League and other Sportsmen’s Groups Applaud Passage of Climate Legislation (6/26/09)

Washington, DC – In a decisive vote to protect America's wildlife and natural heritage and invest in a clean energy economy, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. In addition to curbing global warming pollution, the bill provides needed funding to help safeguard America’s lands, waters, and wildlife from the impacts of climate change.

Hunting, fishing and conservation groups lauded passage of the bill and vowed to work with the Senate to increase funding levels to meet the conservation challenges presented by climate change.

"We are one step closer to securing the full array of tools needed to safeguard our nation’s wildlife and natural resources from the harmful impacts of climate change," said Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "Today’s victory would not have been possible without the steadfast support of America’s hunters and anglers, and their willingness to put politics aside to do what is right in the interest of wildlife."

"Trout and salmon, waterfowl, and upland game birds are at ground zero for adverse impacts of climate change," said Steve Moyer, Vice President for Trout Unlimited. "One of the best things about this bill is that it gives our state, federal and tribal agencies the guidance and resources they need to protect and restore the forests, lakes, wetlands, rivers and other habitats that fish and wildlife need to survive in the face of a changing climate."

"Climate change jeopardizes the decades of conservation successes that hunters and anglers have helped achieve," said Land Tawney, Senior Manger for Sportsmen Leadership of the National Wildlife Federation. "The conservation provisions in this legislation will allow us to carry on the traditions of sportsmen passed on to us by the likes of Ding Darling and Theodore Roosevelt, assuring abundant fish and wildlife resources are passed down to future generations."

"The conservation funds from this legislation will serve as a lifeline to help protect our treasured wildlife and habitat, and the people, jobs, and communities that are part of America's $76 billion hunting and fishing industry," said David Hoskins, Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League of America.

"A growing body of evidence demonstrates how climate change can fundamentally alter American landscapes, economies and recreational traditions," said George Cooper, president and

CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. "Our ability to overcome these obstacles now will determine the future of our lands and waters, the fish and wildlife that dwell on and in them and our ability to hunt and fish. Sportsmen support today's House vote and the steps it takes toward implementing on-the-ground programs that address the challenge of climate change, both on our nation's public lands and on private working lands."