Wayne Gilchrest: “Mr. Speaker, founded in 1924, the American Zoo Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of…”

“Mr. Speaker, founded in 1924, the American Zoo Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums. AZA institutions draw over 135 million visitors annually and have more than 5 million zoo and aquarium members. These institutions teach more than 12 million people each year in living classrooms, dedicate an estimated $50 million annually to education programs, invest an estimated $50 million annually to scientific research, and support over 1,300 field conservation research projects in 80 countries. AZA member institutions are a critical component in the conservation of marine mammals in the wild through broad-based education research and standing recovery rehabilitation programs. Additionally, many AZA facilities and scientists collaborate with researchers from colleges, universities, and other scientific institutions to conduct studies important to species conservation and health. AZA facilities have developed species survival plans which are cooperative long-term breeding and conservation programs that provide many species with an insurance policy against extinction.”