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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T130000
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UID:10000022-1749733200-1749736800@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:State of the System Report: Staffing Crisis\, Conservation Priorities & the Road Ahead
DESCRIPTION:Baseball\, apple pie\, and public lands—there’s nothing more American. As summer begins and gets into full swing\, join us for a webinar exploring the urgent threats facing one of our nation’s greatest legacies: the National Wildlife Refuge System. \nDesirée Sorenson-Groves\, President & CEO of the National Wildlife Refuge Association\, will deliver a timely update from Washington\, D.C.\, highlighting the consequences of widespread staffing losses\, chronic underfunding\, and policy shifts impacting refuges across the country. \nDespite the challenges\, there’s hope. Desirée will spotlight the inspiring conservation work happening on the ground\, innovative partnerships taking shape\, and the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s commitment to deepening public engagement and advocacy. This is your chance to better understand what’s at stake—and how we can all stand up for the places and wildlife that define the American landscape. \nPresenter\nDesirée Sorenson-Groves re-joined the Refuge Association in October 2024 as the President and CEO. Her career has been focused on protecting and enhancing the National Wildlife Refuge System\, first as a grassroots organizer for the National Audubon Society\, then as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Refuge Association. After 14 years at NWRA\, Sorenson-Groves became the Director of the Arctic Refuge Defense Campaign where she managed an Indigenous-led\, multi-pronged effort to stop any development in the Arctic Refuge. She comes back to NWRA after leading Defenders of Wildlife’s public and private lands programs as their Vice President of Land & Habitat Conservation. She has a B.A. in Geography from George Washington University and resides in Fort Valley\, VA with her husband and two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. \nSign Up at https://act.refugeassociation.org/a/webinar-sos-june-2025-gs
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/state-of-the-system-report-staffing-crisis-conservation-priorities-the-road-ahead/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T233000
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DTSTAMP:20250603T184758Z
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UID:10000024-1749771000-1749771000@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Take Action
DESCRIPTION:The National Wildlife Refuge System is at a breaking point but the President’s FY2026 budget proposes funding the Refuge System at just $412 million—a 22% cut from current funding. The last time the Refuge System’s budget was this small was 2007.  To put it in perspective\, the FY2010 number adjusted for inflation would be over $730 million today. \nWe need Congress to act—and we need you with us.\nWe’re calling on the Senate to provide $731 million in FY2026 to restore the Refuge System’s budget to 2010 levels\, adjusted for inflation. Without this investment\, more staff will be lost\, invasive species will spread unchecked\, and critical programs for wildlife and communities will disappear. \n95 Friends groups signed the House version of this letter in April.\nPlease note: This Senate letter is a repurposed version of the House letter so if you already signed onto that House letter\, your organization will automatically be included in this Senate letter (so you do not need to sign on again). Please check the list of signers at the end of the letter to confirm your group is listed. (It’s okay to sign again if you’re not sure—we’ll avoid duplicates on our end.) \nSign on by Thursday\, June 12 at 11:59 PM ET.\nDownload the Senate Letter with Signers>>\nSign-On Here by June 12th at 11:59 PM ET \nLet’s show the Senate that Refuge Friends from across the country are united—and will not stand by as our refuges are pushed past the breaking point. \nThank you for all you do for national wildlife refuges\, \nDesirée Sorenson-Groves\nPresident & CEO\nNational Wildlife Refuge Association
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/take-action/
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250615T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250615T170000
DTSTAMP:20250603T184828Z
CREATED:20250530T172619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250603T184828Z
UID:10000023-1750006800-1750006800@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Deadline for Written Testimony to the Senate
DESCRIPTION:The Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior\, Environment\, and Related Agencies is accepting written testimony on the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations. For instructions on how to submit your testimony go to https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/owt_guidelines_interior_fy_26.pdf \nDeadline for submitting testimony is close of business Sunday\, June 15\, 2025.  \nExample: Testimony by Bill Durkin\, Friends of Rachel Carson NWR\, Maine. 
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/deadline-for-written-testimony-to-the-senate/
CATEGORIES:Event
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