House Climate Natl Resources Funding Allocation (5/15/09)
For Immediate Release:
May 15, 2009
Sportsmen and Women Thank Dingell, Waxman and Markey for Including Safeguards for Wildlife and Natural Resources in Climate Change Legislation
Washington, DC – Comprehensive energy and climate legislation introduced today in the House Energy and Commerce Committee includes dedicated funding to safeguard wildlife and natural resources impacted by global warming. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will allocate 1 percent of total allowance value for safeguarding natural resources in the first 10 years and will increase to 4 percent by 2050.
Hunting, fishing and conservation groups voiced their appreciation for the dedicated investment in natural resources conservation and pledged to continue fighting for a more substantial investment as the bill moves forward.
“We thank Congressmen Dingell, Waxman and Markey for recognizing the important role wildlife and natural resources play throughout America, and the urgent need to safeguard them from the harmful effects of global warming,” said John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming at the National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Federation. “However, to keep ecosystems healthy for our local economies, and to conserve wildlife for our children and grandchildren, we will need a significantly larger dedicated investment.”
“Sportsmen and sportswomen want natural resources and ecosystems protected from the worst impacts of global warming,” said Dave Nomsen, vice president of Pheasants Forever. “That means two things must happen in Congress: we need a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and we need funding to protect the places where we hunt and fish. Today Congressmen Waxman and Markey took a major step in insuring fish and wildlife will survive global warming.”
“Climate change is harming our favorite rivers, streams and forests where generations of Americans have hunted and fished,” said Steve Moyer, Vice President for Government Affairs for Trout Unlimited. “Inclusion of substantial funding for fish and wildlife resources safeguards in the American Clean Energy Security Act will create jobs, and will help sustain our natural heritage for future generations.”
“We appreciate the work of Chairmen Waxman, Dingell and Markey and all of the conservation champions who helped draft the emissions allowance allocations for critical natural resources adaptation programs,” said Matt Hogan, Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “By dedicating such funding to remediate the impacts of climate change, state and federal agencies in partnership with the private conservation community can safeguard fish and wildlife and their habitats while improving the quality of life for Americans that healthier ecosystems provide such as cleaner air and water.”
“Including dedicated funding in climate legislation is a major step forward for conserving fish, wildlife and habitat,” said David Hoskins, Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League of America. “The League applauds Congressmen Dingell, Waxman and Markey for their leadership on this critical issue.”
“The ACES bill recognizes the importance for state wildlife action plans to include adaptation strategies-tactics that enable landscape-scale approaches in the comprehensive management of fish and wildlife species,” said George Cooper, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Adaptation-focused funding will be essential in fish, wildlife and natural resources conservation as we struggle to address the negative impacts of global climate change on our public lands and outdoor traditions.”
