Office Of The Secretary-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Hugh Vickery |
February 3, 2004 | 202-501-4633 |
MEDIA ADVISORY
Secretary Norton to Highlight President's Commitment to National Wildlife Refuges During Tour of Nisqually NWR in Washington State
(WASHINGTON) Interior Secretary Gale Norton will highlight President
Bush's proposed $25.5 million increase in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget for the
National Wildlife Refuge System when she tours Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
outside of Olympia, Washington on Tuesday, February 4th.
The proposed increase comes on the heels of a proposed $56.5 million increase
in the refuge system's budget for FY 2003 and demonstrates the President's strong
commitment to the refuge system, which was founded in 1903 by President Theodore
Roosevelt and now includes 540 refuges in all 50 states.
"As we celebrate the Centennial of the refuge system, President Bush is
proposing historic increases in funding that will enable refuge managers to
reduce the huge backlog of maintenance needs in the system and better manage
our refuges both for fish and wildlife and for people," Norton said.
If enacted by Congress, the President's proposal would mean that the refuge
systems budget will have doubled since 1997.
Who: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
What: Tour of Nisqually NWR
When: 1:30 p.m. Tour of the Refuge
2:15 p.m. Media Availability
Where: Nisqually NWR Visitor's Center
100 Brown Farm Road
Olympia, Washington 98516
(Exit 114 off of Route 5)
(360) 534 9302
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