Bill > HR4062

This bill aims to address the critical decline of western monarch butterfly populations by establishing the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund and creating a conservation grant program. The bill notes that western monarch butterfly populations have decreased by over 99% in the past three decades, with fewer than 10,000 butterflies recorded in 2024 and a high risk of extinction within the next two decades. The legislation creates a grant program that will provide funding to local governments, Tribal governments, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations to develop and implement conservation projects focused on protecting and restoring monarch butterfly habitats across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. The bill authorizes $12.5 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts, with up to 3% of the funds allocated for administrative expenses. Grant recipients must submit regular reports detailing their project's progress, and the Secretary of the Interior will be required to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing the funded projects and the status of western monarch butterfly populations. The bill emphasizes the importance of habitat restoration, including protecting milkweed and nectar plant environments, and highlights the broader ecological benefits of supporting pollinator populations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4062/all-info