³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

March 24, 2011

Dear Senator:

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ stands with our chapters and 21 state offices to share our grave concerns about the funding battle that is currently pending in the Senate. The extreme and reckless bill completed by the House, HR 1, devastates many of the programs funded by Congress that help provide for clean air, clean water, and vital natural areas for birds, wildlife and people. These programs are important to all Americans and we hope that as the Senate moves forward you will soundly reject the draconian cuts contained in the House bill.

The House bill guts the broadly supported Land and Water Conservation Fund, cutting funding by 90 percent. This funding provides protection for lands and wildlife habitat in our National Wildlife Refuges, Parks, Forests and other public lands. Each day, 6,000 acres of open space are lost in the U.S. to habitat fragmentation and destruction. Once these lands are lost, they can never be recovered.

The entire Environmental Protection Agency is facing a $3 billion cut to its budget, the largest in 30 years. Such cuts would jeopardize its ability to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and protect our families and the environment.

In addition to the cuts to critical programs, the House bill actually eliminates two programs that are essential to people, birds and other wildlife. HR 1 removes all funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation fund, a critical program that helps preserve wetlands throughout the country. If HR 1 were to pass in its current form, it also would remove any federal funding to State Wildlife Grants, an important source of funding in each state for wildlife programs. These grants help states cost-share many conservation activities.

The upcoming weeks are critical to our nation and our environment. I urge you to oppose the irresponsible cuts contained in HR 1.

Sincerely,

David Yarnold
President and CEO

Alabama
Birmingham ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mobile Bay ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Arizona
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Arizona
Desert Rivers ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Huachuca ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Maricopa ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northern Arizona ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Prescott ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sonoran ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
White Mountain ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yuma ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Alaska
Arctic ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alaska
Juneau ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kodiak ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Prince William Sound ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Arkansas
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Arkansas
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Central Arkansas
Arkansas Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Garland County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

California
Altacal ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ California
Buena Vista ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Central Sierra ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Conejo Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
El Dorado ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Fresno ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Golden Gate ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kern ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kerncrest ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Knob and Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
La Purisima ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Los Angeles ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Madrone ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Marin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mendocino Coast ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Monterey ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Morro Coast ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mt. Diablo ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Napa Solano ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Palomar ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Palos Verdes/South Bay ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Pasadena ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Peregrine ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Plumas ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Pomona Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
San Bernardino Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
San Diego ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
San Fernando Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Redbud ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Redwood Region ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sacramento ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
San Joaquin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Santa Clara Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Santa Barbara ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Santa Monica Bay ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sea and Sage ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sierra Foothills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Stanislaus ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Ventura ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wintu ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yolo ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yosemite Area ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Colorado
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Colorado
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Greater Denver
Black Canyon ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Evergreen ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Fort Collins ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Grand Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Roaring Fork ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Weminuche ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yolo ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Connecticut
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Connecticut
Greenwich ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Litchfield Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Naugatuck Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Potapaug ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Quinnipiac Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

District of Columbia
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of the District of Columbia

Florida
Apalachee ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ of Florida
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of the Everglades
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ of Southwest Florida
Bay County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Choctawhatchee ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Citrus County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Clearwater ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Collier County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Duval ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Flagler ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Four Rivers ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Francis M. Weston ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Halifax River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Hendry-Glades ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Hernando ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Highlands County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kissimmee Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Lake Region ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Manatee County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Oklawaha Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Peace River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Pelican Island ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sanibel-Captiva ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Santa Fe ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sarasota ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Seminole ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Southeast Volusia ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
South Florida ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Space Coast ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
St. Lucie ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
St. Petersburg ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tampa ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tropical ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Venice Area ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
West Pasco ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
West Volusia ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Georgia
Augusta-Aiken ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Oconee Rivers ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society  
Ogeechee ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Idaho
Coeur d’Alene ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Golden Eagle ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Palouse ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Portneuf Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Illinois
Chicago ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Decatur ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
John Wesley Powell ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Lake County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northwest Illinois ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
South Bend-Elkhart ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Thorn Creek ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Indiana
Amos W. Butler ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Evansville ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Stockbridge ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sycamore ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tippecanoe ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wabash Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Iowa
Cedar Rapids ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Loess Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Prairie Rapids ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Southeast Iowa ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tallgrass Prairie ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Kansas
Jayhawk ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Leavenworth ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northern Flint Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Topeka ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wichita ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Kentucky
Daviess County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Frankfort ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Jackson Purchase ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Little River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Louisville ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Louisiana
Baton Rouge ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Orleans ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Maryland
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Central Maryland
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Maryland
Chesapeake ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Southern Maryland ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Michigan
Detroit ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Minnesota
Albert Lea ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Minnesota
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Minneapolis
Austin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Brainerd Lakes Area ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Central MN ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Duluth ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mississippi Headwaters ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
St. Paul ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wild River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Zumbro River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Mississippi
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Mississippi
Mississippi Coast ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Okatibbee Creek ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Oktibbeha ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Missouri
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Missouri
Burroughs ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
East Ozarks ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Grand River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Greater Ozarks ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Ozark Gateway ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
St. Louis ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Montana
Bitterroot ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Five Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Flathead ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Last Chance ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mission Mountain ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Montana ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Sacajawea ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Upper Missouri Breaks ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yellowstone Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Nebraska
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Nebraska
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Omaha
Wachiska ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wildcat ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

