The House and Senate are in session the first three weeks of March. Both chambers will be in recess from March 24 through April 8.
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DC Government Affairs Office (GAO)
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NAWCA Appropriations
:
Although FY18 is not over, members of Congress have started making plans for FY19. The annual Dear Colleague appropriations letters in support of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) were launched in the House and Senate. The FY19 House Dear Colleague campaign is led by Representatives Don Young (R-AK), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA). In the Senate, the FY19 Dear Colleague campaign is led by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This
press release
was sent for the launch of the Dear Colleague letters.
A call to action was sent to all DU members and staff on March 4. If you would like to contact your member of Congress about FY2019 appropriations for NAWCA, you can do so
here
.
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Refuges
:
Earlier this month, the House Wildlife Refuge Caucus hosted a Refuge 101 briefing for congressional staff. DU’s National Director of Government Affairs Dan Wrinn was a panelist. With standing room only, this event was a great opportunity to educate congressional staff about the importance our national wildlife refuges and how programs like NAWCA and the Federal Duck Stamp contribute to the success of this vital resource. DU wrote this
press release
about the event.
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Great Lakes/ Atlantic Regional Office (GLARO)
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Iowa
:
On Feb. 12, about 400 citizens from sporting, conservation, environmental and farming backgrounds gathered at the Iowa Capitol for IWILL Day, advocating to fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust. Radio personality Outdoors Dan hosted panels of attendees and experts on the importance of providing dedicated funding for stewarding Iowa’s natural resources. One panel featured Iowa’s State Council Chair for DU Tammi Kircher. DU volunteers and other attendees met with their legislators to encourage them to be a leader and fund Iowa’s Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust fund.
Iowa Business Leaders and Legislators Reception
:
This event was designed to bring Iowa’s business leaders and legislators together to discuss funding the trust. There were 21 legislators in attendance who interacted with approximately 40 business leaders and partners. DU and our partners, including Bass Pro Shops and Hodgdon Powder Company, had conversations with legislators and relayed the importance of funding the trust and what it would mean to their business
Iowa Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Breakfast
:
Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation assisted the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in hosting a legislative breakfast on Feb. 13 at the Capitol in Des Moines. DU interacted with Gov. Kim Reynolds and discussed the IWILL Capitol Day and the Business Leaders and Legislators Reception. The Governor is open to funding the trust and is looking for action out of the Legislature.
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Tammi Kircher (second from left) being interviewed by Outdoor Dan.
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DU Director of Public Policy Gildo Tori with Gov. Kim Reynolds at the Iowa Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Breakfast.
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Pictured left to right: DU Director of Public Policy Gildo Tori, Bass Pro Managers Jason Truman and Shaun Bequeaith and Rep Zach Nunn at the Iowa Business Leaders and Legislators Reception.
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Wisconsin:
Ducks Unlimited members have worked tirelessly over the last several weeks encouraging their lawmakers to beat back problematic wetlands legislation that would have eliminated protections for hundreds of thousands of acres of the state’s wetlands. Lawmakers dramatically amended the bill to reduce the scope of potential impacts and required mitigation for any wetland disturbances. The bill also creates a new mitigation grant program for NGO’s like DU to access additional wetland restoration funds and creates a statewide wetland study group to work on identifying ways to accelerate wetland conservation. The bill passed both chambers and is on its way to the governor’s desk. He is expected to sign it.
Ohio:
Ducks Unlimited volunteers and staff attended the Ohio State Convention in Columbus on Feb. 17. Policy staff delivered a brief public policy presentation to a crowd of more than 300 DU supporters. The Ohio Secretary of State and Lt. Governor candidate Jon Husted spent the better part of the evening with DU staff and volunteers.
Minnesota:
At the recent DU Minnesota State Convention, the pilot Member to Member policy team concept was rolled out. State Policy Chair Peter Eigen introduced the concept and kicked things off with the “Can You Make A Duck Call?” sign-up process. DU policy staff, volunteers and members will begin working on building the team, establishing a structure and providing training this spring. State Policy Chair Peter Eigen received the Landowski Leadership Award at the Convention for his contributions to state policy.
