April 17, 2023 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell, Our coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, professional societies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and tribal nations collectively represent millions of Americans. We are writing to express […]

April 14, 2023 Mr. Mitch Landrieu Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Ms. Shalanda D. Young Director Office of Management and Budget 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20503 Ms. Brenda Mallory Chair Council on Environmental Quality 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20501 Re: […]

American Fisheries Society * Arizona Wildlife Federation * Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Fly Fishers International * Indiana Wildlife Federation * Izaak Walton League of America National Wildlife Federation * Nevada Wildlife Federation * Ohio Conservation Federation Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership * Trout Unlimited   The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate S-221 […]

AFS recently joined almost 100 conservation, outdoor recreation, engineering, and water organizations in calling for full funding of the U.S. Geological Service’s Streamgage Network. This request consists of $32 million dedicated to Federal Priorities Streamgages, $68 million for the Cooperative Matching Funds Program (including $33 million for streamgage support), and $35 million for Next Generation […]

December 21, 2022 The Honorable Gina Raimondo Secretary Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 The Honorable Brenda Mallory Chair Council on Environmental Quality 730 Jackson Place NW Washington, DC 20503 The Honorable Rick Spinrad Administrator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 The Honorable Shalanda […]

December 5, 2022 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House United States House of Representatives The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and […]

  The Honorable Tracy Stone-Manning Director Bureau of Land Management The Honorable Camille Touton Commissioner Bureau of Reclamation The Honorable Stephanie Pollack Acting Administrator Federal Highway Administration The Honorable Michael Regan Administrator Environmental Protection Agency The Honorable Rick Spinrad Administrator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Honorable Mike Connor Assistant Secretary of the Army for […]

November 30, 2022 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House United States House of Representatives The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and […]

October 4, 2022 President Joseph R. Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, We are writing to request that you prioritize the National Wildlife Refuge System in your Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget proposal by including a robust increase for the Operations and Maintenance accounts of the National […]

September 6, 2022 Mr. Michael S. Regan Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20460 via regulations.gov Re: Proposed determination to restrict the use of certain waters in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed as disposal sites for discharge of dredged or fill material in association with mining the Pebble deposit; […]

August 8, 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service MS: PRB/3W 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 via regulations.gov Re: Endangered and Threatened Species: Designation of Experimental Populations, Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0033-0001 Dear Sir or Madam: The American Fisheries Society (AFS) respectfully submits the following comments in response to the proposed changes to section 10(j) of […]

AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY ● THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY 06 April 2022 Senator Tom Carper, Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, […]

March 2, 2022 The Honorable Deb Haaland Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 The Honorable Tom Vilsack Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250 The Honorable Pete Buttigieg Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 The Honorable […]

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists February 7, 2022 Mr. […]

AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY ● THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY 07 December 2021 Senator Tom Carper, Chair Environment and Public Works Committee U.S. Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Shelley Moore Capito Environment and Public Works Committee U.S. Senate 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, […]

October 7, 2021 The Honorable Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House United States House of Representatives Dear Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi, Thank you for your ongoing efforts to pass a Build Back Better Act that includes robust funding for climate-smart agriculture. As you continue to […]

Download PDF version September 21, 2021 The Honorable John Kerry Special Presidential Envoy for Climate U.S. Department of State Dear Special Envoy Kerry: In advance of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UK, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) would like to make you aware of the global consensus of aquatic science societies […]

The Honorable Michael Regan Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Mail Code 1101A Mr. Jaime A. Pinkham Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) 108 Army Pentagon Washington, DC 20310-0108 Submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov RE: Docket ID […]

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists September 3, 2021 Mr. […]

American Fisheries Society · International Association of Great Lakes Researchers · North American Lake Management Society · Phycological Society of America · Society for Freshwater Science · Society of Wetland Scientists August 2, 2021 The Honorable Michael S. Regan Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Via regulations.gov Re: Submission […]

American Fisheries Society ·Association for the Sciences of Limnologists and Oceanographers · Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation · North American Lake Management Society · Phycological Society of America · Society for Freshwater Science · Society of Wetland Scientists July 26, 2021 The Honorable Charles Schumer Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20500 The Honorable Mitch […]

