[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     WILDLIFE FOREVER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF HABITAT AND WILDLIFE 
                              PRESERVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, Congress has devoted considerable 
resources and effort to protecting the environment over the past few 
decades.
  Wildlife Forever, based in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, has been a 
visionary partner in our nation's efforts to conserve America's 
wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of 
habitat and management of fish and wildlife.
  Today, I rise to salute Wildlife Forever as it celebrates its 20th 
anniversary and thank all the members and volunteers for all they do to 
protect our precious environment.
  Since 1987, Wildlife Forever has provided funding to more than 800 
projects in all 50 states through private special interest conservation 
groups, state game and fish departments and federal agencies. Species 
that have received direct benefit from Wildlife Forever grants include 
the American bald eagle, billfish, black bear, blacktail deer, 
bluebirds, bluegill, Canada geese, catfish, coyote, crappie, ducks, 
elk, gray whale, great gray owl, grizzly bear, herons, kestrels, 
largemouth bass, Massasaqua rattle snake, moose, mule deer, muskie, 
otter, peregrine falcon, pheasant, prairie chicken, quail, ruffed 
grouse, salmon, sea bass, Sonoran pronghorn, songbirds, striped bass, 
trout, trumpeter swan, walleye, white-tailed deer, wild turkey--the 
list goes on and on.
  Partnerships are key to Wildlife Forever's success. Project 
highlights over the last 20 years include: Acquisition of 32,340 acres 
of land for public recreation; Wetland Restoration of more than 29,400 
acres; Construction and placement of more than 9,224 bird and waterfowl 
nesting structures; Research utilizing radio telemetry and global 
positioning system with elk, grizzly bear, white-tailed deer, black 
bear, bighorn sheep, moose, goshawks and coaster brook trout; 
125,747,367 public impressions with a `Stop Invasive Species' message; 
Stream improvements and riparian repair of over 240 miles; Land 
Management practices including controlled burns, prairie restoration, 
shrubbery plantings, and reforestation efforts of more than 325,310 
acres; Fish hatchery support producing a yield of 30,371,109 fish 
stocked in public lakes and streams; Placement of more than 130 
Watchable Wildlife interpretive signs.
  Madam Speaker, our Nation sends its thanks and gratitude to Wildlife 
Forever President and Chief Executive Officer Doug Grann and his entire 
team for all they do to protect the environment.

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