Kilili’s Wildlife Refuge Stamp bill gets support at hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Supporters of the national Wildlife Refuge System may soon have a way to contribute directly to the upkeep of these protected areas. The House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing yesterday on the Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act of 2011. The bill, H.R. 2236, received the support of the Obama Administration and from committee members on both sides of the aisle. CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan introduced the measure in June and has gathered 48 co-sponsors.

Among the co-sponsors is the longest-serving House member, John Dingell (D-MI), who also testified at yesterday’s hearing. “I appear, Mr. Chairman, in favor of and in support of H.R. 2236, which will provide necessary and important funding for the.refuge system; and I commend my colleague [Mr. Sablan] for his leadership in this matter,” Dingell said.

Sablan in his own introductory remarks as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee explained how his bill works. “The Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act uses a proven system of raising private funding for worthy public causes.

“The Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp, for instance, has raised about $75 million since 1998. And a new Save Vanishing Species semipostal just went on sale on September 20th. The public bought 1.6 million in September alone, raising $176,000 for international wildlife conservation.”

The U.S. Postal Service printed 100 million of the Vanishing Species stamps, which sell for 55 cents each, 11 cents over the cost of first-class postage. That difference goes to conservation efforts.

“My bill will do the same for America’s National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Sablan.

“In my own district, proceeds from the sale of the Wildlife Refuge stamp could pay some of the $380,000 needed for the staff, visitor services, education, and volunteer programs in the Mariana Trench National Wildlife Refuge and the Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge. Both are part of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument that President Bush created by Executive Order in 2009.

“I believe that America’s Wildlife Refuge System has proven to be a great investment for our country. Refuges generate $1.7 billion in sales for local communities annually and create nearly 27,000 jobs.”

Also testifying at yesterday’s hearing was HYPERLINK “http://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/KurthTestimony10.25.11.pdf”James W. Kurth, acting assistant director of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Kurth expressed the support of the Executive Branch for Sablan’s bill and in response to questioning said he expected the measure would raise about $10 million over a two-year period for the Refuge System.