Congressional Spending Bill Includes $20 Million for Endangered Wildlife

Earlier this week, we told you about Prince William’s efforts on behalf of the world’s rhinoceroses and other endangered creatures, which the illegal wildlife trade is driving to extinction, so we feel obliged to also inform you that on Thursday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending bill that allocates about $20 million ...

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474622253crop

Earlier this week, we told you about Prince William’s efforts on behalf of the world’s rhinoceroses and other endangered creatures, which the illegal wildlife trade is driving to extinction, so we feel obliged to also inform you that on Thursday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending bill that allocates about $20 million to fight poaching and help endangered species.

Earlier this week, we told you about Prince William’s efforts on behalf of the world’s rhinoceroses and other endangered creatures, which the illegal wildlife trade is driving to extinction, so we feel obliged to also inform you that on Thursday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending bill that allocates about $20 million to fight poaching and help endangered species.

The omnibus budget bill — if approved by the Senate — will appropriate a bit more than $9 million toward four laws aimed at supporting the world’s endangered wildlife: the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act  of 1994, the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000, and the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004.

The measure also allocates $55 million for combating wildlife poaching, with $10 million of that going specifically to protecting rhinoceroses.

The Senate is expected to pass the $1.1 trillion spending bill that will fund the government for the rest of fiscal 2015 by 11:59 p.m. Saturday when the continuing resolution keeping the federal government open expires.

The House members have already left town and as soon as their Senate counterparts approve a House-passed adjournment resolution, the 113th Congress will close.

ANUWAR HAZARIKA/AFP/Getty Images

Twitter: @EliasGroll

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