Kankakee Times

Millions of dollars from the federal government is set to head to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help better protect and preserve the state's streams and rivers, along with the wildlife that call the waters home.

State Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) announced in a recent Facebook post that IDNR was expected to receive more than $24 million for projects selected in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.

"The Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) passed the U.S. House in June and has bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate," Haas said in the post. "RAWA funds go towards the conservation of America's wildlife, fisheries, and habitats. Under the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program, monies would be allocated directly to the states to manage our nation's threatened and endangered species and the natural areas they call home."

Haas shared a link to The Telegraph as part of her Facebook post. The article reported that funding from the 2022 RAWA would go to rivers and streams in the state, with a focus on cleanliness, recovery, development and enhancement of fish habitats and mussels.

The bill— known as S.2372—was introduced in the U.S. Senate in July of 2021 and has been sent to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, a Congress.gov report said.

The bill has promise, with 16 cosponsors in the Senate, and it has a broad support base; a Vox Media report said. It would provide nearly $1.4 billion a year to restoring wildlife populations across the nation.