Habitat Enhancement Now Act

Congress finds that—

(1) the maintenance of healthy populations of migratory birds in North America is largely dependent on the protection, restoration, and management of wetland ecosystems and other habitats, as identified in the Implementation Plans of Joint Ventures authorized under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan;

(2) duck populations in North America are being threatened by the loss in the quantity and quality of breeding habitat, which leads to declining nest success;

(3) low nest success has been widely documented to be the key annual driver in duck populations;

(4) additional tools can be employed to increase nest success to complement the private, State, and Federal habitat conservation programs and efforts in order to sustain healthy waterfowl populations;

(5) relatively modest investments in management can make meaningful impacts towards supplementing waterfowl production in areas where waterfowl production outcomes have not been fully met;

(6) numerous studies have made it clear that nesting structures, in particular hen houses, are the most efficient and cost-effective tool for increasing nest success; and

(7) providing incentives to private landowners to establish nesting cover, create or restore brood ponds, and provide brood water is a priority to enhance production of mallards, gadwalls, and other breeding ducks in California.

In this section:

The term eligible entity means—

(A) a State, local, or Tribal government;

(B) a nonprofit organization; and

(C) an individual.

The term hen house means a type of cylindrical nest structure installed on a post in a prairie pothole.

The term prairie pothole means a depressional wetland, including a freshwater marsh, that provides vital habitat to species of nesting waterfowl and other species.

The term prairie pothole region means the primary nesting grounds of the majority of North American ducks.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities to strategically place, build, and maintain hen houses in the prairie pothole region for the purpose of improving the nesting success rates of populations of species of migratory waterfowl.

To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities to develop breeding habitat for species of migratory waterfowl within California for the purpose of enhancing the breeding success rates of populations of species of migratory waterfowl, including by—

(i) establishing nesting cover;

(ii) creating brood ponds; and

(iii) providing incentives to willing landowners to carry out the activities described in this subparagraph on land under the control of those landowners within California.

To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.

For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of the Interior—Office of the Secretary—Departmental Operations account for each such fiscal year—

(1) $3,500,000 shall be made available to carry out subsection (c)(1); and

(2) $3,500,000 shall be made available to carry out subsection (c)(2).