Press Release: 5/19/2026
STATEMENT: Funding for wildlife crossings included in US House transportation bill
MAY 18, 2026
MEDIA CONTACTS
Director, Wildlife Campaigns, Environment America
DENVER — The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Monday announced it has agreed upon a bipartisan, five-year surface transportation bill. The BUILD America 250 Act, which will invest in roads, bridges and transit infrastructure across the country, will include funding for wildlife crossings through the reauthorization of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. The new legislation calls for $80 million for the program each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.
Each year, across the United States, 1 to 2 million vehicles crash into large wild animals such as deer, elk and bear. Annually, these collisions result in billions of dollars in damages, tens of thousands of human injuries and hundreds of deaths. Since its inception in 2021, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program has been instrumental in helping to plan and build structures to reduce these dangerous collisions.
In response to the new bipartisan surface transportation bill, Environment America Wildlife Campaigns Director Andrew Rothmanreleased this statement:
“We are extremely pleased to see the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program in the next highway bill. This commonsense legislation will affect every driver in the country. No one wants to hit an animal while driving, and these accidents are far too common.
“Because wildlife crossings are a proven solution, we hope when Congress passes the final Transportation bill, it includes at least $100 million per year for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Every life saved — whether human or animal — is worth it.”