Press Release

Leaders of Newly Formed Bipartisan Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Highlight Refuge Value, Tout Growing Membership

Caucus Membership Nears 100; Represents 36 states and 168 refuges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 14, 2006

WASHINGTON – Hailing the National Wildlife Refuge System as the premier wildlife land system in the world, the four leaders of the newly formed bipartisan Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (CWRC) - Co-chairs Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Vice Co-chairs Mike Castle (R-DE) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) -gathered with a diverse coalition of national conservation and recreation organizations today to celebrate the launch of the caucus and highlight the importance of protecting and preserving the Refuge System.

“Our national refuge system is truly a triumph of American vision and commitment to responsible stewardship, protecting critical habitat and wildlife while providing economic benefit to local communities from recreational users,” stated Rep. Ron Kind, whose western Wisconsin district includes the Upper Mississippi River and Necedah Wildlife Refuges. “Yet this system – which benefits so many – is struggling to fulfill its mandate in the face of tightening budgets and additional burdens such as the threat of invasive species. We formed the caucus to create a collective voice for our nation’s refuges in Congress and to ensure the legacy of the system is preserved for future generations.”

The mission of the CWRC is to fortify, protect and preserve the National Wildlife Refuge System by supporting adequate Refuge funding, working for the strategic growth of the Refuge System through easements and targeted land acquisition, and by promoting legislation to improve the Refuge System. The CWRC also aims to educate members of Congress about the increasing number of challenges facing the System through briefings and other forms of outreach.

“Many Members of Congress across the country have wildlife refuges in their district or close to their district,” said Congressman Jim Saxton, a co-chairman of the new caucus whose own rural southern New Jersey district includes the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and its Holgate wilderness area. “We share many of the same concerns such as maintenance, encroachment and funding issues. This caucus will give us a structure within the House to tackle the common problems the refuges face.”

Wildlife Refuge budgets have long lagged behind what is needed to keep up with fixed costs such as salaries and fuel. These chronic shortfalls have resulted in an overall backlog of $3.1 billion, severely inhibiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from carrying out the mission of the Refuge System.

"For more than 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has protected many of our country’s most important habitats, protected numerous endangered species, made our water cleaner and provided Americans with beautiful areas to explore and enjoy,” said Rep. Mike Thompson. “However, recent funding cuts are a reminder that wildlife refuges need our continuous support. Through the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, we will provide a much-needed voice in Congress for this critical conservation tool.”

“The purpose of this caucus is critical-we are serving as a united voice aimed at protecting our nation's environmental treasures. My home state of Delaware has two refuges which protect marshes of the Delaware Bay that are the home of migratory shore birds and other animals. Every time I visit I am in awe of their beauty. I know others feel exactly the same about the refuges on their district and that is why we are redoubling our efforts to conserve and preserve these pristine areas,” said Rep. Mike Castle.

In anticipation of the launch the caucus membership, the Caucus recently introduced legislation to help combat invasive species, the number one ecological and financial threat the Refuge System. The Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, & Immediate Response (REPAIR) Act (H.R. 5900) REPAIR Act, proposes an innovative and cost-effective approach to maximize eradication efforts and establishes a grant program to combat invasive species on and adjacent to Refuges.

ONLINE VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE:
http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=95