WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced he has reintroduced the Authorizing Critical Conservation and Enabling Sportsmen and Sportswomen Act or ACCESS Act, a resource protection package that includes key conservation legislation.

“As a lifelong hunter and sportsman, I am proud to reintroduce this package of legislation to conserve our environment and expand access for other sportsmen and women like me. The programs in this bill enjoy wide bipartisan support and have proved to be effective and efficient ways to conserve our beautiful natural resources and increase participation in outdoor recreation,” said Thompson. “I have been working to ensure the future of these programs throughout my time in Congress and will continue my fight to pass this bill.”

Key Provisions in the ACCESS Act include:

– Five-year reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act;
– The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Protection Act, which allows the agency to seek compensations when resources it manages are destroyed or injured;
– Five-year reauthorization of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act and
Funding to states and tribes to research and manage chronic wasting disease in wildlife populations.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.