The Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (CWRC) is a large bi-partisan Congressional Member Organization in the U.S. House of Representatives formed to support the National Wildlife Refuge System through legislation, funding, and education.

History

The Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus was established in September 2006 by Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) along with vice co-chairs Michael Castle (R-DE) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) with a call to manage the National Wildlife Refuge System in the tradition of President Theodore Roosevelt, who established the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903 . The formation of the CWRC was largely a response to budget shortfalls that resulted in multi-billion dollar maintenance backlogs and staff shortages that, many agreed, was preventing the Refuge System from fulfilling its basic mission.

Guiding Principles

Mission The mission of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus is to fortify, protect and preserve the National Wildlife Refuge System by supporting adequate Refuge funding, working for the strategic growth of the Refuge System through easements and targeted land acquisition and by promoting legislation to improve the Refuge System. The CWRC also aims to educate members of Congress about the increasing number of challenges facing the System through briefings and other forms of outreach.

Purpose The purpose of the CWRC is to:

Raise awareness of our refuge system Create a voice for refuges in Congress Support adequate Refuge System budgets Support the six priority activities outlined in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental education and interpretation) Supporting the strategic growth of the Refuge System

Caucus Activity

Legislation The Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus co-chairs have introduced the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance & Immediate Response (REPAIR) Act, a bill aimed at reducing harmful non-native (invasive) species on land in and adjacent to National Wildlife Refuges. The REPAIR Act is intended to provide a cost-effective approach to maximize invasive species eradication efforts by establishing a grant program and codifying in law the highly successful Volunteer Invasives Monitoring Program (VIMP).

House Action The Caucus also submits letters to federal appropriators and administration officials calling for specific dollar amounts in Refuge System appropriations that help drive the Refuge funding discussion in Congress. The co-chairs also author op-ed pieces magazines and newspapers to educate the public on the challenges facing the Refuge System. Caucus members also play an active role in committee hearings concerning the National Wildlife Refuge System, primarily in the House Natural Resources Committee, to collect testimony from managers and experts on legislation concerning the Refuge System.

Members

Leadership The CWRC is currently led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). Past co-chairs include Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE).

The CWRC launched with 100 founding members and had grown to 139 members representing 41 States and 182 Wildlife Refuges as of November, 2009 .

Current and former Congressional Wildlife Refuge Members (in alphabetical order) Member State Date Joined Rep. Earl BlumenauerORDecember 5, 2006 Rep. Matt CartwrightPA2013 Rep. Ed CaseHI Rep. Kathy CastorFL Rep. Gerry ConnollyVAJuly 26, 2010 Rep. Sharice DavidsKS Rep. Debbie DingellMI2013 Rep. Lloyd DoggettTXApril 26, 2006 Rep. Anna EshooCAJuly 28, 2006 Rep. Jenniffer González-ColónPR Rep. Raul GrijalvaAZMay 10, 2006 Rep. Brian HigginsNYAugust 22, 2006 Rep. Val HoyleOR Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeTXJuly 31, 2006 Rep. Dave JoyceOH Rep. Jen KiggansVA Rep. Rick LarsenWAOctober 18, 2006 Rep. John LarsonCTJuly 31, 2006 Rep. Barbara LeeCAJanuary 31, 2007 Rep. Zoe LofgrenCASeptember 18, 2006 Rep. Stephen LynchMAAugust 3, 2006 Rep. Nancy MaceSC Rep. Jim MarshallGAJuly 25, 2006 Rep. Doris MatsuiCAAugust 29, 2006 Rep. Betty McCollumMNAugust 31, 2006 Rep. Grace NapolitanoCASeptember 22, 2006 Rep. Frank PalloneNJMay 31, 2006 Rep. Bill PascrellNJSeptember 15, 2006 Rep. Donald PayneNJJune 7, 2006 Rep. Chellie PingreeME2013 Rep. Gregorio SablanCNMIOctober 19, 2009 Rep. Linda SánchezCA2013 Rep. Jan SchakowskyILMay 30, 2007 Rep. Adam SmithWAJuly 20, 2006 Rep. Melanie StansburyNM Rep. Mike ThompsonCAMarch 14, 2006 Rep. Gabe VasquezNM Rep. Bruce WestermanAR Rep. Joe WilsonSCAugust 29, 2006 Rep. Rob WittmanVAMay 1, 2008

References

External links Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) National Wildlife Refuge System National Wildlife Refuge Association