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For Immediate Release
House Budget Blueprint Makes Down Payment on Environment
Funding Reverses Cuts to Wildlife and Lands
Washington, DC -- Defenders of Wildlife today praised the House Budget Committee and its chairman John Spratt (D-SC) for beginning to reverse years of budget cuts to programs that protect our environment and natural resources. The Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution passed late last night by the budget panel would provide a significant increase over the President’s budget request.
"Under the leadership of Chairman Spratt, the House Budget Committee has taken an important first step in renewing our nation’s commitment to protecting our natural heritage after years of slash and burn budgets by the Bush administration," said Defenders of Wildlife president, Rodger Schlickeisen. "The funding levels included in the House Budget Resolution represent a significant down payment that will help us to rebuild our deteriorating public land and wildlife agencies."
The House Budget Resolution would provide a total appropriated level of $31.4 billion for environment and natural resource programs for FY 2008, $2.6 billion over the President’s request and $1 billion over the final FY 2007 levels. The budget blueprint rejects the President’s damaging cuts to endangered species protection, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, many Farm Bill conservation programs, and other important wildlife, habitat and public lands programs. The funding provided also would begin to restore the National Wildlife Refuge System, which has been undergoing a massive restructuring and downsizing in the face of budget shortfalls. In addition, the resolution includes a deficit-neutral reserve fund that supports an increase of $20 billion over the next five years for reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
"Chairman Spratt has taken the first step toward restoring environmental programs that were essentially on life-support following years of cuts by the Bush administration," continued Schlickeisen. "We look forward to working with him, the House and Senate Budget Committees, and Congressional appropriators in the coming years to secure the funding to make them whole again so our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy a vibrant and healthy environment."
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Defenders of Wildlife is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 500,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.
