Call to Action! Major Cut to State Wildlife Grants

In response to last week's severe cut to State Wildlife Grants in the U.S. House of Representatives, we hope you'll join the state coalitions in calling your Senators right now! Urge them to RESTORE FUNDING FOR THE STATE WILDLIFE GRANTS PROGRAM TO $85 MILLION. (Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121)

Use the following points to make your message to the Hill staffer:

•  The State Wildlife Grants Program supports cost-effective and proactive approaches to wildlife conservation, conserving wildlife and the places they live before they become more rare and more costly to protect.

•  We need robust State Wildlife Grants funding to implement our state's Wildlife Action Plan, recently completed by scientists, conservationists and sportsmen working together to conserve wildlife and vital natural areas for future generations.

•  State Wildlife Grants is the only federal program aimed at preventing wildlife from becoming endangered in every state, making it a mission-critical element of the Interior Department's Budget.

A sample letter to FAX (mail takes too long) to your Senators is available at www.teaming.com .

As you know, the State Wildlife Grants Program provides the funding the state wildlife action plans need to conserve the wildlife and natural places that enhance our own quality of life. Unfortunately, the House Interior Appropriations Bill cuts State Wildlife Grants by almost one-third from the President's recommendation of $75 million and to $35 million less than 226 Members of Congress asked for in this year's Dear Colleague Letter. Four the state wildlife action plans to succeed, we must insure that the Senate provides much more than the $50 million recommended by the House.

Please forward this action alert to other lists of wildlife enthusiasts. If you're reading this message and your organization or business is not already a member of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, you can join at: www.teaming.com/join.htm . Stay tuned for more alerts over the next month as we work to get wildlife funding back on track!