Inside Washington

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Wildlife Refuges Targeted for Huge Funding Increase by White House

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Wildlife Refuges Targeted for Huge Funding Increase by White House

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to see a large increase for the National Wildlife Refuge System Operations and Maintenance Fund in the President’s FY2022 budget request. This increase to $584 million, $81 million more than current enacted funding, will go towards hiring additional staff to tackle invasive species, protect wildlife and habitat, and perform biological work and visitor services on wildlife refuges. This request is historic: $584 million is by far the largest proposed budget for Refuge System O&M ever.

NWRA Congratulates Secretary Deb Haaland on Her Historic Confirmation

NWRA Congratulates Secretary Deb Haaland on Her Historic Confirmation

The National Wildlife Refuge Association congratulates Secretary Deb Haaland on her confirmation as Secretary of the Interior. Her confirmation as the first Native American in the position is groundbreaking and will help the Department of the Interior move towards an equitable and inclusive approach to wildlife conservation, visitation, and use of our public lands.

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

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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.

Government Shutdown Averted, Funding Secured for National Wildlife Refuges

Government Shutdown Averted, Funding Secured for National Wildlife Refuges

Last night, under pressure from both sides of the aisle and with unemployment benefits lapsing and a government shutdown looming, President Trump signed the huge, 5,000+ page omnibus bill/COVID relief bill into law. This bill was passed last week by both chambers of Congress, and we have been waiting on news that the President would sign it into law.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association Congratulates Representative Deb Haaland on Historic Nomination

The National Wildlife Refuge Association congratulates Representative Deb Haaland (NM-1) on her historic nomination as Secretary of the Interior. We are thrilled to welcome Rep. Haaland to this position, for which she is uniquely qualified and well prepared. As the vice chair of the Natural Resources Committee and chair of the Public Lands Subcommittee, she has been instrumental in implementing conservation policy during her tenure in Congress.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, which is administered by the Interior Department, manages 850 million acres of lands and waters. The System stretches from the islands of the Pacific Ocean to the 16 refuges in Alaska, throughout the 20 million acres in the Lower 48, to the underwater canyons and seamounts of the Atlantic and the sunny beaches and lush forests of the Caribbean. These lands and waters are the largest protected area for wildlife on Earth, and yet are drastically underfunded and understaffed.

We look forward to working with Rep. Haaland, who will be the first Native American ever to hold the position of Interior Secretary. The Refuge System by its very nature adjoins tribal lands, contains sacred sites, and provides habitat for native plants and wildlife that people depend upon, particularly in the Southwest and Alaska. We are extremely pleased to have a Secretary who values and treasures the wildlife of all Refuge System lands and waters, and will protect it for all generations of Americans.

A Great Conservation Win: The Great American Outdoors Act Becomes Law

A Great Conservation Win: The Great American Outdoors Act Becomes Law

This morning, the President signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law, ushering in a major funding boost for the National Wildlife Refuge System and fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The National Wildlife Refuge Association looks forward to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fully implement these programs and improving wildlife refuge habitat for wildlife and visitors alike.

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Reflecting On A Momentous Week For Our National Wildlife Refuges

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Reflecting On A Momentous Week For Our National Wildlife Refuges

This week was a momentous week for wildlife conservation and wildlife refuges on Capitol Hill! From the protection of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge to funding for Refuge System Operations and Maintenance to the permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, we thank Congress for their hard work to support our nation’s public lands.

House Votes To Hand Over More Than 800,000 Acres of Desert National Wildlife Refuge To U.S. Air Force Control

House Votes To Hand Over More Than 800,000 Acres of Desert National Wildlife Refuge To U.S. Air Force Control

In a stunning move, the House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee voted yesterday to approve an amendment that gives away nearly a million acres of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada to the military. This vote is a huge setback.

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.