WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 21, 2026 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) hosted the annual Capitol Hill Dinner and Auction in Washington, D.C. With more than 800 total guests in attendance, including Trump Administration officials, congressional staff, DU leadership, and dozens of bipartisan Members of Congress, wetlands conservation was once again the focus of government leaders from across the United States.
"It’s a privilege to celebrate wetlands conservation, the outdoors, and America’s 250th birthday in the nation’s capital with our friends in Congress and the Administration," said DU CEO Adam Putnam. "The bipartisan enthusiasm for our mission and strong support for programs like NAWCA and the Farm Bill is a testament to the unparalleled impact hunters and sportsmen and women have on conserving our natural places. We’re grateful for the support."
DU hosts the annual Capitol Hill Dinner and Auction every spring in our nation’s capital, welcoming Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and leaders of the current presidential administration, including from the White House, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of the Interior.
Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) gave the invocation, and Reps. Mike Thompson (CA) and Jim Baird (IN) led the Pledge of Allegiance.
During the dinner, House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Rep. GT Thompson (PA), was recognized as one of DU’s 2026 Wetlands Conservation Achievement Award winners.
More about NAWCA
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) was enacted in 1989 and has become a pillar of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
NAWCA by the numbers:
• Conserved nearly 33 million acres
• Helped fund more than 3,300 projects in all 50 states
• More than 7,000 partners, including private landowners, industry, and state governments
• Leveraged almost $5.6 billion in private contributions from partners
In addition to providing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, the wetlands conserved and restored through NAWCA also support communities by filtering water, replenishing groundwater, reducing coastal erosion, capturing and storing carbon, and providing recreational opportunities.
For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to follow DU’s Twitter feeds – @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
Media Contact:
Parker Williams
(202) 621-1646
pwilliams@ducks.org
