Enacted into law on November 15, 2021, the $1.2-trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides a critical infusion of resources to advance infrastructure solutions that recognize the value of natural systems and enhance climate resilience, while connecting Americans to their public lands and waters. The conservation community worked with Congress to secure critical funding in the IIJA package to advance wildlife crossings, ensure aquatic connectivity and fish passage, implement natural infrastructure solutions, prioritize clean water, and restore habitat across the country.
As the administration moves forward with IIJA implementation, the conservation community is making recommendations to the Biden-Harris Administration in several key areas:
- Building on existing partnerships
- Prioritizing durable conservation and outdoor recreation at the landscape- and watershed-scale
- Addressing capacity needs and other barriers
- Waiving match requirements
- Improving the NEPA process to get projects on the ground quickly
- Developing a national IIJA project dashboard and geospatial tool to track and monitor implementation