BANGOR, Maine (AP) A bill designed to protect endangered species that was authored in part by Maine’s Republican senator has passed the U.S. Senate.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon authored the Rescuing Animals With Rewards Act as part of an effort to crack down on poaching. The Senate unanimously passed the proposal.

The senators say their act is designed to authorize the U.S. Department of State to offer financial rewards for information that leads to the disruption of wildlife trafficking networks.

Numerous conservation groups support the senators’ proposal. It’s co-sponsored by a large, bipartisan group of senators.