MONARCH Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Panetta
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal program to rescue the western monarch butterfly by funding habitat restoration, grants, and a coordinated conservation plan.
Show full summary
- Local, Tribal, research, and nonprofit groups could receive grants from a new Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to protect habitat and restore milkweed. Funding is limited to $12.5 million per year for 2026–2030 and administrative costs are capped at 3 percent per year.
- It would support implementation and updating of a regional conservation plan through an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, focused on restoring nectar plants, overwintering sites, and other pollinator habitat.
- The bill would require annual public reporting to Congress summarizing funded projects and the status of western monarchs to track progress and coordinate with state, tribal, and local partners.
*Would authorize $12.5 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for the Rescue Fund and plan implementation, with up to 3 percent allowed for administration, increasing federal spending by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-year funding for monarch conservation
If enacted, this bill would create the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund. It would authorize $12.5 million each year for FY2026–FY2030 to deposit into the Fund, available until spent. It would also authorize another $12.5 million each year for FY2026–FY2030 to the Interior Department to run the conservation plan. Administrative costs from the Fund would be capped at 3% each year. The Interior Department would manage the Fund.
Grants for monarch and pollinator projects
If enacted, the Interior Department would use Fund money to award grants for projects that help western monarchs and other pollinators in their range. Eligible leads would include local or Tribal agencies, colleges, and nonprofits with needed expertise; State or Federal agencies could join as partners but not lead. The Department would ask for proposals each year and approve only projects likely to aid conservation, and would provide technical help. Grantees would file progress reports; the Department would post them and send them to a State legislature if a Governor asks.
Foundation partnership to run monarch plan
If enacted, the Interior Department would sign an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to update and carry out the 2019 Western Monarch Conservation Plan. The bill would exempt this agreement and its funds from Section 10(a) of the Foundation’s law to simplify how it is handled. This would streamline implementation of the plan.
Yearly report on western monarchs
If enacted, the Interior Department would send Congress a report each year by January 31. It would describe the status of western monarchs that year. It would also summarize and evaluate grant-funded projects and projects funded under the 2019 plan.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Panetta
CA • D
Cosponsors
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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