WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dec. 19, 2016 - On Friday, President Obama signed S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act into law. WIIN will help restore and conserve some of the nation's most threatened habitat for waterfowl, while providing jobs and economic stability for communities all across the country.

"This bipartisan bill could not have been accomplished without the support of countless champions in both the House and Senate who worked tirelessly for two years to formulate this package,&dquo; said Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall. "Ducks Unlimited is thrilled to see final passage of the WIIN act by Congress and appreciates President Obama&squo;s signature of approval.&dquo;

Key conservation provisions included in the WIIN Act:

&ull; Robust funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, which provide dedicated funding to the Great Lakes Navigation System that support revitalization in waterfront communities and on-the-ground restoration projects critical to wildlife populations and their habitats.

&ull; The reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program that supports a coordinated approach to identify, prioritize and implement restoration across the Basin as well as provide support for on-the-ground projects.

&ull; The beneficial use of dredged materials which removes the regulatory barriers that currently restrict the use for wildlife habitat restoration projects.

&ull; A survey directing the EPA to study seagrasses in the Chesapeake Bay to monitor the health of the Bay.

&ull; Safeguarding of water supplies for refuges in California that provide critical waterfowl habitat in the Pacific Flyway.

WASHINGTON, D.C. March 01, 2017 Today the United States Senate confirmed Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana to serve as the Secretary of the Interior. With a bipartisan vote of 68 to 31, Zinke will serve as the 52nd Secretary for the department in charge of managing and conserving public land and natural resources in the United States. Ducks Unlimited is pleased to see Congressman Zinke confirmed as the Secretary of Interior, said Dale Hall CEO of Ducks Unlimited. As a hunter, angler and conservationist himself, Zinke is a smart choice as the leader for our natural resources. We look forward to working with the Secretary to help conserve some of our nations most critical wetlands habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Ducks Unlimited applauds the Senate leadership on this confirmation. Zinke came to Congress in January 2014 after a 23-year career with the U.S. Navy. In 2008, he was elected as a state senator, where he led the chambers Education and Cultural Resources Committee. During his tenure in Congress he has served as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and has been a strong advocate of keeping public lands open to public use, as well as funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an important conservation program.