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PRESS RELEASE
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF 2006 ENDORSEMENTS
148 House Members and Seven Senators Receive
Recognition for Their Pro-Conservation Votes
Washington, DC -- The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today announced its second round of endorsements for the House and Senate in the 2006 elections. The endorsements recognize those members who have strong pro-conservation voting records in the 109th Congress on a host of key issues, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Rep. Pombo's bill gutting the Endangered Species Act.
"We are extremely proud to offer our endorsement of these candidates today. Now more than ever, it is essential to have Senators and Representatives who understand the value and importance of conserving America's natural heritage," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. "Each of our endorsed candidates has a proven record of protecting America's wildlife and wilderness areas for future generations."
The endorsed candidates include 142 Democrats and six Republicans in the House and seven Democrats in the Senate. In addition to this list, found at the end of this release, the Defenders Action Fund earlier in the year endorsed its leading champions from 2005, including Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) in the Senate and 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) in the House.
"There were some titanic conservation battles in Congress over the last two years. We saw Big Oil and its allies in Congress try repeatedly to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And we fought Rep. Richard Pombo's aggressive attempt to severely weaken the Endangered Species Act on behalf of developers, oil, gas, mining, and timber companies. But each time, our endorsed candidates stood strong and voted to protect our natural heritage. Each time they voted with the people of their districts and against the corporate interests that are poisoning our political process," said Schlickeisen. "In the case of our endorsed Republicans, this often meant bucking their own leadership to do so. But it is that willingness to put principle above party that has earned them our endorsement today," added Schlickeisen.
"The Bush administration has proven to be disastrous for the environment. That's why it is imperative that we have a Congress that understands the value of conserving our natural heritage for future generations. And that's why we are honored to endorse these fine candidates today," concluded Schlickeisen.
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Gary Ackerman (D-NY) |
Rush Holt (D-NJ) |
David Obey (D-WI) |
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The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.
Contacts: Cindy Hoffman 202.772.3255
William Lutz 202.772.0269