National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Action Alert

Action Requested

Date: June 10, 2008

Subject: FY 2009 Appropriations


Action Requested
Contact your Members of Congress and ask for their support of NACD’s FY 2009 Appropriations priorities: Conservation Technical Assistance, State and Private Forestry, EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Grants.

Background
Appropriations bills are beginning to move in Congress. Last week, Congress approved the FY 2009 Budget Resolution which specifies funding levels that will be available for FY 2009. With the budget resolution complete, Congressional appropriators can begin to determine levels of spending for FY 2009. The House Interior and Environment Appropriations subcommittee and the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee have both scheduled hearings for the next few weeks, with full committee action in the House to be completed on these bills by the end of June. Senate action could also occur quickly.

Even if you have already contacted your Members of Congress this year regarding FY 2009 Appropriations, now is a good time to make additional contacts since action is taking place. Contact your Members of Congress to ask for their support of NACD’s appropriations priorities:

Contact Information
To contact your Members of Congress, information is available on the following websites:

U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep
U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

You can also contact your Members of Congress by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

A template letter outlining support for NACD’s appropriations priorities is available for you to download and can be adapted to contact your Members of Congress. Please remember to personalize letters and be sure to add information specific to your conservation district or state so Members of Congress understand how funding is utilized and how programs are beneficial at the local level.

Follow Up
Please follow up with NACD when you make your contacts and let us know any feedback you receive. This information is helpful in assessing and maintaining strong grassroots efforts for conservation districts. Information can be sent to Jeremy Peters, NACD’s Grassroots Coordinator at jeremy-peters@nacdnet.org.

Click here to download the template letter.