National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4973, the National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010. I would like to thank Congressman Kratovil for introducing this important bill and acknowledging the importance of the preservation of wildlife to our nation.

This bill would reauthorize volunteer programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges. Volunteers are essential to the operation of these refuges and the preservation of our environment. Wildlife Refuge volunteers assist with laboratory research, photographing natural resources, conducting population services, and leading tours for visitors. Volunteers help provide important services to the public at no cost to taxpayers. Their service improves the quality of the visitor experience at our National Wildlife Refuges. This bill would also require the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to publish a national strategy for the use and coordination of volunteers.

The National Wildlife Refuge system is the premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants. The mission of the Refuge System is to manage a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitat. It is the volunteers that help make this mission possible and this bill will make sure that these volunteers have the resources they need. I strongly support our National Wildlife Refuge system and am heartened that so many Americans choose to volunteer their time on National Wildlife Refuges.

I feel strongly about the importance of protecting our natural world. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill in efforts to preserve our environment, one small step at a time.

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