PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ACTION FUND ENDORSES SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON IN HER 2006 RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Washington D.C. -- Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today publicly announced its endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in her bid to retain her seat in the Senate.

"After six years of the Bush administration, conservationists need a strong voice that refuses to be bullied by the anti-conservation leadership in the Senate. Sen. Clinton has proven time and time again that she is a formidable force and is willing to stand up for our natural heritage. From endangered species to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off of our coasts, she has been right there on the front lines fighting for our environment," said Rodger Schlickeisen, President, Defenders of Wildlife.

Sen. Clinton has a 100 percent score in the Defenders Action Fund annual conservation report card. The report card measures the commitment of U.S. Senators and Representatives to wildlife and habitat conservation during each Congressional session. It reviews votes on key conservation issues, providing a clear assessment of how well members of Congress are doing to protect wildlife and wild lands for future generations. Constituents can access the report card at www.defendersactionfund.org.

"The report card shows that Sen. Clinton has been a stalwart champion of clean energy legislation and has consistently opposed the Bush administration's short-sighted energy policies. Most notably, she has been a staunch supporter of continued protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," explained Schlickeisen.

Sen. Clinton appeared as a guest speaker at the hugely successful rally for the Arctic refuge on the Capitol lawn last September. She has also voted against bills that would allow offshore drilling along the nation's coastlines, including the mid-Atlantic region's shores.

"The choice to send Sen. Clinton back to Capitol Hill is an obvious one. She has clearly demonstrated that she represents the conservation values of New Yorkers. We are confident that she will continue to be a leader in the protection of our nation's wildlife and natural resources," concluded Schlickeisen.