory mandates. Additionally, the Secretary may collect and retain monies from these contracts to be used at System units.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The legislation directly establishes contracting authority to improve habitat management and retention of funds for units within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill facilitates habitat management activities such as invasive species control, native vegetation establishment, and protection of species of concern within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Eligible entities permitted to enter into habitat management contracts include businesses and nonprofit organizations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b) allows the Secretary to partner with outside groups through contracts or agreements to carry out habitat management. This could benefit individuals and local groups by allowing them to directly assist in improving public lands.
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Section 2(d)(2) allows the Secretary to retain and spend collected monies at System units without needing further appropriations, and ensures these funds supplement rather than replace annual appropriations. This provides direct financial support that can be used to maintain and improve the refuges.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any explicit negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The legislation directly establishes contracting authority to improve habitat management and retention of funds for units within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill facilitates habitat management activities such as invasive species control, native vegetation establishment, and protection of species of concern within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Does this invest in rural communities? — Habitat management contracts within wildlife refuges can provide economic and ecological benefits to surrounding communities, many of which are in rural areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Eligible entities permitted to enter into habitat management contracts include businesses and nonprofit organizations. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill allows the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with external entities for habitat management, which can create contracting and employment opportunities.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Businesses are included as eligible entities that can enter into contracts with the Secretary for habitat management activities. Would farmers be better off under this? — Agricultural practices such as mowing, discing, tillage, and irrigation are explicitly included as habitat management activities that eligible entities may perform under the bill.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill provides clear guidelines and requirements for contracted habitat management activities to remain consistent with conservation plans and statutory mandates. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the Secretary of the Interior expanded contracting authority and the ability to collect and retain monies for refuge management.
- 11/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California