Media Center

U.S. Government Agrees to Halt Seafood Imports Tied to Deadly Bycatch of Whales, Dolphins, Other Marine Mammals

January 16, 2025 Press ReleaseUnited States, International

Conservation groups reached an agreement today that will require the United States to stop importing seafood that does not meet U.S. standards for protecting marine mammals.

Jimmy Carter was Four Decades Ahead of His Time

December 29, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

Former President Jimmy Carter has died. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Advances Critical Habitat Protection for Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebees

November 25, 2024 Press ReleaseUnited States

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to designate critical habitat for the rusty patched bumblebee under the Endangered Species Act, awarding long overdue protections to places the critically endangered bee calls home.

Rollins Picked to Lead USDA

November 23, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President-elect Trump announced that he would nominate Brooke Rollins to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture today. Rollins is the CEO of the America First Policy Institute.

Historic U.S. Protections Proposed for Africa's Vanishing Giraffes

November 20, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C., International

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting four species of giraffes under the Endangered Species Act—the first time these towering African mammals would receive federal safeguards.

Chairwoman Stabenow Introduces Senate Farm Bill

November 18, 2024 ReactionUnited States

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow introduced the Senate Farm Bill, which includes critical investments to support farmers, strengthen rural communities, and address the climate crisis.

Environmental Groups Reach Settlement on Pesticide-Treated Seeds with California Agency

November 13, 2024 Press ReleaseCalifornia

A group of environmental organizations informed a California state court today that they had reached an agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to propose regulations addressing pesticide-treated seeds.

USDA Announces More Than $3 Billion Investment in Rural America

October 25, 2024 ReactionUnited States

The Biden administration today announced over $3 billion in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program.

New Legislation Improves Protection For Migratory Birds

October 11, 2024 Press ReleaseUnited States

WReps. Jared Huffman (CA-2) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced the Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2024 today. The bill would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 to create a new permit program, authorize civil penalties up to $10,000…

California Becomes First State to Ban “Sell By” Dates on Packaged Foods

September 30, 2024 Press ReleaseCalifornia

AB 660 requires the use of standardized food date-labeling terminology, reducing consumer confusion and the environmental impacts of food waste.

Confusing Food Date Labels Are (Almost) a Thing of the Past

September 10, 2024 Press ReleaseSacramento

In a major victory for consumers and the environment, the California State Legislature passed the nation’s first mandatory food date labeling reform bill. Assembly Bill 660, which standardizes confusing date labels that result in unnecessary food waste, is now on…

USDA Unveils Historic $7.3 Billion Investment in Rural Clean Energy

September 5, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $7.3 billion in historic Inflation Reduction Act funding today for non-profit rural electric cooperatives through the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program.

Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Marine Mammals from Foreign Fishing Gear, Enforce Seafood Import Bans  

August 8, 2024 Press ReleaseUnited States, International

Conservation groups sued several federal officials and departments today in the U.S. Court of International Trade over their failure to implement the import provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Environmental Groups Challenge Highway Expansion Project in Court

May 30, 2024 Press ReleaseCalifornia

The draft environmental impact report obscures true harms of the project.

More than 200 Species Need Protection from International Commercial Trade, NRDC and Partners Tell Biden Administration

May 22, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), together with the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife, today asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to seek a ban on commercial trade for more than 200 species of…

Senate Agriculture Releases Farm Bill Proposal

May 1, 2024 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2024) – Chairwoman Stabenow of the Senate Agriculture Committee released a Farm Bill proposal today that includes protections for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) climate provisions and conservation programs.

New Federal Rule Protects Eagles While Supporting Clean Energy Development

February 8, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a final eagle permitting rule that protects Bald and Golden eagles while providing a new pathway for wind energy development and other industries.

Navy Agrees to Comply with Clean Water Act for Munitions Testing on Potomac

January 10, 2024 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

Federal Court in Maryland Approves Settlement in Lawsuit Brought by Potomac Riverkeeper Network and NRDC

Federal Appeals Court Rules Use of Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide Is Unlawful, Vacates EPA Approval

December 13, 2023 Press ReleaseSan Francisco

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of farmworkers and public-interest groups’ call for reversal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.

Report: U.S. Must Ban Seafood From 11 Nations Over Whale, Dolphin Deaths 

November 30, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

A report issued today by conservation groups finds that 11 nations have at least some fisheries that fail to meet U.S. standards for preventing whale and dolphin bycatch. Entanglement in fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of marine mammals around…