*Congress Appropriates $1.9 Million for WNS* Victory! Finally. On Tuesday night, members of the Interior Appropriations Conference Committee approved $1.9 million for "increased research and monitoring" for White Nose Syndrome. The Interior Appropriations Bill was then combined with the Continuing Resolution to keep government running and sent to the President for his signature. This money is for the Federal Fiscal Year 2010, which began October 1, and is in addition to the recently awarded $800,000.
This action is highly unusual and remarkable. You may recall that the House version of the bill passed months ago with no new funding for WNS. The Senate passed it's bill with only $500,000, and only for "increased monitoring." In most conference committees, the two sides split the difference, or trade away their position for something unrelated. In this case, the number on the table was nearly quadrupled. They listened. They listened to lots of people across the country who beat the drum. That kind of sustained effort is what it takes to make a difference, and it worked. Representatives and Senators from all parties supported this effort, and that's due to you. Your calls, emails, and personal contacts kept the issue alive and urgent. Thanks to all of you who took the time and made the effort to get involved. It does make a difference. Many of you sent me information about your contacts, all of which is helpful. During any lobbying effort, that feedback loop is critical in determining how well you are doing, and to advise course corrections. Thank you for doing that. In my opinion, five people in particular deserve special thanks: Representative Madeleine Bordallo and Representative Raul Grijalva, who called the Joint House hearing on WNS, bringing attention to the issue; Senator Frank Lautenberg, who pushed for the Senate hearing and championed the additional funding; Representative Norman Dix, who, as Chair of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and member of the Conference Committee listened to the need and kept keenly aware of the situation all along the way, and Senator Patrick Leahy, who used his experience and position on the Conference Committee to close the deal. You may have other people you would like to acknowledge, and I encourage you to do so in this forum. Further, if you contacted your Senator or Congressman before on WNS, now is the time to contact them again and say, "thank you." You would be surprised how little thanks legislators get when they do something good. It means a lot, and is another step on the road to maintaining a good relationship. Maybe they'll contact you next time about WNS. Anyway, thank them in any way you can - a call, email, letter to the editor of your local paper, etc. Here's a link to one news story: http://www.politickernj.com/paganm/34611/lautenberg-secures-19-million-funding-protect-bats-deadly-white-nose-syndrome Peter Youngbaer NSS 16161 WNS Liaison
