WALLY HERGER: “I strongly support H.R. 1420, The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and take this opportunity to…”

“I strongly support H.R. 1420, The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and take this opportunity to clarify the scope and application of this important legislation. This Act directly affects 509 wildlife refuges, covering 92 million acres of Federal lands, in all 50 States and territories. These refuges provide enjoyment for millions of Americans each year, while at the same time they protect and preserve vital habitat and species for futures generations. Our Federal Government, however, has managed its refuge system for more than 30 years without any clear mission or direction. H.R. 1420 provides a beacon of light for public lands management on our national wildlife refuges by establishing a mission "to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, the restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans."”