JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - May 17, 2010 - Ducks Unlimited volunteer Jim Talbert traveled from Jefferson City, Mo., to Washington, D.C., last week to meet with congressional leaders and discuss wetlands conservation issues. Talbert and DU staff members sat down with representatives and their staffs in an effort to explain the benefits of North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants for Missouri and the North American waterfowl population.
L to R: DU volunteers Sam Smolik and Jim Talbert, Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri and DU staff members Scott Sutherland and Dr. Scott Yaich take a moment to pose for a photo while discussing wetlands conservation issues on Capitol Hill. |
"There are currently 20 NAWCA projects either completed or are underway in Missouri and we visited with these members of Congress and their staffs to remind them of the benefits NAWCA offers Missouri residents," Talbert said. "DU is the only waterfowl and wetlands oriented organization that has a voice in D.C. and we went up to Capitol Hill to use that voice effectively for everyone's benefit."
Talbert met with Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Rep. Ike Skelton and Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond's staff on May 12. With more than $14.7 million in NAWCA funding, generating partner contributions of more than $81.4 million, NAWCA has been able to conserve 86,180 acres of wildlife habitat in Missouri. Talbert stressed that there are more than 21,000 DU members in Missouri who care about habitat conservation and programs like NAWCA.
L to R: Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri and DU volunteers Sam Smolik and Jim Talbert discuss wetlands conservation issues in Washington, D.C. |
"Every group of DU volunteers and staff we host during Capitol Hill visits reacts positively to the experience and they fill an important role in educating Congress and their staff," said Scott Sutherland, director of DU's Governmental Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. "These meetings are highly productive and show members of Congress that people pay attention to effects on waterfowl which stem from their legislative decisions."
Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.
Chris Jennings
901.758.3732
cjennings@ducks.org