April 27, 2021 Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee John Boozman, Ranking Member U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee David Scott, Chairman U.S. House Agriculture Committee Glenn Thompson, Ranking Member U.S. House Agriculture Committee Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Boozman, and Ranking Member Thompson: Thank you for your ongoing bipartisan efforts to ensure that […]

June 30, 2021 The Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro Chair, Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable Kay Granger Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives Dear Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger, Our organizations support the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Program and we ask that you allocate […]

June 28, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden, As your Administration seeks to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) urges you to consider the benefits of a robust marine aquaculture industry in the U.S. in achieving […]

June 28, 2021 The Honorable Maria Cantwell Chair Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Rodger Wicker Ranking Member Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Peter DeFazio Chair Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 […]

Note: A similar letter was also sent to the Senate. April 13th, 2021 The Honorable Chellie Pingree Chair House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 2007 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable David Joyce Ranking Member House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 1016 Longworth House […]

March 24, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Vice President Kamala D. Harris The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris: We the undersigned are writing in response to your January 27th Executive Order on Tackling the […]

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists March 18, 2021 The […]

January 26, 2021 The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr. President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden: We write today to urge your continued leadership and commitment to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We applaud your plan […]

September 4, 2020 Gary Frazer U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of the Interior Washington, DC 20240 Samuel D. Rauch III National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Via regulations.gov Re: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical […]

The Honorable John Barrasso Chairman Committee on Environment & Public Works United States Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Thomas Carper Ranking Member Committee on Environment & Public Works United States Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Peter DeFazio Chairman Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure […]

July 22, 2020 Chairman Roger Wicker U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 512 Dirksen Senate Building Washington DC, 20510 Ranking Member Maria Cantwell U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 420 A Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell: Thank you for your leadership in […]

June 11, 2020 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-232 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-204 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader U.S. […]

The Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) opposed EPA’s proposed supplemental rule, “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science,” on the grounds that it would undermine the agency’s ability to use the best available science in its policy-making process and thus impede EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. The proposed rule would diminish the […]

Seventeen states filed suit challenging the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting that the NWPR is contrary to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and arbitrary and capricious, in part, because of the EPA’s and the Army Corps’ disregard of scientific evidence. The plaintiff’s asked […]

April 13, 2020 Bill Northey Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250 Richard Fordyce Administrator Farm Service Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250 Dear Undersecretary Northey and Administrator Fordyce, We the undersigned, representing a broad swath of […]

AFS and other organizations garnered support from members of Congress for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program with letters of support to relevant House and Senate subcommittees.  The program, slated for deep cuts in the President’s FY2021 budget is critical for addressing species before they become endangered. The chronic underfunding and the proposed budget […]

American Fisheries Society ● Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Ecological Society of America ● Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society International Association for Great Lakes Research ● North American Lake Management Society Phycological Society of America ● Society for Freshwater Science Society of Wetland Scientists ● The Wildlife Society 10 March 2020 U.S. Council on Environmental Quality […]

EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) sharply criticized the agency’s recent decision to narrow the definition of the Waters of the US (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act in a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on February 27. “In summary, current scientific understanding of the connectivity of surface and ground water, which has been reviewed […]

February 24, 2020 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-204 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy, As organizations collectively representing millions of Americans who enjoy the outdoors through hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, paddling, and gardening, as well as the state fish and wildlife agencies and other […]

The U.S. Council on Environmental Quality recently released plans to substantially revise the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), one of the most important U.S. environmental laws. AFS and other science societies requested an extension of the comment period for these revisions. Comments can be submitted by March 10, 2020 at https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=CEQ-2019-0003-0001. American Fisheries Society · […]

January 23, 2020 The Honorable John Barrasso Chairman Committee on Environment and Public Works U.S. Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Thomas R. Carper Ranking Member Committee on Environment and Public Works U.S. Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper: Thank […]

American Fisheries Society ● Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation ● Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society International Association for Great Lakes Research ● North American Lake Management Society Phycological Society of America ●  Society for Freshwater Science ● Society of Wetland Scientists   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2020 […]