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Pictured from the left: DU Manager of Conservation Programs Jon Schneider, MN State Policy Chair Peter Eigen receiving the Landowski Leadership Award, with MN State Chairwoman Ruth Hoefs and Senior Regional Vice President Dave Flink.
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Great Plains Regional Office (GPRO)
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North Dakota
:
In mid-February, three North Dakota ranching couples, Cody and Deanna Sand, Ken and Bonnie Miller and Nick and Farrah Faulkner, traveled to D.C. to meet with the North Dakota delegation on the upcoming Farm Bill. The group met with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) and the office of Congressman Kevin Cramer’s (R-ND-at large) to discuss the importance of Farm Bill conservation programs, including EQIP and CSP, to their ranching operations. The group also met with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Greg Sheehan to express support for the Service’s conservation easement program in the Dakotas.
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North Dakota farmers and DU staff with Senator Heidi Heitkamp (center in the orange jacket).
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South Dakota:
South Dakota farmers Lyle Perman and Joe and Lisa Fritzsche traveled to Washington, D.C., Jan. 29-31 to meet with the South Dakota congressional delegation to discuss ways Farm Bill conservation programs have benefited their operations. The group met with Congresswoman Kristi Noem (SD-R-at large), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Sen. John Thune’s (R-SD) staff. The group also met with officials at the USDA to discuss Farm Bill conservation programs and the importance of conservation compliance.
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Pictured left: Lyle Perman, Rep. Kristi Noem, Lisa and Joe Fritzsche, DU Director of Public Policy Carmen Miller and DU Manager of Conservation Programs for SD Steve Donovan.
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Colorado:
DU staff is working on a bill in the legislature that would raise the state waterfowl stamp from $5 to $10, while including a provision for automatic future increases consistent with the consumer price index. DU staff is also working through the legislature to give Colorado Parks and Wildlife legislative approval to assist Canada with financial resources. DU staff is working to eliminate red tape on habitat construction projects while working to amend the Colorado Procurement code to allow our conservation team to work on state wildlife areas.
DU joined a coalition that supported legislation to permanently reauthorize Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), one of the main conservation funding mechanisms in the state. GOCO is funded through lottery proceeds slated to expire in 2024. The coalition identified a policy window this year for permanent reauthorization, and the effort has passed second reading in Senate and will move to the House in coming months.
DU opposes three anti-easement bills, most notably HB1123, which would eliminate the state income tax credit for the donation of conservation easements. The bills are slated for hearings in the next few weeks and DU will be present in opposition.
Kansas:
Ducks Unlimited policy staff hosted partner producers from Kansas in Washington, D.C. at the end of December. The delegation met with Kansas congressional members to talk about conservation priorities in the upcoming Farm Bill. Andy Hineman from Scott City, Alicia Allen from Sharron Springs and Mark E. Smith from Wallace are producers from western Kansas who take part in voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs funded through the Farm Bill. The group met with Congressman Roger Marshall (R-KS-01), Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-04), Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS-02) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) during their visit.
In January, DU policy staff made multiple trips to the state capitol in Topeka to testify on numerous bills that would impact our mission and conservation efforts in the state. Most notably was HB 2452, which, if enacted, would eliminate the requirement for perpetual easements for wetland mitigation in Kansas under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. DU staff worked to stall the effort in the House and continues to monitor the progress of the bill.
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Kansas producers and DU staff with Congressman Roger Marshall (third from the left) at their meeting in December.
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Southern Regional Office (SRO)
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Texas:
As part of a full day with state leadership, more than 100 DU staff, state chairs and volunteers from around the state gathered to hear about the importance of DU’s advocacy efforts at the federal and state level. DU’s Regional Vice President and Public Policy Committee member Rusty Legg discussed the recent DU Volunteer Fly-in to Washington, D.C., and he visited with Congressmen from Texas and Oklahoma with other regional DU volunteers to discuss the Farm Bill, NAWCA and Hurricane Harvey impacts in Texas and the southwestern states. Texas State Public Policy Committee Chair James Nau talked about how state and national programs contributed to DU’s conservation efforts and how critical it is for local volunteers and chairs to invite state and federal elected officials to DU events.
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Alabama
:
DU Policy staff attended
Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Capitol Day in Montgomery on Jan. 31 with Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation staff, where they met with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Chuck Sykes.
