AUDUBON’S LEGISLATIVE YEAR IN REVIEW 2000:

WRAP-UP OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 106^th CONGRESS

The 106^th Congress has finally come to a close, and what it year it was for Audubon! Due in large part to your support and participation, TEN Audubon-supported measures were signed into law, and two Audubon-opposed measures failed to move through the legislative process! 2000 was a banner year for Audubon, and those few measures that didn’t make it through the process this year, we’ll push for even harder when the 107^th Congress convenes in January.

Here’s a final wrap-up of this year’s conservation activities in the U.S. Congress. As we publish the Audubon Advisory only while Congress is in session, this will be the last Advisory of the year. The next issue you will receive will be a January 2001 "Legislative Lookout" Advisory that will let you know what we’ll be working on and pushing for in 2001.

Thanks again for your support and participation in our legislative activities. For more information on these or other measures, please call Audubon’s Grassroots Outreach Department at (202) 861-2242, ext. 3012.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season and for the new year ahead!

(1) PASSED: EVERGLADES RESTORATION. One of Audubon's top priorities, the final bill authorizes and secures funding for a series of projects to return the natural quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwater to the Everglades. The multi-year project will return the natural flow of water to the "River of Grass" and improve the habitat of the 68 threatened or endangered species, and hundreds of other species of birds, other wildlife, and plants that call the Everglades home. This is a major victory for Audubon, and for the many, many people who have fought to pass this legislation over the past ten years. The new law secures $7.8 billion over 30 years for nearly 60 projects that will restore, preserve, and protect the Everglades, as well as provide other water-related needs for the South Florida region. We’ll work with the 107^th Congress starting in January to ensure this program is fully funded for the year 2001 and beyond. For an in-depth analysis of what is included in the overall bill, please contact Shannon Mayorga at smayorga@audubon.org.

(2) PASSED: NEO-TROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD PROTECTION. In an important victory for birds, President Clinton signed into law the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, the only bill in this Congress that directly helps songbirds. The new law establishes a fund to support partnership programs that will conserve and enhance habitat of Neotropical migratory birds such as the Kirtland’s Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Black-capped Vireo and Kentucky Warbler. At least 75% of the money will go to projects in the Caribbean and Latin America, where the birds spend their winters. It authorizes $5 million per year for five years and funds a maximum of 25% of the money for each project. The remainder will be raised or contributed by partners such as businesses, non-governmental organizations and foreign nations. Approximately 5 billion birds of 500 species, including many endangered species, migrate to North America from wintering grounds in Latin America and the Caribbean annually. We’ll work with the 107^th Congress in January to see that this legislation is fully funded again for 2001 and beyond.

(3) PASSED: CONSERVATION FUNDING: When it became apparent that the U.S. Congress would not pass the sweeping and Audubon-supported Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) this year, House and Senate supporters pulled together a smaller measure that, although not CARA, represents the largest commitment our country has made to conservation in decades. The new law incrementally increases funding up to $12 billion dollars over the next six years for local, state and national conservation efforts. For Fiscal Year 2001, funding is broken down as follows:

1. $540 million for federal and state land and water conservation programs, such as land acquisition to protect precious lands from development threats;
2. $400 million for coastal protection programs, such as pollution control programs;
3. $300 million for state conservation programs, such as open space proposals and other state fish & wildlife conservation programs;
4. $160 million for urban and historic preservation programs;
5. $150 million for federal lands maintenance, to help reduce backlogs of maintenance needs in our National Wildlife Refuge System, and
6. $ 50 million in payments to states in lieu of taxes lost on federally owned lands.

And remember, if these numbers sound high, combined they amount to less than 1% of the nation’s defense budget. And again, while not as sweeping as CARA, which was stopped in the Senate and would not have moved any further in the 106^th Congress, this new law does indeed represent the largest commitment our nation has made to conservation efforts in decades. Any time we can secure land for precious bird and wildlife habitat, protect our coasts, and other special and wild places, it is a victory for all of us. We’ll work with the 107^th Congress to see that this measure is fully funded for 2001 and beyond.

