2025 Recess Action Kit

Congressional Summer Recess

August 2nd will mark the start of Congress’ summer recess. Lawmakers will travel from Washington D.C. to their local districts as Congress begins a four-week recess. Traditionally, this recess marks an excellent time to engage with political representatives in their home offices and within their districts.

The Congressional summer recess is a perfect opportunity for Friends to invite your member of Congress to your refuge, or schedule district office meetings, to educate them about the issues facing your local refuge as well as actions they can take to help hurdle those challenges. Good laws and adequate funding are essential for the Refuge System to thrive, and Friends organizations are the most qualified to communicate these issues to congress.

To assist you in your advocacy efforts CORFA and NWRA have created the 2025 Recess Action Kit that will give you the tools you need to effectively communicate the challenges and resources that are needed for the refuge within their District to thrive.

Resources

The kit includes the following:

• Background information
• How to connect with your lawmaker
• Fact sheets on the NWRS and Funding Challenges

Stand Up for your Refuge or Hatchery

Congress values your input and relies on constituent groups like yours to provide feedback on how they can be most helpful to the refuges within their District. Your group’s collective voice is one of the most powerful tools available to enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don’t be afraid to use it!

Share Your Experience

We thank you for raising your voice in support of refuges and hatcheries. Please send Cheryl and Desiree a summary of your meeting with any member of Congress or their staff.

Cheryl Hart
coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates

Desiree Sorenson-Groves
dgroves@refugeassociation.org
National Wildlife Refuge Association