WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $13,035,809 in federal funding for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to support wildlife conservation, sportfish restoration and outdoor recreation in Maryland. 

“Supporting outdoor recreation and boosting our economy doesn’t have to come at the expense of our environment. These goals go hand-in-hand. This funding will help keep our outdoors accessible to all Marylanders while protecting habitats, controlling invasive species and wildlife populations and preserving our valuable resources,” said the lawmakers.

The federal investment comes through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration Programs, which are funded through excise taxes paid on small-engine fuel and by manufacturers of hunting and fishing equipment.

The Wildlife Restoration Program, first authorized by the Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Act of 1937, provides funds to fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. The Sport Fish Restoration Program was created by the Sport Fish Restoration (Dingell-Johnson) Act of 1950 and provides funds to fish and wildlife agencies for fishery projects, boating access and aquatic education.

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