EMAIL BLAST
March 30, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Richard Shields
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
Let your voice be heard!
Th Refuge System needs your help
The following is the text of a letter being distributed by the National Wildlife Refuge Association concerning the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 funding for the NWRS.  Read, consider, and do what you can to be an advocate for your refuge system.  
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Dear Friends:

As a Refuge supporter we urge you to voice you support for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and let your representatives know funding for the System must be increased in Fiscal Year 2011.

Friends came to Capitol Hill on March 9th and made compelling cases for the needs of their refuges and NWRS and we thank them for coming. Not every Friends organization was in a position to make the trek to Washington DC, however every Friends group is in the position to demonstrate their support for their refuge and the NWRS. Over the last three years everyone has worked so hard to get increases to the NWRS's budget, let's not lose the momentum now.

HERE'S THE ISSUE:

The President has proposed a $3.3 million funding decrease for the National Wildlife Refuge System 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.

You can find a detailed analysis of the President's budget as it relates to refuges and Fish Wildlife System on our website:

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 Senate subcommittee website

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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" click HERE .

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 materials 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. Suggested materials to download include:

4. Send an instant letter to your elected officials

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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On the positive side, the President's request included a Treasured Landscapes Initiative which boosts investments in landscape level, ecosystem restoration and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which would receive $106 million for refuge land acquisition - a $20 million increase.  Savannah NWR is Number 5 on the priority list for land acquisition.

Budget Priority
Project
State
Total
1
St. Marks NWR
FL
1,000,000
2
Silvio O. Conte NWR
MA/NH/VT/CT
6,000,000
3
Cache River NWR
AR
3,000,000
4
Laguna Atascosa NWR
TX
1,000,000
5
Savannah NWR
GA/SC
1,375,000
 
See you at the 2010 Friends Group Annual Meeting on March 31st!