The National Wildlife Refuge Association is requesting Refuge Friends’ testimony on behalf of National Wildlife Refuge System funding levels for the Fiscal Year 2023— this time for the Senate! Many of you already submitted testimony for the House back in March, but even if you didn’t you can still submit testimony to the Senate!

The testimony is due Friday, June 10th by 5 pm ET. It can be as long (up to 4 pages) or as short as you like. Even a few paragraphs will be helpful! Instructions for submission are here.

Testimony can be submitted by Friends Groups OR by individuals as members or supporters of a refuge/Refuge System.

I’m asking each of you to put at least two items in your written testimony:

The importance of your local refuge, and what it offers to the community and to wildlife.
Your support for the overall National Wildlife Refuge System to which your refuge belongs, with an ask of $712 million in FY 2023.

It is very important that we show the committee how much Friends Groups and members care about funding for the System. All of you have refuges that are understaffed and undermaintained and desperately in need of funding. It is critical that we get a huge increase for the Refuge System this year. This is why we are asking for $712 million for the next fiscal year.

Many of you who submitted House testimony might recall the arduous process of documentation required. Rest assured, the Senate is easier! They *only* require the testimony—no bios or resumes or signed attestations are required.

All testimony goes to int@appro.senate.gov.

You can read the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s testimony to the House for FY2023 this year. If you already sent in House testimony, you can literally change the heading and salutation and send it in. They will not care if it is exactly the same as your House testimony.

If you have ANY questions, please contact Caroline Brouwer!

The heading and salutation for the Senate testimony should be:

Written Testimony to the U.S. Senate

Appropriations Committee

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, And Related Agencies

Concerning Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations for

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

June 10, 2022

Submitted By ____________

Chairwoman Merkley, Ranking Member Murkowski, and Members of the Subcommittee: