Sec. 2. Findings, purposes, and policy

404 words·~2 min read·/bill/116/s/1482/is/section-2

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Congress finds that— healthy, diverse, and productive communities of fish, wildlife, and plants provide significant benefits to the people and economy of the United States, including— abundant clean water supplies; flood and coastal storm protection; clean air; a source of food, fiber, medicines, and pollination of the crops and other plants of the United States; outdoor recreation, which is a source of jobs and economic stimulus; hunting and fishing opportunities and support for subsistence communities; opportunities for scientific research and education; world-class tourism destinations that support local economies; and sequestration and storage of carbon to help mitigate changes to the global climate system; the United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other agencies within the United States Global Change Research Program have observed that the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States are facing increasing risks from changing patterns of extreme weather and climate, including— severe droughts and heatwaves; severe storms and floods; frequent and severe wildfires; more frequent and severe outbreaks of forest pests and invasive species; flooding and erosion of coastal areas due to rising sea levels; melting glaciers and sea ice; thawing permafrost; shifting distributions of fish, wildlife, and plant populations; disruptive shifts in the timing of fish, wildlife, and plant natural history cycles, such as blooming, breeding, and seasonal migrations; increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; altered patterns of rain, snow, runoff, and streamflow; and habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and movement; and the Federal Government should provide leadership in preparing for and responding to the effects described in paragraph

(2)to ensure that present and future generations continue to receive the benefits of the abundant and diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources of the United States. The purpose of this Act is to establish an integrated national approach— to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States; and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal governments and other entities. It is the policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and local governments, Indian tribes, and other interested stakeholders, to evaluate and reduce the increased risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate change and extreme weather events, and to use all practicable means to protect, manage, and conserve healthy, diverse, and productive fish, wildlife, and plant populations.