In light of recent partisanship and midterm elections, it appears that there might finally be an issue that all political parties can agree on, and the UT Martin’s Wildlife Society chapter is using their influence to help generate a positive outcome.
RAWA, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, stands to be the biggest piece of legislation dedicated to wildlife preservation since the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The bill involves generating funds for State Wildlife Action Plans, about $1.4 billion in total, originating from redirecting existing funds and not new taxes. These funds would be used to directly benefit both plant and wildlife species that are endangered or almost extinct.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, more than 1,600 U.S species are listed as being gravely endangered and threatening extinction, 93 of which are native to Tennessee. Tennessee stands to gain an estimated $22.7 million to support such species and fund projects essential to their conservation and survival. Eradication of such species would prove catastrophic to the overall health and viability of the state’s environment, creating a detrimental domino effect that would be hard to reverse.
“RAWA will provide funding for conservation and restoration of wildlife and plant species or greatest conservational need,” said Piper Huggins, the Resolutions and Public Statements Chair for the UT Martin Wildlife Society chapter. “Our role as a society is to make sure that the bill is being supported by all of our members (and that) we as a society keep our members updated on all happenings of the bill.”
Members of the Wildlife Society chapter have been hard at work advocating for the bill over the past year, including writing directly to state representatives and campaigning through petitions.
And what a strong influence these students have undoubtedly proven to be. Thanks to such overwhelming strong support and urging from the American populous, RAWA successfully passed through the House of Representatives on June 14, 2022. RAWA’s next step: getting approval in the Senate. The bill was placed on the Senate Legislative calendar under General Orders, where it awaits consideration and revision.
RAWA has been one of the most successful examples of bipartisan cooperation seen in recent years, a true light at the end of the long political tunnel. According to a poll conducted by Data for Progress in September of this year, RAWA continues to receive overwhelming support across all party lines, with 86 percent of 1,215 federal voters saying they would approve of the bill.
“Just because we are small doesn’t mean we don’t have a voice!” Huggins said. “Our chapter has a voice, and we ensure that we use it every opportunity we have!”
