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Home > Programs and Policy > Policy and Legislation > Funding for Wildlife and Habitat > President's Budget and Congressional Action

President's Budget and Congressional Action

Every year, the President of the United States sends the administration's budget request to the Congress in early February. Congress then must consider the budget and pass funding bills for all the programs before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

The budget includes funding requests for all federal environment and natural resource programs that protect our public lands and other special places, wildlife, climate, air, water and public health.

FY 2010 Budget

On May 7, 2009, President Obama submitted his budget for FY 2010 to Congress and the American people. The president’s budget is a significant improvement from prior requests under the Bush Administration. Rather than cutting funding for lands and wildlife while attempting to hide the impacts, President Obama has demonstrated that his Interior Department is strongly committed to tackling climate change, and in particular safeguarding America's wildlife from the impacts of global warming.

Defenders is particularly pleased that the President has requested an increase of $133 million for the Interior Department’s natural resource management agencies to address the impacts of climate change. This is an important step that will give America’s lands, water, and wildlife the resources that they need to survive the devastating impacts of climate change.

Allocations to the Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Geological Survey and its National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center demonstrate President Obama’s commitment to addressing climate change and its destructive consequences on our nation’s wildlife and natural resources.

This budget provides a significant down payment aimed at sustainable solutions for America’s wildlife habitat and protection in the face of climate change.

Response and Analysis

Interior Appropriations Testimony FY 2010
Read Defenders' March 26, 2009 testimony before the House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee regarding FY 2010.

May 7, 2009 Statement from Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders' Executive Vice President

2010 Green Budget
Learn more about the Green Budget, a yearly recommendation, developed by the environmental community, for priority funding to support our nation’s most important environment and natural resource protection programs.

Archive of past budget proposals and analysis.

Congressional Sign On Letters

See Congressional sign on letters in support of increased funding for National Wildlife Refuges and endangered species.