budget

Sharing Our Stories: What Impacts Of Ongoing Budget Cuts Do You See?

  • Post category:Advocacy
  • Reading time:3 mins read

*3 1-hr Sessions:
Wednesday, January 25th at 7 – 8:00 PM ET
Thursday, February 2nd at 2 – 3:00 PM ET
Thursday, February 9th at 5 – 6:00 PM ET

*We want to hear from all Friends groups!!! We are offering multiple sharing sessions. Catch one session or all sessions. We hope to hear from you!

Has your Friends organization, refuge or hatchery, and community been impacted by the ongoing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service budget shortfalls? Has the lack of national wildlife refuge or hatchery staffing impacted whether your friend’s organization can meet its mission? What are you experiencing? 

Let’s tell our stories. Please share your thoughts and observations during a series of upcoming virtual sharing sessions created to hear your concerns and brainstorm actions. 

It is our hope that by gaining an understanding of what you are seeing in your refuge or hatchery, we can work together to help build messages to send to our local, regional, and national representatives that will support the need for adequate funding and staffing for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs. 

Homework: Participants should be prepared with information to discuss the following questions:

1) What are the greatest impacts to Friends’ organizations resulting from ongoing budget cuts? Share with us what you are seeing in any or all aspects of the refuge and hatchery systems that effect your friend’s group and the local community: land and water conservation, management, recreation, and public use (i.e.., hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, interpretation).

2)What is the one issue that you want your federal legislative representative to know?

Together, we all become stronger advocates for our beloved national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. So, let’s start by sharing our stories.

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NWRA/CORFA Winter 2022 Legislative Update for Friends

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

On Wednesday, December 21th, Libby Marking, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge Association; Mark Musaus, NWRA Representative at Large and CORFA Advisory Council; and Joan Patterson, President of CORFA provided a legislative and regulatory update on recent issues impacting the National Wildlife Refuge System, including the appropriations process, and advocacy efforts for FY 2024.

Recording of the webinar.

The slides and other resources shared during the webinar are available in our Resource Center.

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Understanding the Federal Budget Process: What Friends Want to Know

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

Webinar on Wednesday, November 16th at 2:00pm ET

Did you know that it takes more than 18 months for the annual NWRS budget to become a reality? This ranges from the development of the President’s budget request to the ultimate passing of a bill by Congress and Friends groups can play a role. Eric discussed:

  • Formulation of the budget
  • Presentation of the budget
  • Execution & Performance
  • Tips for Friends

The federal budget process signals our nation’s priorities. The discussion was an opportunity to learn how the priorities are established for the National Wildlife Refuge System and how we can provide our input.

Presenter, Eric Alvarez the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Chief, Division of Realty, Budget, Performance, and Workforce

Here are links to the recording and slides:

A huge thank you to Eric Alvarez the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Chief, Division of Realty, Budget, Performance, and Workforce for this discussion.

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NWRA’s Quarterly Chat with Refuge Friends

  • Post category:Funding
  • Reading time:3 mins read

On Wednesday, September 28th, Libby Marking, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and Caroline Brouwer, Government Affairs Consultant, provided a legislative and regulatory update on recent issues impacting the National Wildlife Refuge System, including the appropriations process and the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act.

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We thank Libby and Caroline for the update and the following materials:

For National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 9th-15th, NWRA is providing a toolkit to uplift what makes refuges special for wildlife and your community. NWRA will also be sending a toolkit to help you reach out to your Members of Congress and report back to the National Wildlife Refuge Association about your engagement with them. If you are not on NWRA’s mailing list, sign up now!

Thanks everyone for you support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

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Chat with the Chief: A Discussion of the Refuge System’s Strategies & Funding

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

Wednesday, June 28th, 2pm ET

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

  • National Wildlife Refuge System funding
  • Strategy for communicating with Congress
  • Climate change and resiliency activities
  • Other updates for Friends Groups

Presenter
Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

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