(4) PASSED: FUNDING FOR SEVERAL AUDUBON CENTERS: The U.S. Congress passed several measures that will directly benefit several Audubon Centers, and specific conservation projects backed by Audubon state offices and chapters. Included as part of the Veterans Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (VAHUD) appropriations bill, Congress secured funding for the following projects:

• $200,000 for Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• $172,000 for the Grand Valley Audubon Nature Center, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
• $225,000 for the Debs Nature Center in Los Angeles, California
• $465,000 for the Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Prospect Park Boathouse in Brooklyn, New York.
• $125,000 for Audubon of Florida’s Environmental Education program for inner-city students in Miami-Dade County.

These actions indicate that the Congress will work with communities and Audubon as a partner in making Audubon’s 2020 vision -- our goal of 1000 Audubon environmental education Centers across the country by year 2020 -- a reality. We’ll work with the 107^th Congress to secure funding for more Audubon Centers in 2001 and beyond.

(5) PASSED: MOST OF AUDUBON’S LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION PRIORITIES: This year’s Interior Appropriations Bill – the legislation that secures the bulk of funding for birds, other wildlife and their habitat -- included $30.1 million for National Audubon Society’s Land and Water Conservation Fund priorities. These priorities include key habitat areas for birds and wildlife in 12 national wildlife refuges and 4 national forests in 13 states. Overall, Audubon requested funding for 36 priorities and received funding for 16 of them. We’ll work with the 107^th Congress to secure funding for Audubon’s 2001 Land & Water Conservation Programs.

• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Florida received $3.2 million;
• San Diego NWR in California received $3 million;
• Arapaho National Forest (NF) in Colorado received $2 million;
• Bon Secour NWR in Alabama at $1 million;
• Stewart B. McKinney NWR in Connecticut at $1.5 million;
• Big Muddy NWR in Missouri at $1 million;
• Patoka River NWR in Indiana at $800,000;
• Red Rock Lakes NWR in Montana at $1.75 million;
• Wertheim NWR in New York at $2 million;
• Balcones Canyonlands NWR in Texas at $1.75 million;
• Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR in Texas at $1 million;
• Montezuma NWR in New York at $2 million;
• Chugach NF in Alaska at $2.5 million;
• San Bernadino NF in California at $2.5 million; and
• Lake Tahoe NF in California/Nevada at $4 million.

(6) PASSED: SECURING ACRES FOR WETLANDS: This year’s Agriculture appropriations bill secured 100,000 additional acres in the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), and another Audubon-supported measure that establishes a pilot program to protect prairie potholes – important habitat for birds and other wildlife – in six states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Montana.

(7) PASSED: MORE FUNDING FOR THE LONG ISLAND SOUND: Congress increased funding for the Long Island Sound and estuary protection nationwide. As you know, estuaries are places where rivers meet the sea, and are critical for the survival of many species of birds, mammals, fish and other wildlife. Under current law, the Long Island Sound Office is slated to receive only $3 million per year. People have argued for years that this amount is insufficient to help clean up, prevent nutrient pollution, and upgrade sewage treatment plants in such a large, densely populated estuary. Congress has listened and the new law increases the authorized funding levels for the Long Island Sound to $40 million per year for 5 years. In addition, the nationwide estuary program will increase from $40 million this fiscal year to $75 million by fiscal year 2005. Also for the Long Island Sound, the Veterans Administration, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies appropriations bill (VAHUD) – the funding vehicle for the Environmental Protection Agency – included $5.5 million for the Long Island Sound, as well. We will push hard next year with the new law in place to get this number up to the $40 million level.

(8) PASSED: REFUGE SYSTEM COMMEMORATION: The U.S. Congress passed legislation, and the President signed into law, a measure to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. As you know, the National Wildlife Refuge System consists of more than 500 refuges that span across 50 states, host more than 700 bird species, and are the primary habitat for about 250 threatened and endangered species. These refuges are America’s best hope for protecting our country’s diverse bird and wildlife populations. But in spite of their important role, they find themselves in dire need of care: many are battling incompatible activities on and near refuge lands, inadequate water supplies, and insufficient budgets for operations, maintenance and new land acquisition. One of many responsibilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Refuge System receives limited and inconsistent management attention. The Refuge System's low public visibility also has made it a target for members of Congress over the years. Enactment of this law is a positive step toward changing that -- it creates a commission that will plan highly visible public projects to mark the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. At Audubon’s urging, the law also requires the FWS to address the Refuge System’s backlog of operations and maintenance needs as part of its annual budget submission, and to report on progress in reducing that backlog for the previous, current and upcoming fiscal years. That’s good news for our nation’s refuges, and great news for the birds and other wildlife that make their home there.

