Nearly 150 "Friends Group" volunteers supporting more than 108 national wildlife refuges in 37 states across the country met in early April with their legislators on Capitol Hill to promote an annual budget of $514 million, or roughly $5.14 per acre for the nearly 100,000 million acre Refuge System in fiscal year 2009. These refuge advocates met with decision-makers from their home states and with Congressional committee members and staff, seeking to expand Congressional support and draw attention to the Refuge System's crippling $3.6-billion funding backlog.

Nearly 150 Friends Visit 'Stormed the Hill' to promote increased funding for Refuges © Evan Hirsche

The Capitol Hill rally, organized by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, was preceded by advocacy training emphasizing the important role concerned citizens have in educating elected officials about the importance of conserving wildlife and habitats, and the value that it extends to local communities.

Twenty Friends, representing refuges in all 8 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regions, met with staff from the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. A group of 16 Friends from refuges across the country attended a special meeting with Congressman Norm Dicks, Chairman of the House Subcommittee. As indicated in the March edition of the Flyer, Friends were not allocated time to appear before the subcommittee on Public Witness Day due to time constraints. Consequently NWRA worked to arrange this meeting with Chairman Dicks to ensure that Friends had the opportunity to speak directly with the Chairman and express their concerns regarding their refuges and the refuge system.

See Press Release