THOMPSON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ALLOW USFWS TO RECOVER COSTS OF REPAIRS AND RESTORATION TO DAMAGED REFUGE RESOURCES
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today introduced the bipartisan Resource Protection Act (H.R. 4558), legislation to provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) the authority to collect civil damages from responsible parties for intentional injuries to all living and non-living resources within refuge lands and waters.
“The USFWS shouldn’t have to use taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of repairing refuge resources that were intentionally damaged,” said Thompson. “My legislation could have saved the USFWS the money it spent to repair damages to the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.Other federal agencies, like the National Park Service, already have the authority to seek damages from responsible parties – and the USFWS should, too.”
Currently, the USFWS does not have the explicit statutory authority to seek compensation from responsible parties for National Wildlife Refuge System resources that are injured or destroyed. When USFWS resources are damaged, the costs for repair and restoration fall upon the appropriated budget for the affected Refuge, often at the expense of recreational access and other Refuge programs.
Both the National Park Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have the civil authority to address damage to national parks and national monuments, respectively. This legislation would put wildlife refuges, which host more than 48.5 million visitors and support more than $2.4 billion in local economies, on par with other public lands that are afforded this protection.
The Resource Protection Act has bipartisan support in Congress and is supported by the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
The Resource Protection Act has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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