Tell Congress: Don't Pass the Buck to Wildlife

Congress is deliberating Fiscal Year 2012 spending bills and some anti-wildlife Members are proposing deep cuts to programs that are vital to the continued survival of species.

We're working non-stop with our Coalition partners to prevent these attacks on wildlife. Together, we're running ads on Capitol HIll,  we've brought wildlife experts to Congress for meetings this week and now we need you to back them up with your letter.

Please send an email to your Representative and Senators opposing any cuts to critical funding for wildlife.

Among the proposed cuts are:

• Zeroing out the Endangered Species Act listing account. This would handcuff USFWS and prevent them from protecting any new species and push the more than 240 species awaiting needed protections closer to the brink of extinction.
• Massive cuts to the Cooperative Endangered Species Fund that provides grants to states to help conserve endangered species on non-federal lands.
• Cuts to the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement that prevents the poaching and smuggling of protected species.
• Cuts to the National Refuge System that would result in the closure or elimination of major programs at 128 national wildlife refuges, putting species at risk and costing hundreds of jobs.

Spending on wildlife and conservation programs already comprises only about 1 percent of the federal budget. Making cuts here will not make a measurable impact on our nation's budget woes and will have a deleterious impact on the wildlife and wild places federal agencies are charged with maintaining.

Please send an email to your Representative and Senators right now urging them to protect wildlife funding.