NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUNDING - FISCAL YEAR 2010

Last Updated: June 26, 2009

The House of Representatives passed their Interior & Environment Appropriations bill June 26th and included a $40 million increase for the Refuge System. This builds upon President Obama’s requested increase of $20 million and puts the System on the path for full funding - $808 million by FY 2013.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has recommended $488.6 million, slightly more than the President’s request but $14.4 million less than the House version.

Action turns to the Senate where a final floor vote could be as early as the week of July 6th when lawmakers return from their July 4th recess. We’ll need your help to ensure the higher House number is enacted!

What Can You Do?

Your time to weigh in is now! We need your help to encourage the Senate to support the House level of $503 million for next year! You can easily contact your lawmakers via our easy online advocacy tool – the Refuge Action Network or RAN. You can customize and send an instant letter right here.

Friends Making a Difference

For years, Friends groups have educated Congress about the needs of the Refuge System. In 2007, five Friends groups testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies and last year, even more groups submitted written testimony. This year, five Friends groups were selected to appear, the Friends of Rachel Carson NWR, Maine, the Friends of Alaska NWRs, the Friends of Walkill River NWR, New Jersey, the Friends of Back Bay NWR, Virginia and the Friends of Pool 9, Iowa.

The Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, Norm Dicks, has reflected on the moving stories and testimony from volunteer refuge Friends groups nationwide. This year, Friends comprised 5% of the total witnesses who appeared in person before the subcommittee and 22% of the written testimony they received!

Below are just a few of the samples of written testimony submitted by Friends organizations regarding funding for the Refuge System for FY 2010.

Bill Durkin, President of the Friends of Rachel Carson NWR in Maine, testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies on April 23, 2009. © Patrick Woolford

Alaska Friends Testimony FY10.doc

FO Wallkill River NWR FY10.doc

Bosque del Apache Public Witness Day written testimony.pdf

Pelican Island FY10.doc

Friends of Tampa Bay NWRs FY10.doc

Friends of Wertheim FY10.doc

Friends of Blackwater.doc

Friends of Prairie Learning Center.doc

"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society.doc

See Archive of Past Testimony

For more information or to get personalized assistance, please contact Desiree Sorenson-Groves
at dgroves@refugeassociation.org or 202-292-3961.

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