G. K. Butterfield: “(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Mr.…”

“(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Mr. Runyan in support of H.R. 1300, a bill that will reauthorize volunteer and community partnerships for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The National Wildlife Refuge System is an incredible asset to our country. In addition to protecting habitat that is essential to the survival of many bird and mammal and fish species, the system provides recreational opportunities that translate into jobs for Americans. The 45 million people who visit a wildlife refuge each year to hunt and to fish and paddle, or simply watch wildlife, generate $1.7 billion in sales for local economies. They support more than 34,000 jobs and contribute $185 million in much-needed tax revenue. My State of North Carolina has 10 National Wildlife Refuges, and there are 516 of them across the country. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1300 would reauthorize valuable volunteer and community partnership programs that benefit the refuge system. Sequestration has tightened even more the scarce resources we have to keep the National Wildlife Refuge System open and operational. The system depends on refuge volunteers, and we thank those volunteers, 56,000 of them, in fact, who contributed more than 2.15 million hours, valued at almost $47 million in just 2012 alone.…”