Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
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.
History
[edit]
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 [1]. 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
[edit]Mission
[edit]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
[edit]The purpose of the CWRC is to:
- Raise awareness of our refuge system
- Create a voice for refuges in Congress
- Support adequate Refuge System budgets
- Support the six priority activities outlined in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental education and interpretation)
- Supporting the strategic growth of the Refuge System
Caucus Activity
[edit]Legislation
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Leadership
[edit]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 [2].
Current and former Congressional Wildlife Refuge Members
[edit](in alphabetical order)
| Member | State | Date Joined |
|---|---|---|
| Rep. Earl Blumenauer | OR | December 5, 2006 |
| Rep. Matt Cartwright | PA | 2013 |
| Rep. Ed Case | HI | |
| Rep. Kathy Castor | FL | |
| Rep. Gerry Connolly | VA | July 26, 2010 |
| Rep. Sharice Davids | KS | |
| Rep. Debbie Dingell | MI | 2013 |
| Rep. John Dingell | MI | May 22, 2006 |
| Rep. Lloyd Doggett | TX | April 26, 2006 |
| Rep. Mike Doyle | PA | January 12, 2007 |
| Rep. Vernon Ehlers | MI | August 7, 2006 |
| Rep. Keith Ellison | MN | July 24, 2008 |
| Rep. Anna Eshoo | CA | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Sam Farr | CA | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Bob Filner | CA | September 11, 2006 |
| Rep. Randy Forbes | VA | February 18, 2007 |
| Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen | NJ | October 18, 2006 |
| Rep. Scott Garrett | NJ | September 26, 2006 |
| Rep. Jim Gerlach | PA | July 11, 2006 |
| Rep. Bart Gordon | TN | August 10, 2006 |
| Rep. Gene Green | TX | February 19, 2007 |
| Rep. Raul Grijalva | AZ | May 10, 2006 |
| Rep. Phil Hare | IL | November 15, 2007 |
| Rep. Alcee Hastings | FL | July 11, 2006 |
| Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin | SD | December 11, 2006 |
| Rep. Brian Higgins | NY | August 22, 2006 |
| Rep. Baron Hill | IN | June 9, 2009 |
| Rep. Maurice Hinchey | NY | September 12, 2006 |
| Rep. Mazie Hirono | HI | August 6, 2007 |
| Rep. Tim Holden | PA | September 6, 2006 |
| Rep. Rush Holt | NJ | June 6, 2006 |
| Rep. Michael Honda | CA | September 19, 2006 |
| Rep. Steve Israel | NY | August 4, 2006 |
| Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee | TX | July 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Walter Jones | NC | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Paul Kanjorski | PA | September 9, 2006 |
| Rep. Patrick Kennedy | RI | April 2, 2008 |
| Rep. Dale Kildee | MI | May 2, 2006 |
| Rep. Ron Kind | WI | March 10, 2006 |
| Rep. John Kline | MN | July 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Dennis Kucinich | OH | January 12, 2007 |
| Rep. Leonard Lance | NJ | March 3, 2009 |
| Rep. Rick Larsen | WA | October 18, 2006 |
| Rep. John Larson | CT | July 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Barbara Lee | CA | January 31, 2007 |
| Rep. Dan Lipinski | IL | January 9, 2007 |
| Rep. Frank LoBiondo | NJ | May 4, 2006 |
| Rep. Zoe Lofgren | CA | September 18, 2006 |
| Rep. Ben Ray Luján | NM | October 3, 2009 |
| Rep. Stephen Lynch | MA | August 3, 2006 |
| Rep. Carolyn Maloney | NY | August 23, 2006 |
| Rep. Donald Manzullo | IL | September 9, 2006 |
| Rep. Edward Markey | MA | August 22, 2006 |
| Rep. Jim Marshall | GA | July 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Doris Matsui | CA | August 29, 2006 |
| Rep. Betty McCollum | MN | August 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Thaddeus McCotter | MI | February 16, 2007 |
| Rep. Jim McDermott | WA | July 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Michael Michaud | ME | May 16, 2006 |
| Rep. Brad Miller | NC | September 25, 2006 |
| Rep. George Miller | CA | May 17, 2006 |
| Rep. Alan Mollohan | WV | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Dennis Moore | KS | July 26, 2006 |
| Rep. Jim Moran | VA | August 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Patrick Murphy | PA | June 22, 2008 |
| Rep. Grace Napolitano | CA | September 22, 2006 |
| Rep. James Oberstar | MN | August 10, 2006 |
| Rep. John W. Olver | MA | February 18, 2007 |
| Rep. Solomon Ortiz | TX | August 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Frank Pallone | NJ | May 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Bill Pascrell | NJ | September 15, 2006 |
| Rep. Ron Paul | TX | September 15, 2006 |
| Rep. Erik Paulsen | MN | February 18, 2009 |
| Rep. Donald Payne | NJ | June 7, 2006 |
| Rep. Ed Perlmutter | CO | March 15, 2007 |
| Rep. Collin Peterson | MN | November 25, 2007 |
| Rep. Thomas Petri | WI | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. Chellie Pingree | ME | 2013 |
| Rep. Todd Platts | PA | September 6, 2006 |
| Rep. Earl Pomeroy | ND | July 28, 2006 |
| Rep. David Price | NC | September 14, 2006 |
| Rep. Steve Rothman | NJ | August 31, 2006 |
| Rep. Gregorio Sablan | CNMI | October 19, 2009 |
| Rep. Linda Sánchez | CA | 2013 |
| Rep. Loretta Sánchez | CA | May 1, 2007 |
| Rep. Jan Schakowsky | IL | May 30, 2007 |
| Rep. Allyson Schwartz | PA | September 13, 2006 |
| Rep. Jose Serrano | NY | August 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Joe Sestak | PA | July 14, 2008 |
| Rep. Carol Shea-Porter | NH | January 22, 2007 |
| Rep. Adam Smith | WA | July 20, 2006 |
| Rep. Vic Snyder | AR | September 6, 2006 |
| Rep. Mark Souder | IN | October 2, 2006 |
| Rep. John M. Spratt | SC | September 12, 2006 |
| Rep. Pete Stark | CA | June 26, 2006 |
| Rep. Cliff Stearns | FL | September 5, 2006 |
| Rep. John Tanner | TN | July 20, 2006 |
| Rep. Ellen Tauscher | CA | October 5, 2006 |
| Rep. Mike Thompson | CA | March 14, 2006 |
| Rep. John Tierney | MA | August 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Chris Van Hollen | MD | January 8, 2007 |
| Rep. Pete Visclosky | IN | October 18, 2006 |
| Rep. Tim Walz | MN | June 21, 2008 |
| Rep. Diane Watson | CA | September 21, 2006 |
| Rep. Henry Waxman | CA | September 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Peter Welch | VT | June 12, 2008 |
| Rep. Anthony Weiner | NY | August 9, 2006 |
| Rep. Robert Wexler | FL | May 25, 2006 |
| Rep. Joe Wilson | SC | August 29, 2006 |
| Rep. Rob Wittman | VA | May 1, 2008 |
| Rep. Frank Wolf | VA | November 20, 2006 |
| Rep. Lynn Woolsey | CA | August 16, 2006 |
| Rep. David Wu | OR | October 18, 2006 |
| Rep. Bill Young | FL | September 19, 2006 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution". National Wildlife Refuge Association. Retrieved January 16, 2025.