Sen. Tim Melson introduced SB 9, which establishes a lifetime state duck stamp. The bill will not impact funding for waterfowl conservation or contributions to the state grant program. The bill passed Senate Ag and Forestry committee on Feb. 28 and is waiting for Senate action.
Tennessee
:
DU policy staff joined Gov. Bill Haslem’s H2O Water Resources Initiative on Feb. 12, in Nashville. The initiative is intended to support identification and science-based management of the state’s natural resources.
Florida:
Ducks Unlimited license plate legislation continues its movement through the House and Senate. House Bill 787 and Senate Bill 160 passed both houses and await final action on the House floor during the last week of the session.
Georgia:
Rep. Matt Dubnik (DU incoming state chairman) introduced HB 784, which establishes a Ducks Unlimited license plate. Upon effective date and receipt of 1,000 signatures, buyers may purchase the plate for an additional $25. All revenue will be directed to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for waterfowl conservation projects. The bill passed the House and is moving through the Senate.
South Carolina:
After months of negotiation and consensus building with partners and the General Assembly, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Brian White introduced HB 4727 to reauthorize the Conservation Bank, set to expire June 30. The legislation supports DU’s conservation easement efforts and public land wetland restoration projects. The Senate version (S7) was introduced by Sen. Chip Campsen and reauthorizes the Bank.
Craig Leschack testified on behalf of DU in support of the HB 4727 on Jan. 31, at the Ways and Means Subcommittee. The bill passed the subcommittee and full committee Feb. 13, with an amendment to broaden the Conservation Bank board membership.
The bill passed the Senate Finance subcommittee on March 8.
Farm Bill:
On Feb. 19, DU Texas volunteers met with House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX-11) on the Farm Bill at his district office in Midland. Chairman Conaway said he expects to have a Farm Bill completed by September. Midland Area Chairman Clint Moeglein, Midland volunteer Austin Frey and Lubbock Area Chairman Mike Stevens joined DU’s Director of Public Policy Kellis Moss and DU’s Texas Conservation Outreach Biologist Kirby Brown to discuss DU policy objectives on the next Farm Bill. Moeglein invited Chairman Conaway to their upcoming DU event in September in Midland.
The Wetland Reserve Policy Coalition, of which DU is a member, hosted a reception with NRCS in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 to celebrate 25 years of wetland conservation through the Farm Bill. The reception honored conservation champions in Congress: Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), and longtime USDA-NRCS staff member Leslie Deavers. Briefings were held in the House and Senate on the Wetland Reserve Easement program, where Ed Penny represented DU.
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NRCS leadership gathered in the DC office after the wetlands reception. Pictured left to right: Kurt Readus, James Tillman, Astor Boozer, Kevin Wickey and Leonard Jordan
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Western Regional Office (WRO)
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Utah:
DU Public Policy hosted a Utah Sportmen’s Caucus breakfast at the State Capitol. Utah’s new DU Director of Development Jessop Boden, joined the event. Attendees included Caucus Chair Rep. Tim Hawks and Chair Sen. Allen Christensen and 15 other legislators. Additional attendees included Executive Director of Utah Department of Natural Resources Michael Styler, Division of Wildlife Resources Director Mike Fowlks and longtime DU member Casey Snider. Ducks Unlimited educated guests on our conservation efforts across North America, highlighting Utah projects. DU Policy staff also met with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff during this trip. Discussions centered around Utah DWR support for habitat in Canada and generating a positive path for habitat around the Great Salt Lake.
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DU Director of Public Policy Gary Link (left) with Utah DU volunteer Casey Snider surveying waterfowl on the Great Salt Lake.
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Photo from DU's meeting with Utah DWR and DNR
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California:
DU's Public Policy and volunteer efforts are paying dividends for our investment in the November 2018 Water Bond. DU wrote waterfowl and wetland habitat provisions in the $8.77 billion bond. Ducks Unlimited, members from the agriculture community, CA Rice Commission and water users are working together to get this bond approved by voters. The signature phase of the bond is done and signatures submitted to the state for verification. The next step is attaining endorsements from conservation groups, environmental groups, like minded associations and political leaders.
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