New wetlands restoration funding...

Congress Recommends Record Wetlands Restoration Funding

6/11/2009

The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee has approved President Obama’s request for a record $52 million to go to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

More than 140 members of Congress signed a letter addressed to the committee in support of higher funds for the wetlands conservation initiative.

The subcommittee also approved $503 million in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System, a conservation program that provides critical habitats for breeding, wintering and migrating waterfowl.

"We are very excited that chairman Dicks, ranking member Simpson, and the rest of the subcommittee also recognize the importance of NAWCA and the benefits that restoring and conserving wetlands across the country have for sportsmen, farmers and the public," said Scott Sutherland, director of the Governmental Affairs Office for Ducks Unlimited. "NAWCA is one of the most remarkable success stories for conservation, and this funding increase will continue that success."

Each federal government conservation grant is matched with state, private or local city funds.

"The program is so popular, this match is usually two to three times the federal grant, meaning that an investment of $52 million could be more like $200 million for wetlands and waterfowl," Sutherland said. "It's one of the best deals in conservation."

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

Sounds like some stimulus money that is going to be well spent for a change!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06