DU in DC: Ducks Unlimited Public Policy Update
March is roaring in like a lion for DU in the nation’s capital. The Farm Bill debate rolls on, and conservation continues to be on the chopping block as lawmakers in Congress and members of the Administration try to negotiate an acceptable bill. Congress and DU staff will also be acting on the President’s a $42.6 million request for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
Farm Bill
The fight for the Farm Bill continues in Congress, and DU staff in the Governmental Affairs Office and across the country continue to advocate for conservation programs. To reinforce the importance of agricultural conservation for waterfowl, DU Executive Vice President Don Young met with members of the Senate leadership, as well as the Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, on a recent visit to Washington D.C.
Among the programs that look to suffer cuts during the negotiations is the popular Wetlands Reserve Program, which helps private landowners conserve wetland habitat on their property. The Wetlands Reserve Program has conserved more 3 million acres of critical wintering and breeding habitat for waterfowl.
For more information, please see www.ducks.org/farmbill and http://www.ducks.org/news/1487/DUmeetswithCongressi.html
North American Wetlands Conservation Act
President Bush has again requested $42.6 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), one of the most popular and successful conservation programs in history. Using federal grants and matching partner funding, NAWCA has conserved more than 23 million acres since 1990.
This year DU is teaming up with Members of Congress to push for NAWCA funding for FY09. Senators Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Mike Crapo (Idaho) and Representatives John D. Dingell (Mich.) and Wayne Gilchrest (Md.) have circulated letters urging their colleagues to support the highest funding possible for NAWCA. DU thanks these Members, and all that sign on to the letters, for their support.
For more information on NAWCA, please see www.ducks.org/nawca
Conservation Programs Committee visits DC
The Conservation Programs Committee, a group of senior DU volunteers that help to guide the conservation mission, took to the halls and corridors of Congress to press their lawmakers to support conservation initiatives like the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and Farm Bill conservation programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program.
CPC members roamed the halls of Congress during the day, and were later joined at a Capitol Hill reception by other Members of Congress and staff that were unable to meet earlier in the day.