WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 17, 2011)—The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently announced its fiscal year 2012 funding recommendations for the U.S. Department of the Interior. The committee has recommended a $35.5 million funding level for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. While lower than the funding in recent fiscal years and far below the level recommended by the President's request ($50 million) and the authorized level ($75 million), Ducks Unlimited is pleased that the Senate's proposal contains higher funding levels for conservation programs than those proposed by the House. However, ensuring these programs are properly funded will be an uphill battle as negotiations between the two chambers begin. 

"Hunters and anglers play an important role in our nation's economy, generating almost $80 billion a year in revenue by pursuing their outdoor interests," DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt said. "As FY 2012 budget negotiations continue, it is crucial that DU supporters help Congress understand how important conservation programs, such as NAWCA, are to sportsmen and the economy." 

Since its inception, NAWCA has provided on-the-ground wetland projects in all 50 states while helping to boost local economies and create jobs. Overall, hunting and fishing support more than 1.6 million jobs and generate more than $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes. 

"Ducks Unlimited understands that budgets need to be trimmed in order to pay down our deficit, which makes it more important that the government invest in federal programs that produce strong conservation and economic returns," DU Director of the Governmental Affairs Office Scott Sutherland said. "NAWCA represents a great investment for our nation and our outdoors. For every federal dollar invested in the program, an average of $3.20 more is contributed by non-federal partners." 

To ensure NAWCA's funding is not disproportionally cut in FY 2012, Ducks Unlimited is conducting a campaign to highlight the importance of NAWCA's conservation efforts and its economic benefits. DU encourages its members to ask their U.S. senators and representatives to support funding for NAWCA in FY 2012. 

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. Visit the DU website, www.ducks.org, for more information.

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