DCAS Advocacy & Action Alerts

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https://act.audubon.org/a/action-network

(February 11, 2025) – “Great Lakes birds and communities are safer thanks to restoration efforts across the region, but significant threats persist. We must remain steadfast in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes which provide drinking water for 40 million people and habitat for millions of birds. Today, the U.S. Senate introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025, which would continue vital federal investment that birds and communities depend on. The legislation was introduced in the U.S. House in January. 
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Audubon Great Lakes thanks Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) for introducing this bill, and for working in a bipartisan manner to bring the federal investment needed to solve the biggest threats facing the Great Lakes.  

Read more about this pending legislation HERE.
       Photo by Gil Patmore
Indiana updates: 
Indiana Wetlands Campaign
  • The 2nd annual Advocacy Day on January 22nd in Indianapolis was attended by President Kim Ehn and Board member Greg Hejnar. We were able to talk to and leave messages for Senators and Representatives about House Bill 1383, which seeks to change the definition of Class III Wetlands and thus reduce the number of protected wetlands in Indiana. This would make it easier and less costly for developers, but unacceptable for the drastically reduced number of marsh birds in Indiana. Please take time to call, send an email, or write to you State Senator and State Representative. about this bill.

Federal Updates:

Recovering America's Wildlife Act
While providing important funding for conservation during the last session, Congress missed an opportunity to invest in state-level wildlife recovery efforts by failing to include the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). RAWA would have helped state wildlife agencies proactively conserve vulnerable species. Click here to learn more. 

MBTA 
  • Another federal priority is MBTA( Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act). As a reminder The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (Neotrops for short) program provides competitive grants for habitat conservation, research and monitoring, and community outreach and education. The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 (MBTA) reauthorizes this program for the next 5 years. 
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GROWING CLIMATE SOLUTION ACT
Read more about the Growing Climate Solutions Act here.

​ Restoring the Great Lakes for Birds and People