Monday, April 27, 2009

FEINGOLD ANNOUNCES WISCONSIN WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $7.8 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDING FOR WILDLIFE RESTORATION

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Will Invest in 11 Wisconsin Projects
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold announced today that Wisconsin will receive approximately $7.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the economic stimulus, to invest in wildlife refuges and hatcheries, improve facilities, and promote conservation across the state to create jobs. The largest investment for Wisconsin will be $6.1 million to build an energy efficient headquarters and visitor center at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Other projects include $500,000 to the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to install energy efficient photovoltaic panels on the visitor center, $405,000 to the Genoa National Fish Hatchery to complete stalled maintenance projects, and $839,000 for habitat restoration projects along the Kickapoo River, Bad River, Troutmere Creek, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

“The commitment to public lands and our environment runs deep in our state and this investment will help protect our fish and wildlife,” Feingold said. “I am pleased that this stimulus funding will not only help to create jobs in Wisconsin, but will also make energy efficiency improvements to buildings, finish long overdue maintenance projects, provide critical habitat restoration, and ensure that many outdoor enthusiasts will continue to enjoy our state’s beautiful wildlife and landscape.”

Feingold has been a strong supporter of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Feingold has been helped lead efforts in the Senate to increase funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System to meet the tremendous budget shortfalls the refuges face. In August 2007, Feingold was presented with an award for his leadership in supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE), a coalition of more than 20 conservation, sporting and scientific organizations that range from the Defenders of Wildlife to the National Rifle Association.

For a full list of the Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Act projects and plans, go to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery web site at http://recovery.doi.gov/fws/. Additional information about other Department of the Interior Recovery Act issues can be found at the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/.

No comments: