LoBiondo urges Bush to fully fund wildlife refuges
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Monday, January 21. 2008 and is filed under The Current of Hamilton Township 
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) joined 34 other members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to President George W. Bush requesting full funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System in the fiscal year 2009 budget.
“Without this funding, the refuge system will continue to lose the ability to carry out its primary purposes of managing and restoring wildlife habitat, safely maintaining facilities, and providing quality environmental education and outdoor recreation programs,” the letter states.
In the 2008 appropriations bill, Congress provided a $39 million increase in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System.
“While this increase is a good start, additional funding is desperately needed to stop the continued deterioration which is occurring across the refuge system due to past budget shortfalls,” the letter continues. “It is estimated the NWR System faces a budget backlog of over $2.5 billion.”
The letter notes that many refuges are losing staff, putting off maintenance projects, closing visitor centers and seeing invasive species grow out of control. With reductions to refuge law enforcement, vandalism and other illegal activities have increased.
Southern New Jersey is home to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge and the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. LoBiondo has helped secure more than $13 million for the refuges since fiscal year 1998.
“One of the unique characteristics of southern New Jersey is our refuges, but unfortunately they are threatened by funding shortfalls and staffing cuts, particularly at the Supawna Refuge in Salem County,” LoBiondo said. “I believe an increased investment must be made and continue to strongly support efforts to preserve and protect our wildlife refuges.”
LoBiondo is a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, which Congressmen Jim Saxton (R-3rd) and Mike Castle (R. Del.) co-chair. Bush will submit his budget proposal to Congress in early February 2008.
“Without this funding, the refuge system will continue to lose the ability to carry out its primary purposes of managing and restoring wildlife habitat, safely maintaining facilities, and providing quality environmental education and outdoor recreation programs,” the letter states.
In the 2008 appropriations bill, Congress provided a $39 million increase in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System.
“While this increase is a good start, additional funding is desperately needed to stop the continued deterioration which is occurring across the refuge system due to past budget shortfalls,” the letter continues. “It is estimated the NWR System faces a budget backlog of over $2.5 billion.”
The letter notes that many refuges are losing staff, putting off maintenance projects, closing visitor centers and seeing invasive species grow out of control. With reductions to refuge law enforcement, vandalism and other illegal activities have increased.
Southern New Jersey is home to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge and the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. LoBiondo has helped secure more than $13 million for the refuges since fiscal year 1998.
“One of the unique characteristics of southern New Jersey is our refuges, but unfortunately they are threatened by funding shortfalls and staffing cuts, particularly at the Supawna Refuge in Salem County,” LoBiondo said. “I believe an increased investment must be made and continue to strongly support efforts to preserve and protect our wildlife refuges.”
LoBiondo is a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, which Congressmen Jim Saxton (R-3rd) and Mike Castle (R. Del.) co-chair. Bush will submit his budget proposal to Congress in early February 2008.
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