Letter to Congress requests support for Act to ensure continued progress in the conservation of migratory bird habitat in Virginia in an economically-responsible manner

October 27, 2014

Hon. Mark Warner, U.S. Senate
Hon. Timothy Kaine, U.S. Senate
Hon. Edward Rigell, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Robert Scott, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Randy Forbes, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Robert Hurt, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Bob Goodlatte, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. James Moran, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Morgan  Griffith, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Frank Wolf, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Gerald Connolly, U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation:

I write today to express the support of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act (H.R. 2208).

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognizes the economic and environmental benefits of conserving fish and wildlife resources in the Commonwealth of Virginia.   As Virginia’s largest business advocacy organization, with more than 20,500 members, the Chamber works in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to act as a catalyst for enhancing Virginia’s economic competitiveness in a pro-business climate. To that end, the Chamber has engaged over 7,000 business and community leaders from around Virginia to develop Blueprint Virginia: A Business Plan for the Commonwealth, a comprehensive initiative to provide business leadership, direction, and long-range economic development planning for Virginia.

The strategies and goals set forth in Blueprint Virginia support continued progress in environmental stewardship in Virginia.  This includes restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia’s rivers, and streams, as well as wildlife management and land preservation.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act will extend until 2018 the measures set forth in the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, which provides matching grants to organizations and partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This legislation has the dual benefit of protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands and associated migratory bird habitat, while promoting the efficient use of public-private partnerships for its funding.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce believes that North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act will ensure continued progress in the conservation of migratory bird habitat in Virginia in an economically-responsible manner and respectfully requests that you support this Act.

Barry E. DuVal
President and CEO

cc:
Hon. Robert Wittman, U.S. House of Representatives