Advocates: Urgent Need for Letters to US House on Behalf of Florida Wildlife
The US House of Representatives is voting on HR1 -- a spending bill, or continuing resolution -- this week. This resolution will eliminate funding for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program and North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants for this year, FY11. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars would be slashed, and the Environmental Protection Agency would take a 30% cut to its budgets—which are used to protect America’s air and water quality.
This HR would similarly undermine the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
We need IMMEDIATE ACTION to oppose the current resolution and reinstate funding for SWG and these other essential environmental programs!
In Florida, SWG funds Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative, a non-regulatory program within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that funds conservation projects ranging from beach-nesting bird protections to springs research to reef monitoring.
NAWCA provides important matching funds for state and local dollars used to acquire wetlands; the Land and Water Conservation Fund helps acquire additions and inholdings to existing national wildlife refuges, parks and seashores. Florida refuges up for LWCF dollars this year include St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Vincents National Wildlife Refuge, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge, to name a few.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW!
Call or email your member of the US House of Representatives today or tomorrow (2/16-17) and ask them to OPPOSE the current resolution and reinstate funding for environmental programs, including SWG, LWCF, and more.
Click here to use our easy email function!.
Thank you for your support of Florida’s fish and wildlife!
