Appropriations

The Wildlife Toll: Why Continuing Resolutions Fall Short For The National Wildlife Refuge System

The Wildlife Toll: Why Continuing Resolutions Fall Short For The  National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System stands as a stronghold for biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions supporting climate resiliency and conserving the delicate balance of nature. However, the ongoing challenge of funding through continuing resolutions poses a significant threat to the thriving wildlife that calls these national wildlife refuges home.

Request For Testimony On FY2023 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System To The Senate

Request For Testimony On FY2023 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System To The Senate

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is requesting Refuge Friends’ testimony on behalf of National Wildlife Refuge System funding levels for the Fiscal Year 2023— this time for the Senate! Many of you already submitted testimony for the House back in March, but even if you didn’t you can still submit testimony to the Senate!

Public Witness Day Testimony for FY23 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System

Public Witness Day Testimony for FY23 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System

Written testimony by Caroline Brouwer, Vice President, Government Affairs, National Wildlife Refuge Association, for the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

Statement on the House Appropriations Committee’s release of FY2022 Omnibus language

Statement on the House Appropriations Committee’s release of FY2022 Omnibus language

The National Wildlife Refuge Association strongly supports increased funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System, the largest system of public lands set aside for wildlife in the world. Covering 95 million acres of land and 750 million acres of ocean, the Refuge System is currently funded at just under 60¢ per acre per year. Year after year, the Refuge System remains underfunded, with little traction in Congress to increase funding for habitat that serves not just wildlife species, but people as well.

Request For Testimony On FY2023 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System To The House

Request For Testimony On FY2023 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System To The House

I truly appreciate all the Friends and Friends Groups who submitted testimony to the House and Senate last spring. We are *still* waiting to see the results of that push for increased funding since Congress has still not passed an FY2022 appropriations bill. The House of Representatives, however, is beginning their Fiscal Year 2023 push without any final FY2022 numbers and without the release of the President’s Budget Request (which we are expecting any day).

Government Shutdown Averted For Now, Please Contact Your Members Of Congress

Government Shutdown Averted For Now, Please Contact Your Members Of Congress

On the last day of the fiscal year, Congress has finally passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 3rd. While a shutdown has been averted, there are no increases to funding in this legislation.

President Biden Signs Executive Orders on Arctic, Border Refuges, Marine Monuments

President Biden Signs Executive Orders on Arctic, Border Refuges, Marine Monuments

On January 20, 2021, the United States of America swore in its new President, Joseph R. Biden, Jr, and its new Vice President, Kamala D. Harris. Along with the new Biden Administration, Vice President Harris also swore in three new Democratic Senators, flipping the upper chamber to Democratic control. Margins in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are razor-thin, meaning almost any legislation will require bipartisan support to pass.

Appropriations Update

Appropriations Update

Today is October 1st, the first day of the 2021 Fiscal Year when the federal fiscal year starts. The House passed a spending bill to keep the government funded through the entire fiscal year (October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021), but the Senate never passed any bills.

Why Congressional Appropriations Are Important To The National Wildlife Refuge System

Why Congressional Appropriations Are Important To The National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 850 million acres of lands and waters across America’s 568 National Wildlife Refuges, including 5 Marine National Monuments. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for managing these lands and is expected to fulfill its obligation to the Refuge System’s 59 million annual visitors and diverse wildlife on a budget of a mere 59¢ per acre, a fraction of what other land agencies receive per acre. For comparison, the National Park Service receives $31 per acre for land management.