(9) PASSED: UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING: More good news for Audubon and conservation when the U.S. Congress came to agreement on the FY 2001 Foreign Operations appropriations bill. The bill included increased funding for international family planning and removed last year’s anti-family planning restrictions. As you know, rapid population growth exacerbates many environmental problems, including air and water pollution, loss of birds, other wildlife and their habitat, fisheries depletion, and climate change. These are global problems that transcend national boundaries. International family planning improves the ability of people to manage their lives and their natural resources more sustainably, which in turn helps protect birds, other wildlife and our environment. The final measure passed by Congress increases funding for international family planning by $40 million. While this is a victory compared to last year’s funding and policy provisions, there was one hitch: the disbursement of the funds will be delayed until Feb 15, 2001, when the new President takes office. Our next President, through an Executive Order, could re-impose harmful restrictions and delay funding to these critical programs, as did both Presidents Reagan and Bush. We’ll keep you posted!

10) PASSED: BAN ON SHARK FINNING. In the final days of the 106^th Congress, both the House and Senate passed legislation to ban shark finning -- the practice of cutting off a shark's fins and discarding the remainder of its carcass back into the sea. The bill bans shark finning in all U.S. waters, seeks to address the issue internationally, and authorizes a number of studies on shark populations and the international trade in shark fins. This legislation will save tens of thousands of sharks next year alone and was a top priority of Audubon’s Living Oceans Program -- our effort to restore abundant wildlife to our oceans and along our coasts.

(11) STOPPED: BILL TO ESTABLISH HUNTING SEASON ON DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. Congress adjourned before both the House and Senate could take action on ill-conceived legislation that would have required the Secretary of the Interior to authorize states to establish hunting seasons for Double-crested Cormorants. You’ll recall this legislation was spurred by sport fishing and catfish farming concerns that increasing Cormorant populations are responsible for fisheries declines—claims that are not supported by credible science. Audubon urged Congress to hold off taking action until the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released their national management plan for Cormorants– a plan that would determine the scientific, biological feasibility of a Cormorant hunting season, and whether and where such a season should occur. Although this measure failed, the Congress did appropriate money to allow the USDA’s Wildlife Services agency to develop ways to control cormorant populations in catfish farming areas in the South. This will likely be an ongoing issue, and we’ll keep you posted on developments as they happen.

(12) STOPPED: BILL TO EXPAND HUNTING ON PUBLIC LANDS: Congress also ran out of time before taking action on legislation that would have unnecessarily expanded hunting on public lands. Hunting is allowed on 600 million acres of our public lands, including more than 85% of national forest lands and more than 95% of wildlife refuge lands. Audubon has never opposed hunting, and we have always supported hunting on our nation’s public lands when it supports legitimate wildlife management objectives. But while hunting is a legitimate use of many public lands, the bill would have compromised other wildlife-oriented recreation in this country, such as bird watching and photography. It also would have jeopardized birds and wildlife by undercutting sound wildlife management practices on public lands. It’s likely this bill will come up again during the 107^th Congress.

(13) STOPPED: BILL TO CURTAIL THE AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS.) Congress adjourned before taking final action on an Audubon-opposed bill that would have curtailed the authority of NMFS to manage highly migratory fish species - such as swordfish, tuna and marlin. Major marine conservation groups, including Audubon’s Living Oceans program opposed the bill. Among other actions, the bill sought to overturn NMFS’ August regulation that closed down specific ocean areas to longlining fishing - lines up to 40 miles long with hundreds upon hundreds of bait hooks attached to them. NMFS - the agency responsible for managing our oceans and ocean species -- shut down these areas after scientific study showed longlining was dramatically depleting highly migratory fish populations. This bill would have altered these area closures, and would have prohibited NMFS from implementing other area closures for the next four years, except under a near impossible set of criteria. The result of this legislation could have been devastating for our oceans, and particularly, highly migratory ocean species. Once again, it’s very likely we’ll see this measure come up for debate in the 107^th Congress.

