________________________________
From: Denis DeSilvis<mailto:avnacrs4birds at outlook.com>
Sent: ?12/?22/?2017 19:25
To: 'Tweeters (tweeters at u.washington.edu)'<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Recovering America's Wildlife Act (off topic - approved by Dan V)

Tweeters,
This next year could be a good one for Washington non-game wildlife! At long last, the Recovering America?s Wildlife Conservation Act (H.R. 4647) was introduced on December 14 by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI). This bill was originally introduced in 2016, but expired at the end of that session. H.R. 4647 if passed will make funds available for wildlife conservation and restoration programs to manage fish and wildlife ?species of greatest conservation need.? A broad constituency supported the original 2016 bill, and I expect they will back this one. My understanding is that the USA total funds could comprise as much as $650 million from Outer Continental Shelf (off-shore drilling) revenues and $650 million from on-shore drilling revenues. Of this $1.3 billion, Washington state could receive up to approximately $20 million annually, subject to raising non-federal matching funds. These funds would support our Washington State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/cwcs/.

Please see the info below (from Naomi Edelson ? National Wildlife Federation):
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Subject: We need your help with Recovering America's Wildlife Act

Dear Conservation Partner:

As 2017 closes, we are excited to share with you the introduction of Recovering America?s Wildlife Conservation Act (H.R. 4647) by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-fortenberry-introduce-bipartisan-bill-enhance-funding-fish-and<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdebbiedingell.house.gov%2Fmedia-center%2Fpress-releases%2Fdingell-fortenberry-introduce-bipartisan-bill-enhance-funding-fish-and&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=oe2H4AFkiBKw%2F63rnR4QOr2%2F1FBkTz8YMCZRltbFTxI%3D&reserved=0>. And here is National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Collin O?Mara?s Statement:<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwf.org%2FHome%2FLatest-News%2FPress-Releases%2F2017%2F12-14-17-Bipartisan-Bill-to-Address-Americas-Wildlife-Crisis&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=Rysw6skOQtVj1%2FkhBOKCToZzCJXSn9TdhZdmCX0qVbA%3D&reserved=0>

It is a great gift during this holiday season to us in the conservation community and to the wildlife we cherish. We are asking for you to join us in supporting Recovering America?s Wildlife Act.

Wildlife such as Monarch butterflies, salamanders, songbirds and many others are in steep decline all across the country. State fish and wildlife agencies have identified 12,000 species in greatest need for conservation action based on their State Wildlife Action Plans. Recovering America?s Wildlife Act will transform wildlife conservation in our nation by infusing all 50 states with much needed funding focused on proactive efforts to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. The bill is based on the recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America?s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources which called on Congress to dedicate up to $1.3 billion annually in existing revenue from energy development on federal lands and waters to the existing but unfunded federal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program.

Some of you will be familiar with past efforts under the Teaming with Wildlife banner that included mechanisms such as user fees on outdoor gear and then offshore oil and gas revenues as part of the larger C.A.R.A. conservation package. This ultimately lead to the creation of the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife grants program in 2000 which has resulted in more than a billion dollars invested into at-risk wildlife -- in each of the 50 states, U.S. Territories, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and District of Columbia. While this was a tremendous accomplishment and has led to many conservation successes, the magnitude of the solution must match the magnitude of the challenge; Recovering America?s Wildlife Act is the solution we need to address America?s wildlife crisis.

Here is how you can help:


1. Please share our blog ( http://blog.nwf.org/2017/12/saving-the-swift-fox-took-swift-action<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.nwf.org%2F2017%2F12%2Fsaving-the-swift-fox-took-swift-action&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=%2FtY80wB%2BxkJNT1fpBJNSqwhZha7NPI%2FPhIf6z3dki7M%3D&reserved=0>)and action alert<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.nwf.org%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fpagename%3Dhomepage%26id%3D2448&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=cDHaOdbQ7tWF54QevB2d8P9qJA4iwMDK6izti4fTQHA%3D&reserved=0> (also linked in the blog) or customize to make it your organization?s own, encouraging Members of Congress to co-sponsor the bill.


