House Committee Approves GOP Wildlife Bill, Sparking Controversy Over Democratic Objections and Bipartisan Alternatives.

The House Natural Resources Committee approved a GOP-only wildlife conservation bill, H.R. 7408, over party lines, over objections from Democrats who called it a sham. The bill, from Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark), is a Republican alternative challenging the bipartisan “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act” which has been in the mix for years but failed to become law. While the bills aim to protect wildlife habitat by providing grants to state conservation agencies, they diverge in approach. Westerman’s bill would authorize an annual appropriation of $300 million, which would then provide permanent funding.