What's next for WWF’s conservation priorities before Congress

Over the coming weeks, Congress is expected to consider a bipartisan bill that would streamline federal permitting approvals for new energy infrastructure.

We need to build the infrastructure required for clean energy that will reduce climate pollution. We also need to maintain the integrity of our bedrock environmental laws – including the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act – that safeguard America's lands, waters, and wildlife and the communities that depend on them. WWF believes we do not need to sacrifice one to accomplish the other. In fact, we need to do both if we are going to preserve a planet worth living on.

WWF appreciates the determined bipartisan effort on this legislation and stands ready to work with partners in Congress to achieve the legislative outcome that is ultimately needed for both people and nature.

Congress also faces a deadline to keep the federal government funded past Dec. 11, including programs that invest in conservation globally and help stop the illegal trade and overexploitation of wildlife, timber, and fish.

WWF's recently released Living Planet Report shows that wildlife populations have declined by a staggering 73% on average since 1970. But the report also shows that species recovery is possible when governments – including the US – responsibly cultivate natural resources and protect key ecosystems.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the American bison, also known as buffalo, becoming the national mammal of the United States. The Indian Buffalo Management Act would strengthen federal support for Tribal Nations’ work to bring buffalo back from the brink of extinction.

The House Natural Resources Committee unanimously advanced the Indian Buffalo Management Act in September, which the Senate also passed in 2024. Now is the time to enact this important measure to help Tribes restore our national mammal, which is integral to our shared history and our shared future.

Plastic pollution is on track to double by 2040. In the US alone, it is estimated that over 42 million metric tons is produced every year—only 8.7% of which is recycled. Our current waste management and recycling infrastructure isn’t up to the task, which is why we need to adopt practical solutions to expand and improve recycling infrastructure and the ability of communities to access it, regardless of where they live. We also need better data to inform recycling solutions, so we can ensure they are hitting their marks.

The bipartisan STEWARD Act would address both of these issues and is ready to be enacted into law. It unanimously passed the Senate and was favorably reported out of committee in the House. Congress should get the job done and ensure it lands on the President’s desk before the end of the year.

Every year, drivers collide with large animals like deer, elk, and pronghorn more than 1 million times across the United States. These crashes cause more than 400 human deaths and more than 59,000 injuries.

There is a lifesaving solution to keep animals off busy roads: wildlife crossings.

The highly successful Wildlife Crossings Program launched in 2021 has provided grant funding to state and Tribal governments for building structures like overpasses, underpasses, and fencing that animals on the move can use instead. Wildlife-vehicle collisions have dropped significantly in places where these crossings have been built. But the program is only set to last through 2026.

Congress is expected to vote in the coming weeks on an extension of surface transportation programs before they expire in December. WWF urges lawmakers to include the Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act to permanently renew this successful program and save lives.