Fwd: Stop the Extinction Rider.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders of Wildlife <defenders@mail.defenders.org>
Date: 2011/7/22
Subject: Stop the Extinction Rider.

		Stop the Extinction Rider The Extinction Rider could spell doom for wolverines and other wildlife struggling to survive. Urge your U.S. representative to support an amendment to strip the Extinction Rider from the House Interior Appropriations Bill.  Share on Facebook Dear , It's the most sweeping attempt in recent history to gut the lifeline for wildlife in danger of disappearing forever. The House Interior Appropriations Bill contains extremist language -- known as the Extinction Rider -- that would allow wolverines, walruses and hundreds of other animals and plants to spiral toward extinction. Take action now: Urge your U.S. representative to support a critical amendment to strip the Extinction Rider from the House Interior Appropriations Bill. The terrible Interior Appropriations Bill is headed to the floor of the House of Representatives. Among many other anti-conservation provisions, the Extinction Rider contained in this bill would prevent new protections under the Endangered Species Act for animals at risk of extinction. Wolverines, walruses and other wildlife struggling to survive would continue their slide toward extinction without these vital ESA protections. Fortunately, Congressmen Norm Dicks (WA) and Mike Thompson (CA) have offered a vital amendment that would remove the Extinction Rider from the Interior Appropriations Bill -- and a vote could come as early as Monday. We need your voice now to urge your U.S. representative to stand up for struggling wildlife and wild places. Take action now. For nearly 40 years, the Endangered Species Act has protected our most vulnerable animals and plants from the tragedy of extinction. Now, extremists in Congress are playing politics with our national treasures. Make no mistake: This is not a spending issue. It is an issue of destroying America's promise to protect our struggling wildlife and wild places for the benefit of corporate polluters, Big Oil and other special interests. We simply can't afford to squander our natural heritage. Please use your voice to protect our wildlife and wild places -- for today and for future generations. Jamie Rappaport Clark Executive Vice President Defenders of Wildlife P.S. Please make your voice heard immediately on this important issue. A vote could come as early as Monday!
		© Copyright 2011 Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036