On September 30, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, unveiled the Improving Species Recovery Act (View section-by-section | one-pager). The measure would change how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) carries out recovery under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Its core feature is a set of measurable conservation milestones that track species’ progress and account for actions taken by private landowners and states.
The bill would set standards for pre-listing conservation and define how voluntary efforts factor into listing and delisting decisions. Landowners and agencies that meet milestones would receive greater regulatory flexibility and priority access to conservation funding. FWS would establish a baseline status for each species at listing and report publicly every three years on recovery progress. The bill also directs FWS to expand digital tools such as Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) and explore artificial intelligence to speed interagency consultation, which could shorten review timelines for local infrastructure and land use projects.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.