Sorry about that last attempt. It was not sent as an attachment which I never do to a list but forwarded which works on Ark and KY lists............. TN-ARK-KY-MS Birders Here is a copy of a letter sent to our Senators in order to get them in line on these appropriations. It might help if we all second this letter by writing at this time. Thanks to ABA and Paul for all their efforts and keeping us up to date on this issue........ Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL' COOT / TLBA Bartlett Tenn. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dear Birding and Wildlife-watching Friends, Here is a letter that was sent a few days ago to all the Senators. It's part of the effort to get the Senate's current appropriations figures ($60 million) to match the House's $100 million for FY 2003 State Wildlife Grants. There were 26 organizations on the letter. They are listed below. The Senate has yet to bring up the Interior Appropriations. Paul J. Baicich ABA Conservation and Public Policy ________________ July, 2002 Dear Senator: We would like to express our appreciation for the inclusion of $60 million for state wildlife conservation through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program in the Fiscal Year 2003 Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (S. 2708). Although $60 million in SWG will significantly help conserve declining wildlife, a stronger commitment from the federal government is essential to address states' mounting conservation needs, which is why we are pleased that the House bill (H.R. 5093) provides $100 million for SWG. We encourage the Senate in S. 2708 to match H.R. 5093's level of funding for SWG. Funding the SWG program is one of the most effective proactive steps that can be taken to prevent further wildlife declines. Today there are more than 1000 animals and plants that are federally threatened or endangered and the SWG program enables state wildlife agencies to aggressively prevent further wildlife declines. These funds allow such conservation problems to be addressed before becoming even more costly and they work to simultaneously save wildlife and taxpayer dollars by avoiding the listing of new endangered species. With the first two years of these grants to state wildlife agencies in FY 2001 and FY 2002, the states have been able to initiate a number of important wildlife conservation measures. However, the Senate's FY 2003 $60 million funding for SWG represents a substantial reduction (29%) from the $85 million enacted in FY 2002, and will significantly curtail the effectiveness of many state programs that are just getting off the ground. State wildlife conservation has the widespread support of the 3,000 organizations in the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition and of the 28 Senators who signed letters to the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee asking for a significant increase for FY 2003 SWG from the FY 2002 base of $85 million. The American people have been long committed to protecting, restoring and responsibly managing our wildlife heritage. Yet we are now faced with greater and more complex challenges as burgeoning demands on land and resources threaten to edge out America's wildlife. SWG provides essential financial resources states require to effectively manage their diverse array of wildlife and associated habitats. Thanks to your support, with increased federal resources, the State Wildlife Grants will significantly help our nation to address these challenges. Sincerely, [the following groups signed on:] American Birding Association American Eagle Foundation American Fisheries Society American Zoo and Aquarium Association Bat Conservation International Defenders of Wildlife Endangered Species Coalition Friends of the Earth International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Izaak Walton League of America Mule Deer Foundation National Audubon Society National Wild Turkey Federation National Wildlife Federation Natural Resources Defense Council Pheasants Forever Ruffed Grouse Society Sierra Club The Nature Conservancy The Wildlife Society U.S. Public Interest Research Group Watchable Wildlife, Inc Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Forever Wildlife Management Institute World Wildlife Fund =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================