The federal government has failed to allocate money toward land acquisition in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge for the last two years. “For Sale” signs dot the refuge and key beachfront parcels are continually being lost to development. The Fish and Wildlife Service is unable to move forward on parcels that they have signed “purchase agreements”on with willing sellers! This is the nation’s only Wildlife Refuge for sea turtles. Its completion through continued acquisition of beachfront property is essential to the long-term survival of Florida’s nesting marine turtles.

Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack from Florida have spoken up for the refuge. In a debate last year on the Senate floor senator Graham stated “we feel that the Archie Carr Refuge is a key priority for Florida.” Senator Gorton, who heads the Appropriations Committee, responded with, “the committee shares your view that the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle is critical”. Despite these efforts the House and Senate leadership failed to appropriate any money last year. Key Senators and Representatives must be convinced to work harder!!

With Your Help, We Have Succeeded in Getting the Refuge Back on Everyone’s Radar Screens! It Is Essential to Now Make Sure Legislators Agree on Funding for the Refuge.

Last year the President’s budget did not include any allocation for the Archie Carr Refuge. This year the President’s budget includes $6 million for land acquisition in the refuge. The President’s Budget will be submitted to Congress in March. A coalition of sea turtle protection groups has rallied to try to convince the US Congress to support this funding request (The coalition includes Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the Center For Marine Conservation, Sea Turtle Preservation Society, and Friends of the Carr Refuge).

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Senator Bob Graham, Senator Connie Mack, Representative Dave Weldon, and Representative C.W. Young are all Florida congressmen that are key players in the refuge funding issue. They must be convinced to put their heads together to ensure funding for the Archie Carr Refuge and to aggressively support the Administration’s request. Additionally, Senator Slade Gorton heads up the Senate Appropriations SubCommittee, Ralph Regula chairs the House Interior SubCommittee , while George Frampton of the Council on Environmental Quality will represent the administration during budget negotiations. They must all be contacted and asked to support funding. Let them know that you are depending on them to find the money for the refuge. Faxes, letters, and personal phone calls are preferred. An initial phone call to a key environmental staff person followed by a personal letter will get their attention.

Here is the contact information for key legislators.
Senators Graham and Mack, and Representative Weldon, have been supportive of the Carr Refuge. It is appropriate to thank them for their past support. Stress that now is not the time to abandon the refuge. The problem is they were not vocal enough supporters in the past!! You must act as soon as possible in order to be effective. (If you are from Florida it would be very helpful if you also personally contacted your Senator or Representative. We have therefore also included the addresses for the entire Florida delegation.)

Key Players To Be Contacted:

Other members of the Florida Congressinal Delegation – If any of them represent your district, then it would be particulalrly useful if they heard from you: