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The federal government has failed to allocate money toward land acquisition in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge for the last two years. "For Sale" signs dot the refuge and key beachfront parcels are continually being lost to development. The Fish and Wildlife Service is unable to move forward on parcels that they have signed "purchase agreements"on with willing sellers! This is the nation's only Wildlife Refuge for sea turtles. Its completion through continued acquisition of beachfront property is essential to the long-term survival of Florida's nesting marine turtles.
Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack from Florida have spoken up for the refuge. In a
debate last year on the Senate floor senator Graham stated "we feel that the Archie Carr Refuge is a key priority for Florida." Senator Gorton, who heads the Appropriations Committee, responded with, "the committee shares your view that the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle is critical". Despite these efforts the House and Senate leadership failed to appropriate any money last year. Key Senators and Representatives must be convinced to work harder!!
With Your Help, We Have Succeeded in Getting the Refuge Back on Everyone's Radar Screens! It Is Essential to Now Make Sure Legislators Agree on Funding for the Refuge.
Last year the President's budget did not include any allocation for the Archie Carr Refuge.
This year the President's budget includes $6 million for land acquisition in the refuge. The
President's Budget will be submitted to Congress in March. A coalition of sea turtle protection
groups has rallied to try to convince the US Congress to support this funding request (The
coalition includes Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the Center For Marine Conservation, Sea Turtle Preservation Society, and Friends of the Carr Refuge).
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Senator Bob Graham, Senator Connie Mack, Representative Dave Weldon, and Representative C.W. Young are all Florida congressmen that are key players in the refuge funding issue. They must be convinced to put their heads together to ensure funding for the Archie Carr Refuge and to aggressively support the Administration's request. Additionally, Senator Slade Gorton heads up the Senate Appropriations SubCommittee, Ralph Regula chairs the House Interior SubCommittee , while George Frampton of the Council on Environmental Quality will represent the administration during budget negotiations. They must all be contacted and asked to support funding. Let them know that you are depending on them to find the money for the refuge. Faxes, letters, and personal phone calls are preferred. An initial phone call to a key environmental staff person followed by a personal letter will get their attention.
Here is the contact information for key legislators.
Senators Graham and Mack, and Representative Weldon, have been supportive of the Carr Refuge. It is appropriate to thank them for their past support. Stress that now is not the time to abandon the refuge. The problem is they were not vocal enough supporters in the past!! You must act as soon as possible in order to be effective. (If you are from Florida it would be very helpful if you also personally contacted your Senator or Representative. We have therefore also included the addresses for the entire Florida delegation.)
You can copy and mail a Sample letter, but explaining in your own words why the refuge is important, is best.
Key Players To Be Contacted:
**Senator Bob Graham (His support is essential)
Phone-202-224-3041
Fax-202-224-2237
bob_graham@graham.senate.gov
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510 |
**Congressman Ralph Regula (Chairman- House
Interior Appropriations SubCommittee)
Phone-202-225-3876
Fax-202-225-3059
2309 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3516 |
**Senator Connie Mack
Phone-202-224-5274
Fax-202-224-8022
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510 |
**Senator Ted Stevens (Chairman, Senate Appropriations
Committee)
Phone-202-224-3003
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 |
**Representative Dave Weldon (Represents the Carr Refuge
area)
Phone-202-225-3671
Fax-202-225-3516
fla14@mail.house.gov
332 Cannon House Office Bldg
Washington DC, 20515 |
**Senator Slade Gorton (Chairman, Appropriations SubCommitee
on Interior, must be convinced by Graham and Mack)
Phone-202-224-3441
Fax-202-224-9393
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510 |
**Representative C.W. Young (From Florida- Chairman of
House Appropriations - he will support the refuge appropriation if the
above three request funding. He must hear from Rep.Weldon)
Phone-202-225-5961
Fax-202-225-9764
2407 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC, 20515 |
**Senator Robert Byrd (Minority Chairman, Senate Appropriations-he
must hear from Sen.Graham)
Phone-202-224-3954
Fax-202-228-0002
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 |
Other members of the Florida Congressinal Delegation - If any of them
represent your district, then it would be particulalrly useful if they
heard from you:
Congresswoman Corrine Brown
2444 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0903 |
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
2160 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0918 |
Congressman Joe Scarborough
127 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0901 |
Congressman Michael Bilirakis
2369 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0909 |
Congressman Porter J. Goss
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0914 |
Congresswoman Tillie K. Fowler
106 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0904 |
Congressman Allen Boyd
107 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0902 |
Congressman Bill McCollum
2109 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0908 |
Congressman Robert Wexler
213 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0919 |
Congressman Jim Davis
418 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0911 |
Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek
401 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0917 |
Congressman Peter Deutsch
204 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0920 |
Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart
404 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0921 |
Congressman John L. Mica
2445 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0907 |
Congressman Charles T. Canady
2432 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0912 |
Congressman Dan Miller
102 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0913 |
Congressman Mark Foley
113 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0916 |
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings
2235 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0923 |
Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman
440 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0905 |
Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr.
2408 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0922 |
Congressman Cliff Stearns
2227 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0906 |
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