Bipartisan Legislation Introduced To Increase Backing For America’s National Wildlife Refuges;

"The National Wildlife Refuge System Operations Enhancement Act of 2007" (H.R. 2735) was introduced by:

- Representative Don Young (R-Alaska), Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee;

- Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.

"While this year's budget contains added revenues for the National Park Service, the U.S.F.W.S.'s request was grossly inadequate. By way of comparison, the National Park Service has 20,000 full-time employees, it manages 390 park units and the system is comprised of 85 million acres, of which 52.9 million are located in my State of Alaska .

"By contrast, the U.S.F.W.S. has 3,687 full-time refuge employees, it manages 547 refuges and the system is comprised of 96 million acres. In FY 2008, the U.S.F.W.S. requested $394.8 million for the refuge system, while the Park Service requested nearly 5 times as much or $1.9 billion dollars," Young said.

"More than ever, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a destination point for people to enjoy our nation's diverse fish and wildlife, bringing in excess of $700 million into local economies," said Representative Mike Thompson. "However, unless we address the System's nearly $3 billion operations and maintenance backlog, we risk losing the cornerstone of our country's public lands. I look forward to working with Ranking Member Young on this very important issue."

As a result of declining federal funding, the Director of the U.S.F.W.S. is preparing to implement cost savings or "workforce plans". The net result is that unless an additional $15 million in new backing is provided each year, the Service will lose 565 full-time refuge positions - 20 percent of the total refuge workforce - by September 30, 2008. These vacancies are not uniform throughout the system as the Service will lose 28 percent of its refuge staff in Washington State , 29 percent in Idaho and Kansas, 38 percent in Indiana and 56 percent in Wyoming .

Without these human resources, the 40 million people who visit at least one refuge each year will find many refuges overgrown, rapidly spreading invasive species, unstaffed refuge headquarters, an absence of law enforcement personnel, abolished environmental education programs and significantly less opportunities to enjoy wildlife dependent recreation which includes hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography.

"The options are simple - we can find new long-term backing sources or we can allow the operation of the refuge system to continue to deteriorate to the detriment of both the wildlife and the 40 million people who utilize these lands," Young said. "It is my hope that this Congress will move forward to correct this serious and growing problem."

H.R. 2735 addresses this revenue shortfall by providing 3 new revenue enhancing programs:

1) National Wildlife Refuge System Checkoff Act: This would allow all Americans to checkoff a box on their federal tax form indicating their desire to contribute $1 or more of their refund or $1 or more in additional payment to the U. S. U.S.F.W.S..

This new checkoff plan would not create any new federal programs and would

be implemented without cost to our taxpayers. There are currently 36 states that allow their taxpayers to checkoff private donations for various state or local wildlife conservation programs.

2) Gradually Increase Federal Duck Stamp Rate: H.R. 2735 would allow for a gradual increase of the price of a federal Duck Stamp from its current rate of $15 to $25 dollars. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act was established in 1934 and has been increased by Congress on 7 occasions in the past 73 years - the last being in 1991. This is now the longest period in the history of the plan without an increase.

Since the inception of the Duck Stamp program, the Department of the Interior has collected nearly $750 million from the sale of Duck Stamps, which have been used to purchase or lease over 5 million acres of land that has been incorporated within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts an increase in the Duck Stamp from $15 to $25 would raise $14 million in new revenues each year.

Under the legislation, the money obtained from these increases would not be designated for land acquisition but would be specifically targeted towards refuge operations. The ongoing monies raised from the original $15 fee would continue to be allocated and spent by the Migratory Bird Commission.

During the previous Congress, there was an effort to raise the price of a federal Duck Stamp and this increased was overwhelmingly supported by the hunting and conservation community.

three) Postal Stamp Revenues: H.R. 2735 would direct the U. S. Postal Service to issue a series of first-class postage stamps depicting various units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These stamps, known as semi-postals, would be accessible to the general public for up to 3 years.

This provision is modeled after Congressional efforts to raise money for extremely worthwhile causes like the Stamp Out Breast Cancer, the Heroes of 2001 and Stop Family Violence. These semi-postal stamps have raised in excess of $65 million. While it is difficult to plan what a National Wildlife Refuge System semi-postal stamp would generate, these stamps would be readily accessible to all Americans - including the 40 million people who visit a refuge each year.

"I hope that this measure will stimulate debate on the backing crisis facing the refuge system and that members of the 21 Countrywide conservation, hunting and scientific organizations that comprise the care group including the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Countrywide Audubon Society, the Countrywide Rifle Association and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance will endorse this approach," Young said.

For more information, access the Committee on Natural Resources' Minority website at:

http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.shtml