1. Thank you at JeffFortenberry for being a wildlife champion and sponsoring the Recovering America?s Wildlife Act #Funding4Wildlife bit.ly/2zfpEtk<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2zfpEtk&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=kw8MUdlyDolMhPQJlEP%2FgspO2%2B6BOya5RRB6QAq4XqY%3D&reserved=0>


1. Thank you at RepDebDingell for standing up for wildlife and the outdoor economy by sponsoring the Recovering America?s Wildlife Act #Funding4Wildlife bit.ly/2zfpEtk<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2zfpEtk&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=kw8MUdlyDolMhPQJlEP%2FgspO2%2B6BOya5RRB6QAq4XqY%3D&reserved=0>


1. Have your organization sign onto a letter supporting the concept behind the bill (go to www.nwf.org/recoveringamericaswildlife<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwf.org%2Frecoveringamericaswildlife&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=TgKqFPghxoqJDYEt0wgCeR3BKm5JQLJGuMdYjMShvVQ%3D&reserved=0> ).

We hope you will join us is tackling one of our nation?s most significant wildlife problems.

Thanks and please contact me with any questions or ideas.

Naomi


Naomi Edelson
Senior Director, Wildlife Partnerships, National Wildlife Federation
202-797-6889(o); 202-657-2024(m)
edelsonn at nwf.org<mailto:edelsonn at nwf.org>
www.nwf.org<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwf.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cb5fd528132b84327e8ed08d54407f507%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636489723314998977&sdata=fyTjkp54iDllu8vojbLBTqmmG3hS8X5tFLcsX4P%2FW90%3D&reserved=0>
Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world

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More info:
Here is the bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4647/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22H.R.+4647%22%5D%7D&r=1<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.congress.gov%2Fbill%2F115th-congress%2Fhouse-bill%2F4647%2Ftext%3Fq%3D%257B%2522search%2522%253A%255B%2522H.R.%2B4647%2522%255D%257D%26r%3D1&data=02%7C01%7C%7C88179df3a95448d95c9008d5464c2361%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636492215174993467&sdata=VPN4MxKnsl%2FZtrgWGrmUPuqxR8%2BL1mQ%2Fjn7ACmPn91A%3D&reserved=0>.

Here is Congresswoman Dingell?s message:
https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-fortenberry-introduce-bipartisan-bill-enhance-funding-fish-and<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdebbiedingell.house.gov%2Fmedia-center%2Fpress-releases%2Fdingell-fortenberry-introduce-bipartisan-bill-enhance-funding-fish-and&data=02%7C01%7C%7C88179df3a95448d95c9008d5464c2361%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636492215174993467&sdata=uExTKDmtFCeQ1NRYBxTuwyM%2BG46MzmZ1%2Bm9qZmHUcpE%3D&reserved=0>.

Example news discussions:

http://wildlife.org/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-legislation-reintroduced/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwildlife.org%2Frecovering-americas-wildlife-act-legislation-reintroduced%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C88179df3a95448d95c9008d5464c2361%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636492215174993467&sdata=Md2E7L%2BdELZNj8dxvPfRO2QVM3%2FaApzzHD0wl3dfEMM%3D&reserved=0>

http://www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=afwa_press_releases&prrid=367<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishwildlife.org%2Findex.php%3Fsection%3Dafwa_press_releases%26prrid%3D367&data=02%7C01%7C%7C88179df3a95448d95c9008d5464c2361%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636492215174993467&sdata=GsVjJnxaEYTDXAH0Jh3OT5yjvoFx9UTMaH0JnnVJeVA%3D&reserved=0>

http://coloradowildlife.org/news/recovering-americas-wildlife-act-bill-hr-4647-introduced-in-congress.html<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcoloradowildlife.org%2Fnews%2Frecovering-americas-wildlife-act-bill-hr-4647-introduced-in-congress.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C88179df3a95448d95c9008d5464c2361%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636492215174993467&sdata=%2BtioRjsGCm5gsuaL0soMGxwWHOGAvaIPJrHhHb9eFvw%3D&reserved=0>.

May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis
Avnacrs4birds at outlook.com<mailto:Avnacrs4birds at outlook.com>