WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 19, 2017 - Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall testified today in front of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in the Senate on behalf of S. 1514, The Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation (HELP) for Wildlife Act.

The HELP Act includes reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), one of Ducks Unlimited's top priorities, along with several other important provisions designed to improve the management of fish and wildlife habitat as well as outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing. Hall was one of five panelists to testify before the EPW committee led by Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE).

"NAWCA has conserved valuable wetlands across the continent, but we are still in need of additional work, said DU CEO Dale Hall. "Wetlands are still under threat across the continent. NAWCA is a non-regulatory approach, working with the landowners to get the job done, which we believe is the most effective way to conserve these wetlands. The HELP for Wildlife Act is a good bill, it is a bipartisan bill and it is a bill that is very much needed."

The HELP for Wildlife Act will:

• reauthorize NAWCA until 2023.
• reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act until 2023.
• reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act until 2023.
• reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program until 2023.
• clarify what constitutes baiting migratory birds to protect agriculture producers and hunters alike.

Since its inception in 1989, grants from NAWCA have totaled more than $1.4 billion and leveraged $2.9 billion in non-federal contributions from partners, impacting more than 33.4 million acres. These contributions have far exceeded match requirements, allowing for the implementation of wetland habitat conservation projects across North America.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Tucker Nelson
(202) 347-1530
tnelson@ducks.org