appropriations

Chat with the Chief: Refuge Sytstem’s Funding, Workforce, Budget, & Priorities

  • Post category:USFWS Policies
  • Reading time:2 mins read

Webinar held on Wednesday, April 24th

Join Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, for an update on 

  • Funding and workforce changes
  • FY 2024 budget and priorities
  • How Friends can help tell the National Wildlife Refuge System story

Presenter:
Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Martinez is the first woman and Hispanic to lead the Refuge System. She began her career in 1993 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior. Martinez came to Refuge System headquarters in September 2010 as chief of the Division of Visitor Services and Communications, where she led the process for developing the Refuge System’s 2011 Conserving the Future vision conference and subsequent documents – the renewed vision for growth and management of the Refuge System. She was deputy chief of the Refuge System from 2012 to 2015. Before coming to Refuge System headquarters, Martinez was the manager at Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has a bachelor of science degree in general biology from New Mexico State University and a master of science degree in fisheries and wildlife science from University of Arizona.

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Our Friends in DC: Updates on Government Affairs from the National Wildlife Refuge Association

Webinar held on Wednesday, March 20th

Libby Marking, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, provided an update on the latest issues impacting the National Wildlife Refuge System in Congress. Topics included federal appropriations, the newly reconstituted Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, coalition efforts with national partners to advance legislative priorities for the Refuge System, and how Refuge Friends can get involved.

Materials:

Presenter:
Libby Marking serves as the Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Prior to joining the Refuge Association, Libby was the Senior Manager for Government Affairs at the National Audubon Society, leading advocacy efforts on Alaska public lands and Greater Sage-Grouse conservation. She came to Audubon from Capitol Hill, where she most recently served as a Legislative Assistant to former Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and earlier in her career, was a Research Assistant to former Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota. While on the Hill, she specialized in Indigenous policy. Libby also served as a political appointee at the Department of the Interior, both as an Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and as a Special Assistant to the Secretary. In these roles, she helped push forward initiatives for public lands and Indigenous issues. Libby Hails from the Black Hills of South Dakota and earned her BA in Global Studies and French from South Dakota State University.

Continue ReadingOur Friends in DC: Updates on Government Affairs from the National Wildlife Refuge Association

REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY ON FY2023 APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

  • Post category:Advocacy
  • Reading time:2 mins read

Deadline to Submit Written Testimony is March 10, 2022

According to NWRA it is very important that we show the committee how much Friends Groups and members care about funding for the Refuge System. All of you have refuges that are understaffed and under maintained and desperately in need of funding. It is critical that we get a huge increase for the Refuge System this year. This is why we are asking for $712 million for the next fiscal year.

For more information and instructions on submitting your testimony go to the National Wildlife Refuge Association,

This is also the time for hatchery groups to submit testimony.

Continue ReadingREQUEST FOR TESTIMONY ON FY2023 APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Legislative Chat

  • Post category:Advocacy
  • Reading time:1 mins read
orange wild flowers

On September 22nd, Caroline Brouwer, VP of Government Affairs, discussed the major legislation on Capitol Hill, from reconciliation to infrastructure to appropriations, with an explanation of how these bills will impact Refuge Friends and national wildlife refuges. below are links to the recording and slides from the webinar.

Caroline thanks for the updates.

Continue ReadingNational Wildlife Refuge Association’s Legislative Chat

Action Alert from the National Wildlife Refuge Association

  • Post category:Advocacy
  • Reading time:2 mins read
yellow flowers on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Lisa Hupp

The House Interior Appropriations Committee has passed their bill out of committee, and the numbers are great for national wildlife refuges, but we are still waiting on the Senate to follow through with their bill. What advocates for wildlife and the Refuge System want is for Congress to pass a full package that includes $600 million in funding for Operations and Maintenance for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Take action today and ask your Senators and Representative to support a full-year funding package that includes $600 million for the Operations and Maintenance Fund of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Visit the NWRA Action Center

Continue ReadingAction Alert from the National Wildlife Refuge Association