[BCNnet] FW: House Passes Key Migratory Songbird Bill

[DRD]

Bird Conservationists,

 

Although it could have been better, this is still stands out as some rare
good news out of Washington these days.

 

Donnie Dann

Highland Park, Lake County

donniebird at yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

House Passes Key Migratory Songbird Bill

 

Washington D.C., May 17, 2006 - This morning, the U.S. House of
Representatives unanimously passed the Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Improvement Act of 2006 (HR 518). The Act reauthorizes and
improves the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000, which
expired last year. The Act provides grants to groups throughout the Americas
for the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds that winter south of the
border and summer in North America. The law creates a competitive grants
program administered by the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director
of the Fish and Wildlife Service, for projects that determine the condition
of neotropical migratory bird habitats, undertake population studies,
implement conservation plans, educate the public, and reduce the destruction
of essential habitats.

 

"With spring migration fully underway, this is a terrific welcome home from
the House of Representatives," said George Fenwick, President of American
Bird Conservancy (ABC). "We call on the Senate to act swiftly so the
President can sign the bill before the fall bird migration.

 

The new House bill raises the funding ceiling to $6.5 million over a
four-year period - an increase of $1.5 million over its current
authorization, but $1.5 million less than had originally been expected and
significantly less than the $15 million conservation groups had worked for.
The actual amount available for Neotropical migratory bird conservation will
depend on the annual Congressional budget appropriations process. In
addition to improved funding, the Act reduces the ratio of matching funds
that recipients must raise down from 3:1 to 1:1, making funding more
accessible. Projects in Canada are now eligible for funding for the first
time.

 

Conservation groups, including ABC and other members of the Bird
Conservation Alliance, have fought to gain passage of the Act. Once signed
into law, it will enable the only significant federal funding source for
neotropical migratory birds to continue through 2010.

 

 

~~ Ends ~~

 

 

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only 501(c)(3) organization that
works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the
Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats,
and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement.
ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected;
that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is
protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat.

 

ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top,
four-star rating by the independent group Charity Navigator.

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://screamer.ece.iit.edu/pipermail/bcnnet/attachments/20060519/f67a1b0a/attachment.html