(14) FAILED TO TAKE FINAL ACTION: FISHERIES RECOVERY ACT. The 106^th Congress also adjourned before taking action on the Audubon-supported Fisheries Recovery Act. As you know, our nation’s marine fisheries are in trouble. Nearly half of all fish stocks in U.S. waters are overfished. In other words, they are being caught and killed faster than they can reproduce. Populations of some species of sharks have dropped 80% in the past 15 years, and will require decades to recover - if at all. The U.S. Congress could have passed legislation - the Fisheries Recovery Act -- that would have stopped this overfishing, rebuild fish populations and protect essential fish habitats. The bill addressed the problems head on: it prohibited the overfishing of vulnerable fish stocks; it safeguarded fish habitat by requiring regional Fishery Management Councils to develop fishery ecosystem plans that would restore and protect critical habitat and require evaluation of the impacts of new fishing gear on essential fish habitat before allowing its use. It also would have made the avoidance of bycatch a top priority in fishery management, and called for precautionary management of this nation’s living marine resources. We’ll be back in to try again with the 107^th Congress!

AND IN OTHER ACTION:

HERITAGE FORESTS CAMPAIGN COMES THROUGH! Audubon's Heritage Forests Campaign - a grassroots movement encouraging citizens to call on the U.S. Forest Service to protect nearly 60 million acres of pristine and wild national forests from logging and road building - made history this year! Not only were over 2 million public comments received by the Forest Service - a record for any public comment on any environmental policy - but also the public's participation made the difference! In November, the Forest Service released its final proposal calling for the protection of the roadless areas within our national forests - one of the largest and most important land conservation efforts of the last 100 years. The issuance of their proposal puts the Clinton Administration one step closer to finally protecting virtually all remaining roadless areas in our national forests. At press time, there was just one step to go: President Clinton needs to announce a strong final policy that will protect all of these wild forests, immediately.

The Forest Service's plan recommends providing permanent protection for over 55 million acres of roadless areas with the National Forest System. Specifically, it would prohibit road construction and reconstruction on 49.2 million acres of inventoried roadless areas, increasing that number to 58.5 million acres in April 2004 when the Tongass National Forest is included. It also prohibits timber harvesting except for stewardship purposes in roadless areas, and allows road construction only when necessary for public safety and resource protection.

Grassroots support was a major factor in the Forest Service decision making process. In their press release announcing the preferred alternative, the Forest Service cited the importance of receiving more than 1.5 million letters, faxes, and e-mails during the course of the 9-week public comment period this past summer.

In order to ensure the strongest level of protection available, supporters are continuing to ask the President to finalize a policy that immediately includes the Tongass rainforest and provides clear definition for stewardship logging activities. You can contact the President at (202) 456-1414.

We want to thank all Audubon members who voiced-and continue to voice-their opinions on this important subject. We'll keep you informed of the President's final decision expected early next year!

HORSESHOE CRABS SANCTUARY ESTABLISHED: This year, the U.S. Government – at the urging of Audubon – established a preserve in federal waters to protect horseshoe crabs in the mid-Atlantic region. Horseshoe crabs are a key link for migratory shorebirds on the journey from South America to their Arctic breeding grounds. More than a million shorebirds visit Delaware Bay each spring. It is one of nature's great spectacles and thousands of people come to enjoy the sight. Establishment of this sanctuary will help ensure that this spectacular wildlife display will continue for years to come. Audubon was also instrumental in convincing the State of Virginia to implement horseshoe crab protection measures. Faced with the complete shut down of their horseshoe crab and conch fisheries by the federal government, the State of Virginia enacted the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission landing limits that they had refused to do until the threat of Coast Guard cutters at Virginia docks loomed imminent.

EARLY ACTION FOR 2001 - HELP SAVE THE ARTIC REFUGE!

Before leaving office in January, President Clinton has an opportunity to take significant actions to protect the environment. You can help encourage him to do so, but we have to act now and we have to act fast! President-elect George W. Bush campaigned in support of drilling for oil in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Key Congressional Committee members including the powerful Alaska Congressional Delegation have long supported drilling as well. This means we need your help now – before it’s too late!

In the final days of his Administration, President Clinton can prevent the degradation of what is widely referred to as "America’s Serengeti" by designating the Arctic Refuge as a national monument. Such status could prohibit drilling and other damaging activities that would inevitably threaten hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, and other native species that call this region home, such as caribou and polar bears. Please help protect this precious and pristine national treasure by contacting President Clinton as soon as possible. PLEASE CONTACT THE WHITE HOUSE AT (202) 456-1414 AND URGE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO PROTECT AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER BY DESIGNATING THE COASTAL PLAIN OF THE ARCTIC REFUGE AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT!