The Capital Journal-Senator Tim Johnson

April 23, 2009

Families need wildlife legislation

U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson

Engrained in all South Dakotans is a deep appreciation for our sportsman tradition.

Nearly all of us have spent time hunting, fishing, and enjoying the great outdoors at one of the many recreational sites our state is blessed with. This way of life is an important part of who we are.

As a father, I am proud to have passed down these traditions to my own children, and want to make sure that families can do the same for years to come. That’s why I have introduced the Teaming with Wildlife Act to help ensure we can pass on our South Dakota way of life to future generations.

If signed into law, this bill would create a first of its kind program with a dedicated funding source to help all states protect game and nongame fish and wildlife habitat while also funding recreation programs.

By directing a small portion of the royalties collected from onshore and offshore public land oil and gas production, we have a chance to fund practical conservation initiatives.

To ensure these funds are wisely spent, the legislation requires the funds be used to assist the implementation of each state’s comprehensive wildlife restoration plan. Throughout the past decade, every state has formed a Wildlife Action Plan to spell out the species in the greatest need of conservation. Together with a broad array of partners, state fish and wildlife agencies take a hard look at area wildlife and what steps need to be taken to protect the wildlife. Here at home, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks would receive a minimum of $3.5 million annually, or $17.5 million over five years if this bill becomes law.

We all know that money is hard to come by these days, and this bill will help our producers and private landowners save hard-earned dollars as well. My legislation would fund efforts to conserve at-risk fish and wildlife and prevent costly requirements and frustrating delays that stem from recovering a species when its habitat is threatened.

By solving the recovery problem on the front end, this bill takes some of the politics out of protecting fish and wildlife. I’ve worked hard to craft a bill that is based in good, common sense and not ideology. We all have a responsibility to protect our way of life for future generations, including providing our children with the same opportunities we’ve enjoyed. The Teaming with Wildlife Act does just that, and is something Republicans and Democrats can agree on.

As a senior member of the Energy Committee, I know firsthand the many important issues we face. From enhancing the health of our National Forests to crafting strong legislation that finally breaks the grip overseas nations have had on our energy supply for too long, the committee has a lot on its plate. As we prepare to address those matters in the weeks ahead, my bill is something we can do now to allow kids to enjoy our traditions for generations.

54 Senators Signed SWG Dear Colleague Letter

Thanks to all of your hard work we now have 54 Senators signed onto to the SWG Dear Colleague Letter.

Final House Dear Colleague SWG Letter

As of April 17, 2009, 30 Senators and 87 Representatives have signed the Dear Colleague letters supporting $85 million for the State Wildlife Grants Program

NEW TWW Supporters (March 25-April 6, 2009)

31 New Endorsements Total Supporters: 6,016


CALIFORNIA
BEAR League
California Oak Foundation
California Wildlife Foundation
Friends of Trinity River
Peninsula Fly Fishers

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Endangered Species Coalition

FLORIDA
Alachua Conservation Trust
Florida Natural Areas Inventory
Natural Pet Photography

HAWAII
Hawaii Wildlife Center
Life Net

IDAHO
The Indigo Snake Initiative

INDIANA
Indiana Land Management & Securities

MAINE
First Wind Energy, LLC

MARYLAND
Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum
Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Sassafras River Association
Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

MISSOURI
Arcadia Valley Impact Club
Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment

MONTANA
Owl Research Institute

NEW MEXICO
Bird's Eye View

NEW YORK
Eastern Cougar Foundation

NORTH CAROLINA
NCDENR, Div. of Natural Resources Planning & Conservation
Organization for Wildlife and Land Stewardship (OWLS)

OREGON
Wallowa Land Trust

SOUTH DAKOTA
Upper Big Sioux River Watershed Project

TENNESSEE
Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute

WASHINGTON
Pacific Biodiversity Institute

WISCONSIN
The Aldo Leopold Foundation

The Wildlife Society-April 2009 Issue

Teaming with Wildlife Act Introduced

On 19 March, Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduced the Teaming with Wildlife Act of 2009 (S.655) which would secure dedicated funding for state-level wildlife management and conservation efforts. The Act would use a portion of the royalties collected from mineral development on federal lands and outer continental shelf oil development to allocate states $350 million per year over five years (fiscal years 2011-2016).

The funds would be transferred directly to the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program. The Program, enacted in 2000, created a federal fund to support state conservation and education programs for all species through an amendment to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The 2000 legislation also required states to create comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies – also known as wildlife action plans – that identify conservation challenges and prioritize needs. Wildlife action plans have been developed for all 50 states, six territories, and D.C., with the focus of preventing wildlife from becoming endangered.

Since its 2000 enactment, however, The Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Fund has only received appropriations for one fiscal year. In the meantime, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has administered an alternative in the form of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program, offering states and tribes matching grants to fund projects that address wildlife action plan goals. Unfortunately, because the SWG program depends on the annual appropriations process, it has been unable to meet all the states’ long-term planning needs.

Historically, the majority of wildlife conservation funding has come from state hunting and fishing license sales and the federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment created by the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. State wildlife agencies require additional, long-term funding to conserve all wildlife species. The Teaming with Wildlife Act would alleviate the problems associated with short-term funding cycles, and make up to 75 percent of a state project’s costs eligible for federal funding.

The Act was cosponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), and John Thune (R-SD), and is currently under consideration by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

See also: WPN Volume 18, Issue 3, Article 6Sources: The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Office of Senator Johnson, The Teaming with Wildlife Act

30 Senators Signed the SWG Dear Colleague

As of April 17, 2009 we have 30 Senators signed onto the State Wildlife Grants Dear Colleague Letter. Great Job Everyone! Also the deadline has been extended to Wednesday, April 22, 2009! View the lastest list online at http://www.teaming.com/

Senate Dear Colleague Letter

12 Senators have signed on to the Senate Dear Colleague Letter in support for State Wildlife Grants as of April 14, 2009. See if your Senator has signed on at http://www.teaming.com

Teaming with Wildlife Puts Press on Congress

More than 100 advocates from 30 states urge lawmakers to protect endangered speciesWASHINGTON, DC -- As part of the 8th Annual Teaming With Wildlife Fly-In Day, more than 100 conservation leaders from 30 states recently met with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The conservationists were there to discuss the importance of new and greater funding through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered.

http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/KDWP-Info/News/Web-News/April-2009/TEAMING-WITH-WILDLIFE-PUTS-PRESS-ON-CONGRESS

TWW Coalition NOW Over 6,000 Supporters!

TWW Coalition....The Hawaii Wildlife Center will be honored for putting us over the 6,000th Supporter of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition!