SAVE the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program

The State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the CORE program to prevent endangered species listings. The program was started in 2000 through advocacy by the Teaming With Wildlife coalition. The program provides funding to state fish and wildlife agencies in every state, territory and the District of Columbia and is matched with state and private funds. State and Tribal Wildlife Grants have funded the development, revision and implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans.

In early 2001, the US House of Representatives proposed eliminating funding for the program. Through the efforts of the Teaming With Wildlife coalition, funding for FY11 was restored to $61.8 million, a 31% cut from FY10. For FY12, the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that would cut funding for the program to $22M. Again, the coalition rose to the occasion and a draft Interior appropriations bill released this fall raised funding to $61.4 million. Final passage of the bill to fund the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program is pending.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Until a final bill is passed by the US House and Senate, we need supporters like you to call their members and encourage them to support funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program at no lower than the FY11 level of $61.8 million. We understand and are sensitive to the need for deficit reduction but the program has already absorbed a large disproportionate cut.

You can contact your member by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your senator or representative’s office. Request to speak with the aide who handles Environmental and Natural Resource issues and leave a voice mail if they are unavailable.

You can also send an email or letter to your members. Go to www.senate.gov or www.house.gov for contact information.

THANKS for being the VOICE of Wildlife.