PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR THE 2006 CAMPAIGN SEASON

Washington D.C. -- The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today publicly announced its endorsements of eleven candidates running for re-election in the House and Senate in 2006. 

For the Senate, the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund formally endorses Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) for re-election. In the House of Representatives the Action Fund endorses Rep. John Dingell (D- 3rd MI), Raul Grijalva (D-7th AZ), Ed Markey (D-7th MA), George Miller (D-7th CA), Nick Rahall (D-3rd WV), Jim Saxton (R-3rd NJ), and Tom Udall (D-3rd NM). Each of these candidates is recognized for their outstanding commitment to conservation and for the work to ensure protection for America's wildlife and wild places.

"Six years of the Bush administration's attacks on environmental and wildlife protections has increased the need for strong voices for conservation in both the House and Senate," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. "The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund recognizes those candidates who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting America's natural heritage, our national forests, and endangered species, while working to defeat the Bush Administration's short-sighted energy policies."

"This is the first time the Action Fund has endorsed candidates for Senate. In the coming year the Senate will be playing an increasingly important role in important issues like the future of the Endangered Species Act and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now is the time to recognize those senators who value conservation," said Schlickeisen.

"It is important to stand up and support our elected leaders who bring a voice of conservation to government. Each of these candidates have, over the past year, regularly cast votes in favor of protecting wildlife and preserving our wild lands; they have earned our support," said Schlickeisen.

More information on each candidate can be found at the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund web site, www.defendersactionfund.org.