PDF version October 21, 2019 Administrator Andrew Wheeler Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 Submitted via regulations.gov RE: Comments on Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0405 Dear Administrator Wheeler, On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, the undersigned hunting, fishing, and conservation groups write in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s […]

PDF version of letter October 21, 2019 Mr. Andrew R. Wheeler Acting Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Via regulations.gov Re: Submission of Comments to EPA regarding the proposed rule “Updating Regulations on Water Quality Certification” (84 FR 44080; Docket Number EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0405-0025) Dear Administrator Wheeler: On behalf of the […]

October 17, 2019 The Honorable Jared Huffman Chairman Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee 1522 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Tom McClintock Ranking Member Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee 1522 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Huffman, Ranking Member McClintock and the Members of the Water, Oceans and Wildlife […]

The American Fisheries Society, the Western Division of AFS, and the AFS Alaska Chapter submitted a joint comment letter this week to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Pebble Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The comments note that impacts and risks to fish and their habitats are underestimated and are not supported […]

The American Fisheries Society, National Wildlife Federation, and the Wildlife Society submitted a letter for Chairman Huffman and Ranking Member McClintock on the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife as well as a comprehensive report about the necessities of biodiversity protection and the upcoming Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to be re-introduced.

News for Immediate Release April 15, 2019 Contact: Kristyn Brady, 617-501-6352, [email protected] Hunting and Fishing Groups File Final Comments Opposing Clean Water Rollback 14 national groups and 70 local affiliate chapters oppose the proposed weakening of clean water standards that would threaten fish and wildlife habitat (Washington, D.C.) — Today, dozens of national, regional, and […]

April 10, 2019 Mr. R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20314 Via regulations.gov: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149 Re: Scientific Societies Comments on Proposed Rule – Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” (84 FR 4154; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149) […]

Highway Bill Presents Golden Opportunity to Support Conservation and Outdoor Recreation 43 groups offer input as lawmakers craft infrastructure legislation (Washington D.C.) — “A paradigm shift.” That’s what 43 hunting, fishing, and conservation groups are calling for as lawmakers begin drafting infrastructure legislation. With the current Highway Bill expiring in 2020, these organizations are asking […]

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists February 22, 2019 Mr. […]

December 21, 2018 Andrew Wheeler, Acting Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Department of the Army 108 Army Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20310-0108 Email delivery to: [email protected] RE: Request for Extension to Comment on Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0149 Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler […]

News for Immediate Release December 11, 2018 Contact: Kristyn Brady, 617-501-6352, [email protected] Replacing Clean Water Rule Would Threaten Fish, Waterfowl, and Outdoor Recreation Economy The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers proceeds with rolling back Clean Water Act protections for headwater streams and wetlands—harming trout, waterfowl, and outdoor recreation businesses.  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the […]

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists Aquatic Scientists Push Back […]

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act entitled, “Examining Funding Needs for Wildlife Conservation, Recovery, and Management” on Thursday, November 15 at 10 a.m. Is your senator on the commiteee? If so, you and/or your Chapter should call to your Senator’s office to express your […]

AFS joined with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Wildlife Management Institute, and The Wildlife Society in a letter to congressional appropriators to express support for the Cooperative Research Unit (CRU) program at the U.S. Geological Survey as they finalize the FY2019 Interior Appropriations bills.  The organizations requested funding for the CRUs at […]

AFS joined with a number of organizations and professional societies in calling for support of the Forest Service’s Research and Development (R&D) program to improve the future health and sustainability of the nation’s forests and grasslands for the benefits to forests, wildlife, and fish.  In a letter to Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member […]

45 Members of the Senate have signed a letter supporting “robust funding” for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program in the fiscal year 2019 federal budget.  The ‘Dear Colleagues’ letter was delivered to Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Tom Udall (D-N.M.) of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. […]

UPDATE: The Pebble Limited Partnership has filed its permit application with the Corps of Engineers which has determined that it will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comply with its NEPA review of the project. The lengthy process requires that a comprehensive “alternatives assessment” be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives […]