Wildlife Conservation Society

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Ensure dangerous, anti-environmental policy riders are removed from final appropriations legislation.

Speak up for the wild world!

Show Congress how critically important these votes are by sending the letter below.

Mom and Newborn North Atlantic Right Whale
ACT NOW
Your Message
Wildlife will be greatly impacted by your upcoming votes.
Dear Member of Congress:

As a constituent and supporter of the Wildlife Conservation Society, I am writing to urge you to contact leadership to insist that negotiators drop all anti-environmental “poison pill” policy riders that are currently being considered for inclusion in final appropriations bills for FY24.

Several riders were adopted during the appropriations process that would block climate funding, seriously harm bedrock environmental laws, and block protections for a number of species threatened with extinction. Language was included that would prohibit funding for key climate accounts in the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, including the Green Climate Fund, and would block the State Department from integrating climate change into existing foreign aid programs. 27 different provisions were included in the House Interior Appropriations bill that would block enforcement of the ESA broadly and would prohibit protections for endangered species like the northern long-eared bat, which is facing extinction due to white nose syndrome and habitat loss.

Provisions are also included in multiple bills that would block NOAA from finalizing a proposed rule to slow down large vessels in specific areas and at times when the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) migrates through those waters. Ship strikes are the leading cause of mortality for NARW. In February, a rare female calf was killed after suffering a vessel strike off the coast of Georgia, the second known death of a female calf this year and a catastrophic loss for a species for which only about 70 breeding females remain. For the NARW to have a chance to survive, these amendments blocking NOAA from taking reasonable steps to slow vessels down at times when whales are present must be stricken from the final bill.

Appropriations legislation is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. I urge you to contact leadership right away to ensure that the dangerous, anti-environmental “poison pill” policy provisions are removed from any final appropriations legislation that passes Congress.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

Wildlife and wild places are facing pressing global threats
— and your donation will go directly to help combat these issues.

Wildlife Crime

Poaching, trafficking, and illegal trade endanger hundreds of vulnerable species.

Climate Crisis

Changes in climate jeopardize biodiversity and the health of entire ecosystems.

Habitat Destruction

Logging, mining, burning: human encroachment destroys homes and havens for wildlife.

We stand for wildlife

For 125 years, WCS has been dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places, powered by the expertise and science in our zoos, aquarium, and global conservation program.

Our legacy of success now positions us perfectly to take on the world’s most pressing conservation challenges—the zoonotic pandemic crisis, the decline in the world’s biodiversity, and the climate crisis—with urgent and bold action.

We focus on protecting the planet’s most important, ecologically intact places with the greatest biodiversity and resilience to climate change. With your help, we can secure a future worth celebrating.

WCS works to save wildlife and wild places in 60 countries, across the ocean, and in our 4 NY zoos and aquarium

FAQs

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