NWF, Congressional Allies Rally to Defend Clean Air, Water

NWF Rally at US Capitol, March 2, 2011

Dozens of National Wildlife Federation members, supporters and partners rallied at the U.S. Capitol today, asking members of Congress to stand up for America’s air, water, wildlife and public health. Representatives Jim Moran (VA-08), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and John Sarbanes (MD-03) also joined the call to stop playing politics with our environment.

The Continuing Resolution passed by the House of Representatives would weaken America’s bedrock safeguards that protect clean air, water, public lands and wildlife.

“Clean air, clean water and health natural resources are what make our country strong, make our quality of life some of the best in the world. Programs that protect our health and our way of life shouldn’t be cut,” said Jeremy Symons, the National Wildlife Federation’s senior vice president. “If certain members of Congress really want to save taxpayers money, why not cut something that’s not needed, like the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for some of the wealthiest global oil companies in the world?”

“We can’t afford not to protect the Great Lakes—they contain over 90 percent of this country’s surface fresh water and supply drinking water to more than 30 million people,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Restoration efforts are already producing results, but there is still a lot of work to be done. If we cut funding now, it will only cost more later because all of these projects will only get harder and more expensive the longer we wait.”

Programs that work shouldn’t be cut, and zeroing out State and Tribal Wildlife Grants will hurt conservation efforts in every state in this country,” according to Ron Reagan, executive director, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “There are more than 12,000 plants and animals at risk of becoming endangered, and these grants save wildlife and taxpayers the future costs of saving endangered species.”

“This amendment is so broad that it might restrict nearly every federal dollar going toward restoring the rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Tony Caligiuri, co-chair of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. “We’re not sure why the House is giving polluters a pass to wreak havoc on the source of drinking water for millions.”

Please take a moment to tell your representatives in Congress to stop this stealth attack on wildlife.

Learn more about how the Continuing Resolution would endanger America’s air, water, wildlife and public health at the National Wildlife Federation Media Center.