HR-4219 — National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025

YourVoice.Now Summary

EnvironmentCivil LibertiesTransparency & Accountability

Wildlife refuges would get rapid-response pest teams — next door, only if the owner asks.

Environment

Rapid response teams for invasive pests — one in every region

The Fish and Wildlife Service would put at least one trained team in each of its regions. Teams would spot new invasive plants, animals, and insects early and act fast, before they spread too far to remove.

Refuge help with invasive pests — states and landowners may request it

States, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and private landowners could ask for money, advice, or a team, and the agency could agree case by case. On land next to a refuge, the owner has to ask first.

Money authorized to fight invasive species — $10 million yearly through 2033

The bill authorizes $10 million a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2033. That is a ceiling, not cash in hand — Congress would still need to approve the money each year.

Pest work on land next to refuges — only at the owner's request

The program covers refuge land and land next to it. Off refuge land, the House added a rule that teams may neither scout for pests nor treat them unless the owner of that land asks.

Civil Liberties

Landowner control over their own land — teams need the owner's request

Nothing the strike teams do on private, state, or tribal land next to a refuge could start without the owner asking for it. That covers both searching for pests and treating them.

Transparency & Accountability

Public reports on invasive species work — online at years 2 and 5

Two years and five years after the bill becomes law, the agency would owe Congress a report on what each team did and how far it got on each priority pest. The same report must be posted on the Fish and Wildlife Service website.

More about this bill

Wildlife refuges would get teams trained to catch invasive pests early. The Fish and Wildlife Service would set up at least one strike team in each of its regions. Teams would look for new pests and move fast to stop them from spreading. On land next to a refuge, they could look or act only if the owner asks. Neighbors, states, tribes, and local governments could still ask for help. The agency could send a team, pay for work, or sign an agreement. Congress would allow up to $10 million a year from 2027 through 2033. Lawmakers would still have to fund it. The agency would post progress reports online two and five years after the bill becomes law.

Congressional Summary

Congress's official summary of this bill still describes an earlier version of the text, so we have left it out here. You can read it on Congress.gov.

Congress.gov →

Legislative Subjects

Congressional oversightEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchIntergovernmental relationsPest managementPublic-private cooperationWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitatsWildlife conservation and habitat protection

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Passed House
Action Date: 2026-09-14
Date Added: 2026-09-09
Source: Congress.gov →

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