Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus

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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.

Contents

History

CWRC Membership Map 2008 CWRC-110th.jpg
CWRC Membership Map 2008

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:

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). [1]

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)

MemberStateDate Joined
Rep. Earl Blumenauer ORDecember 5, 2006
Rep. Matt Cartwright PA2013
Rep. Ed Case HI
Rep. Kathy Castor FL
Rep. Gerry Connolly VAJuly 26, 2010
Rep. Sharice Davids KS
Rep. Debbie Dingell MI2013
Rep. Lloyd Doggett TXApril 26, 2006
Rep. Anna Eshoo CAJuly 28, 2006
Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón PR
Rep. Raul Grijalva AZMay 10, 2006
Rep. Brian Higgins NYAugust 22, 2006
Rep. Val Hoyle OR
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee TXJuly 31, 2006
Rep. Dave Joyce OH
Rep. Jen Kiggans VA
Rep. Rick Larsen WAOctober 18, 2006
Rep. John Larson CTJuly 31, 2006
Rep. Barbara Lee CAJanuary 31, 2007
Rep. Zoe Lofgren CASeptember 18, 2006
Rep. Stephen Lynch MAAugust 3, 2006
Rep. Nancy Mace SC
Rep. Jim Marshall GAJuly 25, 2006
Rep. Doris Matsui CAAugust 29, 2006
Rep. Betty McCollum MNAugust 31, 2006
Rep. Grace Napolitano CASeptember 22, 2006
Rep. Frank Pallone NJMay 31, 2006
Rep. Bill Pascrell NJSeptember 15, 2006
Rep. Donald Payne NJJune 7, 2006
Rep. Chellie Pingree ME2013
Rep. Gregorio Sablan CNMIOctober 19, 2009
Rep. Linda Sánchez CA2013
Rep. Jan Schakowsky ILMay 30, 2007
Rep. Adam Smith WAJuly 20, 2006
Rep. Melanie Stansbury NM
Rep. Mike Thompson CAMarch 14, 2006
Rep. Gabe Vasquez NM
Rep. Bruce Westerman AR
Rep. Joe Wilson SCAugust 29, 2006
Rep. Rob Wittman VAMay 1, 2008

References

  1. ↑ "Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution". National Wildlife Refuge Association. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
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