NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUNDING - FISCAL YEAR 2011
Latest News: March 12, 2010: The President has proposed a $3.3 million funding decrease for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) for next year (FY11). Because the NWRS needs AT LEAST $15 million more annually to address the increased costs associated with managing 150 million acres, the President’s budget request is actually A CUT of $18.3 million.
What Can You Do?
Though we are deeply disappointed by this request, the good news is that it is simply a blueprint and Congress ultimately holds the purse strings! Congress will begin assembling their own funding proposals for the Refuge System right away and your time to weigh in with Congress begins today! Below are three easy things you can do – you can do one, two, or all three! Just let us know if you need help along the way and all we ask is that you keep us informed of your actions so that when we communicate with various members on the Hill – we know what they’re hearing from YOU!
1. Urge Your Representative and Senators to Sign onto Letters To Appropriators
Urge your Congressional delegation to support increased funding for the Refuge System by signing onto letters to appropriators.
“Dear Colleagues” are circulating in the House and Senate urging members to sign onto letters to Appropriators requesting increased funding for the Refuge System in FY 2011. Such funding will ensure the Refuge System will be able to properly administer its nearly 150 million acres, host education nature programs for schoolchildren, restore degraded wildlife habitat, and begin to fulfill their mission and purposes.
Send your Congressional delegation an instant message through our Refuge Action Network!
2. Submit Written Testimony for the Record
One of the best ways to influence the appropriations process is by telling the members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies exactly what you think! Every year, the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees accept written comments from organizations and the public. It’s easy and is the next best thing to meeting with the committee in person. The House Subcommittee must receive written testimony by MARCH 19, 2010 and the Senate by May 14, 2010. Written testimony must be received in the format outlined on the subcommittees' websites:
House: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_ienv.shtml
Senate: http://appropriations.senate.gov/sc-interior.cfm
You can view NWRA’s testimony from last year and we are happy to provide suggestions on what you should cover and highlight.
3. Set Up a District Office Visit
Call your U.S. Representatives and Senators offices and set up a meeting with their district staff to talk about refuge funding needs. Urge them to support $578 million for the Refuge System for FY 2011. Explain what will happen to YOUR refuge with an $18.3 million cut to the System’s budget and also explain what your refuge has been able to do with the past 3 years of budget increases.
For more information on any of these items or to get personalized assistance, please contact Joan Patterson.
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