Subcommittee hears bipartisan push to extend Pittman'Robertson interest transfers to support wetlands conservation

Rep. Hurd of Colorado introduced H.R. 2316, the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025, and witnesses including a Ducks Unlimited state policy chair described the bill as a targeted, bipartisan update to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

The measure would extend authority to transfer interest accrued on unallocated Pittman-Robertson funds to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NACA) fund. Rep. Hurd said the interest has averaged nearly $11 million per year since 2004 and that transferring these funds helps support wetlands and waterfowl conservation projects.

Mick Anderson, a Ducks Unlimited board member and state public policy chair, told the subcommittee that NACA is a proven program that leverages federal dollars through competitive grants and local matching contributions. "NACA acts like seed money," Anderson said, describing examples where grants attracted multiple times the federal investment in partner matches.

Members from both parties highlighted how Pittman-Robertson funding, which is derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, has historically supported conservation and hunter-funded wildlife programs. Several members cautioned that long-term conservation funding depends in part on continued participation in hunting and shooting sports that finance the trust fund.

Witnesses and members said the NACA-funded projects provide multiple benefits beyond waterfowl habitat, including water-quality improvements, flood mitigation, and recreational opportunities that support local economies. The subcommittee did not hold a vote; members signaled support for advancing the bipartisan bill and requested supplementary materials and stakeholder letters that were entered into the record.