PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ACTION FUND ENDORSES REPRESENTATIVE TOM UDALL IN HIS 2006 RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Washington D.C. --The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today publicly announced its endorsement of Rep. Tom Udall (D-3rd NM) in his bid to retain his seat in the House.

"After six years of the Bush administration, conservationists need a strong voice that refuses to be bullied by the Republican majority in the House. Rep. Udall has proven time and time again that he is a formidable force and is willing to stand up for our natural heritage. From endangered species to protecting our national forests, he has been right there on the front lines fighting for our environment. That is why we have named him one of only eight '2006 Wildlife Heroes' in the House," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

Rep. Udall has an 89 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. The report card is available at www.defendersactionfund.org.

"Rep. Udall's score on the report card shows his commitment to conservation. From voting to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to opposing attempts to gut the Endangered Species Act, Rep. Udall has stood up to industry lobbyists and worked to protect our nation's wildlife treasures for future generations," concluded Schlickeisen. "Tom Udall is a true champion for conservation.

To see a picture of Rep. Udall receiving his Wildlife Hero Award please visit: http://defendersactionfund.org/newsroom/heroes.html.