Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, would codify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program and authorize annual funding through fiscal year 2033 to support local community investments in bird habitats across the country.

Over the last 50 years, North America has lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds, a staggering 30 percent decline. While conservation is often seen as something that happens far out in the deep wilderness, nearly half of all migratory stopover hot spots in the U.S. fall within metropolitan areas, making urban and suburban areas essential to bird conservation.

Our built environments and backyards are essential mid-journey sanctuaries for migratory birds, providing critical resting, feeding, and nesting grounds for migrating land birds.

Since 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program has supported voluntary, locally driven partnerships among municipal governments, tribes, nonprofits, and schools. These modest investments deliver outsized returns: restoring urban wetlands, controlling invasive species, reducing hazards to birds like building glass and light pollution, and expanding access to nature in underserved communities.

Despite its overwhelming success, demand for these grants far exceeds current capacity. Without formal statutory authority, the program relies on discretionary year-to-year funding, and as a result, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been able to fulfill only about 10 percent of the high-quality project applications it receives every year.

H.R. 3276 would codify this program and authorize a competitive grant program administered in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. By passing this bill today, we are empowering local communities to lead on conservation, protect migratory birds, reduce hazards to birds, and connect families to the outdoors.

I applaud my colleague from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for her leadership on this commonsense, locally-driven, bipartisan measure that protects biodiversity, strengthens local partnerships, and enriches our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of her bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill for her passion and dedication to this issue. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3276) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Urban Bird Treaty Program, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3276, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025.

Birds are an important part of our Nation's natural heritage and play an important role in healthy and resilient ecosystems. Millions of Americans also enjoy bird-watching each year, supporting local economies and businesses across the country. Unfortunately, birds face several challenges in urban areas, including habitat loss and hazards such as building collisions and light pollution. H.R. 3276 addresses these challenges by codifying the Urban Bird Treaty Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently provides grants and technical assistance to communities and other eligible partners to conserve, restore, and enhance urban bird habitat, reduce hazards to birds, and engage the public in monitoring and conservation efforts.

This legislation will enable this important work to continue with greater congressional oversight and accountability.

Mr. Speaker, I just recently had the opportunity to visit Audubon, Arkansas, and see the great work that they are doing with bird habitat and also to discuss again how healthy forests not only provide us with clean air and clean water, but they also provide excellent bird habitat. It is another reason the Senate should pass the Fix Our Forests Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3276, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. I am very proud to lead this important effort for bird conservation with my colleague Congressman Cline. I thank him for his leadership on this

effort. I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for making this happen.

We have a responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe for birds and people to live together. Birds play critical roles in our ecosystem and in our day-to-day lives.

Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by a third and are continuing to decline at an accelerating rate. Almost 3 billion birds have disappeared. They are gone. Habitat loss is the biggest driver of this decline, and this bill works to protect, restore, and enhance urban and rural habitats for birds.

Supporting parks and greenways and reducing urban hazards can make a real difference for migrating and nesting birds and protect bird populations for generations to come.

Both the sportsmen and conservation communities have recognized that birds need our help, and that it is up to us to take serious action to address this crisis.

I might add that it is very timely for this consideration, as bird migration is underway. During migration, birds can become disoriented, making awareness and simple protections especially important.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the broad, bipartisan coalition that has fought for this legislation so far, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Bird Conservancy.

H.R. 3276 is a real step forward for conservation, and I strongly support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Yea on Roll Call No. 296, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025; and

Yea on Roll Call No 297, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026.