New Mexico
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ New Mexico
Central New Mexico ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mesilla Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sangre de Cristo ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Southwestern NM ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society   

New Jersey
Atlantic ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Bergen County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Monmouth County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Washington Crossing ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

New York
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ New York
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of the Capital Region
Bedford ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Buffalo ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Central Westchester ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Constitution Marsh ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center and Sanctuary
Eastern Long Island ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Four Harbors ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Genesee Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Great South Bay ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Hudson River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Huntington Oyster Bay ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kalers Pond ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center
Montezuma ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center
New York City ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
North Fork ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
North Shore ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northern Catskills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northern New York ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Onondaga ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Orange County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Putnam Highlands ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Rheinstrom Hill ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center
Saw Mill River ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
South Shore ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Southern Adirondack ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Sullivan County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center

Nevada
Lahontan ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Red Rock ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

North Carolina
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ North Carolina
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Forsyth County
Elisha Mitchell ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
High Country ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mecklenburg ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
T. Gilbert Pearson ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wake ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

North Dakota
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Dakota
Fargo-Moorhead ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Ohio
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Ohio
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Miami Valley
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Greater Cleveland
Blackbrook ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Canton ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Columbus ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
East Central Ohio ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Greater Akron ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Greater Mohican ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Mahoning Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tri-Moraine ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Western Cuyahoga ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Oklahoma
Payne County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tulsa ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Oregon
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Corvallis
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Lincoln City
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Portland
Cape Arago ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kalmiopsis ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Klamath Basin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Lane County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Rogue Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Salem ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Umpqua Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Pennsylvania
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Pennsylvania
Appalachian ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Bucks County ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Conococheague ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Greater Wyoming Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Juniata Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Lycoming ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northeast Pennsylvania ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Quittapahilla ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Seven Mountains ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tiadaghton ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wyncote ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

South Carolina
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ South Carolina
Augusta-Aiken ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Charleston ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Hilton Head Island ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Piedmont ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Waccamaw ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

South Dakota
Pine Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Tennessee
Cumberland-Harpeth ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society  

Texas
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Texas
Bexar ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Central Texas ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Coastal Bend ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
El Paso Trans-Pecos ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Fort Worth ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Houston ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Prairie and Timbers ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Travis ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Utah
Bridgerland ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Great Salt Lake ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Red Cliffs ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wasatch ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Vermont
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Vermont
Ascutney Mountain ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northeast Kingdom ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Otter Creek ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Taconic Tri-State ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Virginia
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society of Northern Virginia
Northern Neck ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Richmond ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Washington
Admiralty ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Black Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Central Basin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Discovery Coast ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Eastside ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Grays Harbor ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kitsap ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Kittitas ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Lower Columbia Basin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
North Cascades ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Olympic Peninsula ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Palouse ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Pilchuck ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Rainier ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Seattle ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Skagit ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Spokane ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Tahoma ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Vashon Maury Island ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Whidbey ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Willapa Hills ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Yakima Valley ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

West Virginia
Mountaineer ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Wisconsin
Admiralty ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Chequamegon ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Coulee Region ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Green Rock ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Hoy ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Madison ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Northeast Wisconsin ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Winnebago ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society
Wisconsin Metro ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society

Wyoming
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Wyoming
Murie ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Society