ONE MORE DAY Join 555 orgs on Letter Supporting Funding for FY13 for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program

At 555 organizations signed on to the letter to Senators Reed (RI) and Murkowski (AK) supporting funding in FY13 for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, we are well past our original goal of 300. Thank you so much for your support! The House Appropriations Committee proposed a massive 50% cut to the program and the letter is intended to show the Senate that there is strong grassroots support for the program. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program is the only federal program with the purpose of preventing endangered species listings and we have successes in every state and territory that we can show. You can sign your organization on to the letter by emailing lskipper@fishwildlife.org by TOMORROW, Friday, August 24. Attached are the letter (also below) and the list of organizations who have signed on. Signing your organization on today!

Support funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program in FY13

The Honorable Jack Reed, Chairman
Senate Interior & Environment Appropriations Subcommittee
728 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski, Ranking Member
Senate Interior & Environment Appropriations Subcommittee
709 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear ________,

Our organizations represent birders, hunters, anglers, wildlife professionals, hikers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts from across the country that appreciate and enjoy wildlife. We understand the fiscal constraints that our nation is under and are grateful for your efforts the last several years to ensure priority conservation programs like the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program remain funded at a level that ensures the effectiveness of the program.

The State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the only federal program with the purpose of preventing endangered species listings by proactively conserving at-risk fish and wildlife. Despite a track record of success the program has been cut by 31% since FY10. The US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee has proposed another 50% cut to the program for FY13. A further cut of this magnitude would jeopardize more than a decade of investments and significantly curtail work in every state and territory to recover thousands of at-risk species. We would appreciate your support for this important program.

Since its inception in 2001, the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program has had bi-partisan support because it is non-regulatory, incentive-based and focused on results. The program is supported by the 6,355 organizations and businesses that make up the Teaming With Wildlife coalition. This spring 33 members of the Senate circulated a Dear Colleague letter supporting funding for the program. The program provides funding to combat invasive species, improve management on public and private lands, support research and monitoring, provide technical assistance, address wildlife disease problems, protect native habitats, and facilitate critical partnerships between local, state, federal, tribal and non-governmental organizations.

The State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program leverages tens of millions of dollars in state, private and tribal funds each year and serves as the main source of funding to implement congressionally-required State Wildlife Action Plans. The program not only helps to sustain fish and wildlife and their habitat, but also enhances local economies and jobs by benefiting the nation’s 70+ million active wildlife watchers who spend over $60 billion on wildlife related recreation each year.

On behalf of the millions of outdoor enthusiasts we represent, we urge you to support the strongest funding possible for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program for FY13 to safeguard the future of our nation’s rich fish and wildlife heritage for future generations to enjoy.

Respectfully yours,