ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

March 24, 2011

Dear Senator:

The ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ 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 ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mobile Bay ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Arizona
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Arizona
Desert Rivers ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Huachuca ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Maricopa ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northern Arizona ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Prescott ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sonoran ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
White Mountain ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yuma ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Alaska
Arctic ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Alaska
Juneau ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kodiak ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Prince William Sound ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Arkansas
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Arkansas
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Central Arkansas
Arkansas Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Garland County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

California
Altacal ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ California
Buena Vista ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Central Sierra ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Conejo Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
El Dorado ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Fresno ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Golden Gate ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kern ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kerncrest ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Knob and Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
La Purisima ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Los Angeles ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Madrone ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Marin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mendocino Coast ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Monterey ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Morro Coast ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mt. Diablo ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Napa Solano ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Palomar ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Palos Verdes/South Bay ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Pasadena ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Peregrine ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Plumas ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Pomona Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
San Bernardino Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
San Diego ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
San Fernando Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Redbud ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Redwood Region ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sacramento ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
San Joaquin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Santa Clara Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Santa Barbara ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Santa Monica Bay ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sea and Sage ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sierra Foothills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Stanislaus ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Ventura ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wintu ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yolo ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yosemite Area ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Colorado
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Colorado
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Greater Denver
Black Canyon ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Evergreen ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Fort Collins ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Grand Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Roaring Fork ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Weminuche ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yolo ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Connecticut
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Connecticut
Greenwich ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Litchfield Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Naugatuck Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Potapaug ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Quinnipiac Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

District of Columbia
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of the District of Columbia

Florida
Apalachee ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ of Florida
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of the Everglades
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ of Southwest Florida
Bay County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Choctawhatchee ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Citrus County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Clearwater ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Collier County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Duval ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Flagler ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Four Rivers ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Francis M. Weston ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Halifax River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Hendry-Glades ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
Hernando ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Highlands County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kissimmee Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Lake Region ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Manatee County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Oklawaha Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Peace River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Pelican Island ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sanibel-Captiva ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Santa Fe ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sarasota ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Seminole ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Southeast Volusia ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
South Florida ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Space Coast ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
St. Lucie ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
St. Petersburg ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tampa ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tropical ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Venice Area ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
West Pasco ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
West Volusia ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Georgia
Augusta-Aiken ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Oconee Rivers ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society  
Ogeechee ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Idaho
Coeur d’Alene ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Golden Eagle ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Palouse ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Portneuf Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Illinois
Chicago ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Decatur ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
John Wesley Powell ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Lake County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northwest Illinois ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
South Bend-Elkhart ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Thorn Creek ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Indiana
Amos W. Butler ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Evansville ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Stockbridge ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sycamore ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tippecanoe ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wabash Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Iowa
Cedar Rapids ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Loess Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Prairie Rapids ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Southeast Iowa ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tallgrass Prairie ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Kansas
Jayhawk ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Leavenworth ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northern Flint Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Topeka ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wichita ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Kentucky
Daviess County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Frankfort ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Jackson Purchase ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Little River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Louisville ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Louisiana
Baton Rouge ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Orleans ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Maryland
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Central Maryland
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Maryland
Chesapeake ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Southern Maryland ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Michigan
Detroit ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Minnesota
Albert Lea ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Minnesota
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Minneapolis
Austin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Brainerd Lakes Area ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Central MN ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Duluth ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mississippi Headwaters ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
St. Paul ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wild River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Zumbro River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Mississippi
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Mississippi
Mississippi Coast ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Okatibbee Creek ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Oktibbeha ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Missouri
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Missouri
Burroughs ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
East Ozarks ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Grand River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Greater Ozarks ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
Ozark Gateway ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
St. Louis ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Montana
Bitterroot ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Five Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Flathead ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Last Chance ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mission Mountain ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Montana ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
Sacajawea ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Upper Missouri Breaks ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yellowstone Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Nebraska
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Nebraska
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Omaha
Wachiska ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wildcat ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

New Mexico
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ New Mexico
Central New Mexico ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mesilla Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sangre de Cristo ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Southwestern NM ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society   

New Jersey
Atlantic ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Bergen County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Monmouth County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Washington Crossing ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

New York
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ New York
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of the Capital Region
Bedford ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Buffalo ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Central Westchester ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Constitution Marsh ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center and Sanctuary
Eastern Long Island ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Four Harbors ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Genesee Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Great South Bay ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Hudson River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Huntington Oyster Bay ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kalers Pond ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center
Montezuma ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center
New York City ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
North Fork ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
North Shore ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northern Catskills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northern New York ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Onondaga ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Orange County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Putnam Highlands ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Rheinstrom Hill ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center
Saw Mill River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
South Shore ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Southern Adirondack ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Sullivan County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center

Nevada
Lahontan ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Red Rock ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

North Carolina
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ North Carolina
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Forsyth County
Elisha Mitchell ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
High Country ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mecklenburg ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
T. Gilbert Pearson ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wake ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

North Dakota
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Dakota
Fargo-Moorhead ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Ohio
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Ohio
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Miami Valley
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Greater Cleveland
Blackbrook ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Canton ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Columbus ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
East Central Ohio ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Greater Akron ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Greater Mohican ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Mahoning Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tri-Moraine ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Western Cuyahoga ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Oklahoma
Payne County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tulsa ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Oregon
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Corvallis
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Lincoln City
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Portland
Cape Arago ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kalmiopsis ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Klamath Basin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Lane County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Rogue Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Salem ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Umpqua Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Pennsylvania
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Pennsylvania
Appalachian ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Bucks County ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Conococheague ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Greater Wyoming Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Juniata Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Lycoming ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northeast Pennsylvania ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Quittapahilla ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Seven Mountains ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tiadaghton ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wyncote ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

South Carolina
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ South Carolina
Augusta-Aiken ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Charleston ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Hilton Head Island ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Piedmont ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Waccamaw ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

South Dakota
Pine Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Tennessee
Cumberland-Harpeth ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society  

Texas
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Texas
Bexar ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Central Texas ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Coastal Bend ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
El Paso Trans-Pecos ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Fort Worth ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Houston ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Prairie and Timbers ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Travis ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Utah
Bridgerland ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Great Salt Lake ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Red Cliffs ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wasatch ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Vermont
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Vermont
Ascutney Mountain ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northeast Kingdom ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Otter Creek ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
Taconic Tri-State ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Virginia
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society of Northern Virginia
Northern Neck ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Richmond ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Washington
Admiralty ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Black Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Central Basin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Discovery Coast ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Eastside ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Grays Harbor ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kitsap ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Kittitas ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Lower Columbia Basin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
North Cascades ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Olympic Peninsula ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Palouse ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Pilchuck ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Rainier ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Seattle ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Skagit ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Spokane ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Tahoma ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Vashon Maury Island ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Whidbey ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Willapa Hills ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Yakima Valley ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

West Virginia
Mountaineer ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Wisconsin
Admiralty ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Chequamegon ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Coulee Region ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Green Rock ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Hoy ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Madison ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Northeast Wisconsin ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Winnebago ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society
Wisconsin Metro ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society

Wyoming
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Wyoming
Murie ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Society