WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Ben Cardin (MD) and Mike Crapo (ID) and Congressmen Don Young (AK), Michael Grimm (NY), Mike Thompson (CA) and Ron Kind (WI) were joined by 163 of their fellow Members of
Congress on a “Dear Colleague” sign-on letter to Interior appropriators in
support of FY15 funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program.
In both letters, Members urged their
Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and Related agencies to provide the most
investment possible for the program, which is the nation’s CORE source of
funding for preventing fish and wildlife from becoming endangered.
“Choosing to protect our wildlife and
natural resources is good for our environment and our economy. Consistent
funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program will further protect
more than 12,000 at-risk fish and wildlife species while avoiding costly and
often controversial interventions that would be needed if we were forced to add
more species to the endangered species list,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “The
imminent de-listing, due to sufficient recovery, of the once endangered
Delmarva Fox Squirrel is a testament to the success of this program.”
“In
my home state of Alaska, which I would argue is home to the most pristine
wildlife in the country, we understand the critical importance of protecting
our wildlife for future generations,” said
Congressman Don Young. “I firmly believe the most appropriate and
efficient way for populations to flourish and avoid the endangered species list
is through a willingness to work together on all levels. The State and Tribal
Wildlife Grant program plays a significant role in bringing together states and
the federal government to accomplish the important goal of effectively managing
our fish and wildlife resources. We know all too well the negative impacts
associated with listing any one of our nation’s species, including the
detriment to local economies, homeowners, conservationists and sportsmen alike,
which is why I proudly support the work of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant
program and continue to ensure funding levels remain intact from proposed cuts
in the President’s FY15 budget.”
The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants
program has successfully prevented new endangered species listings. The program
is used to support data collection that is important to ensure endangered
species listings are science-based and provides states with resources to put
voluntary on-the-ground conservation measures in place. Without sufficient
funding for this program, more species will be added to the federal endangered
species list requiring expensive interventions and resulting in increased
uncertainty for businesses.
State Wildlife Grants
are vital to fish and wildlife agencies in every state, territory and the
District of Columbia to support the implementation and revision of State
Wildlife Action Plans that were developed to conserve more than 12,000 species
known to be at-risk. The program has the support of the 6,400
organizations that make up the “Teaming With Wildlife” coalition and directly
impacts the 90 million individuals who participate in wildlife-related
recreation and spend $145 billion on their outdoor pursuits annually.
The number of Members signing on was
up for both “Dear Colleague” letters this year. The U.S. Senate letter
included 31 democrats, 8 republicans and 2 independents and the U.S. House of
Representatives letter included 112 democrats and 17 republicans. Outreach by
state agency staff and Teaming With Wildlife coalition partners to Members was
key to the success of the letters.
________________________________________
Senate Members Who Signed the FY15
Dear Colleague Letter Supporting State & Tribal Wildlife Grants
Barbara Boxer (CA), Chris Murphy
(CT), Thomas Carper (DE), Johnny Isakson (GA),
Mazie Hirono (HI), Brian Schatz
(HI), Chuck Grassley (IA), Mike Crapo (ID),
James Risch (ID), Dick Durbin (IL),
Edward Markey (MA), Ben Cardin (MD),
Angus King (ME), Carl Levin (MI), Debbie
Stabenow (MI), Amy Klobuchar (MN),
John Walsh (MT), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Robert
Menendez (NJ), Cory Booker (NJ),
Martin Heinrich (NM), Charles Schumer (NY),
James Inhofe (OK), Bob Casey (PA),
Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Tim Johnson (SD), Tim
Kaine (VA), Patrick Leahy (VT),
Maria Cantwell (WA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI)
House Members Who
Signed the FY15 Dear Colleague Letter Supporting State & Tribal Wildlife
Grants
Don Young (AK), Paul Grijalva (AZ), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ), Mike Thompson (CA),
Lois Capps (CA), Jerry McNerney
(CA), Henry Waxman (CA), Barbara Lee (CA),
Sam Farr (CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard
(CA), Tony Cardenas (CA), Jared Huffman (CA),
Raul Ruiz (CA), Jim Costa (CA), Gloria
Negrete McLeod (CA), Rosa DeLauro (CT),
Joe Courtney (CT), Alcee Hastings (FL), Corrine
Brown (FL), Frederica Wilson (FL),
David Scott (GA), Hank Johnson (GA), John Lewis
(GA), Colleen Hanabusa (HI),
Daniel Lipinski (IL), Jan Schakowsky (IL), John Yarmuth
(KY), Stephen Lynch (MA),
John Sarbanes (MD), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD), Elijah Cummings
(MD), John Delaney (MD),
Michael Michaud (ME), John Dingell (MI), Dan Kildee
(MI), Gary Peters (MI),
Collin Peterson (MN), Keith Ellison (MN), Emanuel Cleaver
(MO), Mike McIntyre (NC),
Lee Terry (NE), Jeff Fortenberry (NE), Adrian Smith
(NE), Carol Shea-Porter (NH),
Ann Kuster (NH), Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ), Albio Sires
(NJ), Chris Smith (NJ),
Jon Runyan (NJ), Steve Pearce (NM), Gregorio Sablan
(NM), Dina Titus (NV),
Jerrold Nadler (NY), Carolyn Maloney (NY), Carolyn McCarthy
(NY), Paul Tonko (NY),
Michael Grimm (NY), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Jim Gerlach
(PA), Allyson Schwartz (PA),
Matt Cartwright (PA), Robert Brady (PA), Jim Langevin
(RI), David Cicilline (RI),
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Robert C. Scott (VA), Gerald
Connolly (VA), Jim McDermott (WA),
Suzan DelBene (WA), Derek Kilmer (WA), Ron Kind
(WI) and Gwen Moore (WI).
