📷 Ross’s goose in Lake Andes Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, SD | Liz Julian/USFWS

In a big transfer for conservation advocacy on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (CWRC) of the 118th Congress has been reconstituted, signaling an growth of this important bipartisan group. Established in 2006, the CWRC performs an important function in fortifying, defending, and preserving the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System. The reconstitution of the caucus displays a rising bipartisan dedication to addressing the challenges confronted by the Refuge System.

The CWRC’s mission facilities round supporting sufficient Refuge System funding, selling strategic development by easements and focused land acquisition, and advocating for laws to enhance the Refuge System. Moreover, the caucus seeks to coach fellow members of Congress concerning the growing challenges dealing with the Refuge System by briefings and outreach efforts.

Traditionally, the caucus’s leaders have performed a pivotal function in advancing measures to learn the Refuge System. Initiatives just like the Refuge Ecology Safety, Help & Speedy Response (REPAIR) Act, aimed toward lowering dangerous non-native species on and round nationwide wildlife refuges, underscore the caucus’s dedication to conservation.

Trying ahead, we hope to strengthen the CWRC and our partnership collectively to additional it as an engaged and influential caucus. We plan to work with Caucus leaders to increase its membership, enhance communications channels for coordination on Refuge System points, host Capitol Hill briefings, and search assist and endorsement for sufficient funding for the Refuge System.

The CWRC additionally sponsors the annual Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Expo, organized by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE), to focus on the values and significance of the Refuge System. This occasion serves as a platform to have interaction congressional employees and lift consciousness concerning the crucial function of the Refuge System.

The present members of the CWRC, which now boasts seven co-chairs, replicate a bipartisan dedication to conservation. They embody representatives from numerous states and political affiliations.

The reconstitution of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus and the growth of its co-chairs mark a pivotal second for conservation advocacy. With a strengthened bipartisan dedication, the CWRC is poised to play a extra energetic function in shaping laws, addressing challenges, and making certain the long-term well being of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System. The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation expresses its utmost gratitude to caucus members. The Refuge Affiliation, together with the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement, will work to mobilize assist to encourage extra memberships, making a collective push for sturdy conservation insurance policies and correct funding supporting the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System within the coming years.

Thanks to the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus members:

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), CoChair

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), CoChair

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), CoChair

Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), CoChair

Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), CoChair

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), CoChair

Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR), CoChair

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH)

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA)

Rep. John Larson (D-CT)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

Rep. Invoice Pascrell (D-NJ)

Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

Rep. Kilili Sablan (I-MP)

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS)

Rep. Ed Case (D-HI)

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)