Western monarch butterflies have lost more than 99% of their population over the past three decades, and scientists warn they could go extinct within 20 years without intervention. This bill creates a grant program and a dedicated fund — authorized at $12.5 million per year through 2030 — to support conservation projects that restore milkweed habitat, protect overwintering sites, and help other pollinators too. Another $12.5 million per year would go toward implementing an existing conservation plan through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and research institutions in western states would be eligible for the grants.
Congressional Summary
Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2025 or the MONARCH Act of 2025This bill provides support for the conservation of western monarch butterflies (the monarch butterfly population that overwinters along the coast of California and breeds across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah). Specifically, the bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund. The Department of the Interior must use amounts in the fund to provide grants for the conservation of such butterflies and other pollinators within the range of western monarch butterflies.In addition, Interior must enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to facilitate updating and implementing the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-06-20
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06