Kathy Castor: “My amendment increases the law enforcement budget for America's national wildlife refuges by $2.4 million to match the…”

“My amendment increases the law enforcement budget for America's national wildlife refuges by $2.4 million to match the President's budget request. The plus-up would be fully offset from the account relating to the Office of the Secretary. Mr. Chairman, America's national wildlife refuges encompass millions and millions of acres of public conservation lands and waters that provide endless opportunities for families to fish and enjoy the great outdoors. Our wildlife refuges are extremely popular, with over 48 million visitors annually, but many folks do not know they are suffering from a serious shortfall in law enforcement protection. In May of 2015, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recommended substantial increases to law enforcement resources for our national wildlife refuges. The report detailed the urgent need for officers to counter nefarious activities like drug production and smuggling, wildlife poaching, illegal border activity, assaults, and a variety of natural resource violations. This is consistent with what I hear at home in the Tampa Bay area. I represent the Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge. It is part of a massive 30,000-acre national wildlife refuge complex, the Chassahowitzka on the west coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. That 30,000 acres has two law enforcement officers assigned to it, and this is a busy, busy tourist area.…”