Policy News | The Wildlife Society News

TWS Urges Farm Bill Passage with Thompson-Fortenberry Amendment
In June, TWS sent two letters regarding The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947; hereafter the Farm Bill). The first letter, to all members of the House of Representatives, applauded the efforts of the House Committee on Agriculture for reporting out a bipartisan five year farm bill and encouraged its passage by the whole House.

In the second letter, TWS along with 27 other agricultural, wilderness and conservation organizations urged Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, to support the Thompson-Fortenberry Amendment. The Thompson-Fortenberry Crop Insurance Accountability Amendment would have re-coupled crop insurance with conservation compliance, and included language which was almost identical to that in the Senate bill. The amendment was withdrawn the night before the vote on the House Farm Bill, although it would have been brought up again during conference had the bill passed the House. Instead, the bill failed in a vote on the floor, leading to uncertainty among farmers and others, given the September 30, 2013 expiration of the current Farm Bill.

TWS Speaks Out on Immigration Bill
TWS sent two letters in June regarding the Senate?s Immigration bill. In the first letter, TWS, along with 29 other organizations, urged members of the Senate to support Senator Wyden?s amendment No. 1318 to the Senate Immigration Bill (S. 744), ?The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.? The amendment, which was withdrawn before it was voted on, sought to remove a provision which allowed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive any federal, state, or local laws for construction of roads, barriers, and other physical tactical infrastructure. The amendment also sought to remove (1) the section exempting NEPA regulations (which are already categorically excluded under the Homeland Security?s Directive 023-01), and (2) an unnecessary requirement for additional fencing, infrastructure and technology included in the ?Southern Border Fencing Strategy.?

In the second letter, TWS along with 21 other organizations opposed the Corker-Hoeven Amendment to S. 744 the Senate?s immigration Bill. The Corker-Hoeven amendment would unnecessarily mandate the construction of hundreds of miles of additional double layered walls along the Southwest border. The letter noted that additional wall construction would cause even more damage to the land, wildlife, and communities, and serve as barriers to stop the flow of water. Already, border communities and public lands have experienced serious flooding as the result of the current walls. Roads, businesses, and public lands have been damaged by this flooding. The wall also severs the migration pathways of imperiled wildlife, including jaguars, ocelots, and big horn sheep, possibly contributing to their decline.

TWS Weighs in on Missouri River
The Wildlife Society contacted Chairmen Bill Shuster and Ranking Member Nick Rahall from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as Chairmen Bob Gibbs and Ranking Member Timothy Bishop from Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, urging them to oppose H.R. 1460. This bill directs the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to revise the authorized purposes described in the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual. Currently, the authorized purposes for the Corps of Engineers to consider included fish and wildlife, flood control, navigation, hydropower, water supply and quality, irrigation and recreation. The bill would remove fish and wildlife as an authorized purpose.

The Missouri River is of vital importance to all fish and wildlife resources associated with the river, and any action to remove fish and wildlife as a congressional authorized purpose of the Flood Control Act of 1944 would be a disservice to the American people. TWS urges funding the completion of the Missouri River Authorized Purpose Study (MRAPS) which would assess the eight purposes of the 1944 Flood Control Act as well as oppose H.R. 1460.

Comments on EPA Watershed Assessment for Bristol Bay
The Wildlife Society provided comments on the Environmental Protection Agency?s revised draft of the Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment. The proposed large scale mineral development in the Pebble project area would jeopardize the Bristol Bay ecosystem.

TWS recommended changes to the Summary of Uncertainties and Limitations section (ES-28), specifically recognizing the uncertainty of mining impacts to terrestrial wildlife in the designated project area. TWS outlined 4 unexpected effects of the project: the mine infrastructure and transportation corridors on the distribution and movements of large mammals, alteration of aquatic habitats on waterbirds, changes in salmon abundance on populations of their terrestrial predators such as brown bears and wolves, and increased human access to sport and subsistence harvest of fish and wildlife. TWS urged the EPA to move forward with a 404 (c) determination under the Clean Water Act, allowing the agency to implement restrictions on mining activities that would damage the ecosystem.

NAWCA and NMBCA Organizational Letter Supporting Reauthorization
The Wildlife Society, along with American Bird Conservancy, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy wrote to Chairman John Flemming and Ranking Member Gregorio Sablan from Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs advocating for them to support funding and legislation reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (H.R. 2208) and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (H.R. 1291). NAWCA protects over 26.5 million acres of wetland and NMBCA programs conserve over 4 billion migratory birds.

TWS supports this legislation and recognizes that further cuts to the funding of these programs will negatively impact migratory birds on their wintering grounds in countries outside the United States. Deteriorating habitat conditions will contribute to a higher number of threatened and endangered species. TWS and the cosigning organizations urged the Committee to move H.R. 2208 and H.R. 1291 reauthorization bills through the Committee process quickly.

Take Action: Support Invasive Species Prevention
TWS members are encouraged to visit the Action Center and urge their representatives to co-sponsor the Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act of 2013 (HR 996/S 1153). For decades, scientists and experts have been calling on federal officials to analyze the risks of non-native species before allowing them to be imported. The act would improve regulations for importing non-native, invasive species by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to work with scientists, experts, and the public to assess the risks associated with importing exotic species. This legislation would significantly strengthen the ability of federal regulators to make rapid, science-based decisions on whether non-native fish or wildlife species pose a risk to ecosystems within the U.S. and cause economic damage or threaten public health.

TWS?s Action Center is an easy-to-use tool that enables our members in the U.S. to quickly and effectively communicate with their elected officials. Through the action center, you can easily look up your elected officials based on your zip code and send them a message on issues of importance to you. Concerned about whether you?re allowed to lobby or not? We have guidance for federal employees here.

Source: http://news.wildlife.org/the-wildlifer/the-wildlifer-2013-july/policy-news-14/

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