NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUNDING - FISCAL YEAR 2011

Latest News: March 29, 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 now! Below are four easy things you can do – you can do one, two, three or all four! Just let us know if you need any help along the way and we ask you to 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. 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 deadline for written testimony was MARCH 19, 2010 and many Friends submitted testimony – THANK YOU!

The Senate’s deadline for written testimony is May 14, 2010. Written testimony must be received in the format outlined on the subcommittees' websites: http://appropriations.senate.gov/sc-interior.cfm.

The top “Asks” for the National Wildlife Refuge System for 2011 are:

Urge $578 million for operations and maintenance accounts. The Refuge System needs $900 million annually to adequately manage its 150 million acres; a funding allocation of $578 million in FY 11 will put the System on the road towards full funding.
Fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million, including $300 million for strategic land and easement acquisitions by the Refuge System. NWRA urges Congress to pass S. 2747, legislation to permanently fund the LWCF.
Urge Congress to fund the Department of Interior’s Challenge-Cost Share Program. The program was created to leverage funding through strategic partnerships to obtain greater conservation objectives that would not be achieved by the federal government on its own.

For more information on these “Asks” go to http://refugeassociation.org/new-pdf-files/2010nwrapriorities.pdf.

If your Friends group submits written testimony, please send me a copy for our files. We would like to be able to mention in our testimony that XX Friends groups have submitted comments as well - we will also, with your permission, put your testimony on our website.

You can view NWRA’s testimony for next year and we are happy to provide suggestions on what you should cover and highlight.

2. 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.

Download materials for your lawmaker “Leave Behind” folder. You’ll be able to leave this with the Congressman or their staffer and will provide them with additional information. Suggested material to download include:

3. Invite Your Representatives to your Refuge

Ask your representatives to visit your refuge. Currently, both Houses are on recess until April 9th. Call the local office and speak to the scheduler to see if a visit can be arranged over the next two weeks or over the Memorial Day recess. During the visit highlight the ecological, community, and economic services your refuge provides and how reduced funding will potentially impact these services. Download materials for your lawmaker “Take Away” folder. Provide this to your lawmaker or their staffer before they leave your refuge.

4. Send an instant letter to your elected officials urging them to support $578 million for Refuge System funding for FY11.

Go to http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com/showalert.asp?aaid=4610

For more information on any of these items or to get personalized assistance, please contact Joan Patterson.

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