Southwest Desert Fish Conservation Fund Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would create four new federal funds to protect specific groups of animals and plants at risk of dying out. These groups include butterflies in North America and the Caribbean, plants in the Pacific Islands like Hawaii and Guam, freshwater mussels across the U.S., and desert fish in the Southwest.
• The government would set aside $5 million every year for each of the four funds from 2027 through 2032. This money would be given as grants to states, tribes, and local groups to fix habitats, study populations, and teach the public about these species.
• The Secretary of the Interior would oversee the grants and give priority to species already listed as threatened or endangered. The program aims to build lasting conservation efforts so these species can survive on their own in the wild without needing constant help from the government.
• Each year, the government would have to report to Congress on how the money was used and if the animal and plant populations are getting healthier. This ensures the public knows if the spending is actually working to prevent extinctions.

Impact Analysis

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