TWS welcomes new members of Congress

On Jan. 19, staff of The Wildlife Society’s Government Affairs & Partnerships team traveled to Capitol Hill to hand-deliver a welcome letter and transition document  to the offices of each freshman member of the 115th Congress. During the visits, TWS staff received a warm welcome amid a flurry of pre-inaugural activities.

In the letter, TWS offers the scientific expertise of our professional membership network to seven Senators and over 50 Representatives as they begin to navigate the federal policymaking process under the Trump administration. During their service in the legislative branch, these new members will likely address several issues from the broad range of wildlife management and conservation topics that impact wildlife professionals. By welcoming these new members, TWS seeks to ensure that wildlife science – and wildlife professionals – continue to play a role in the development of policies that impact the present and future status of wildlife in North America.

Policy issues highlighted in the letter include recent measures to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, prevent the spread of invasive fish and wildlife species, improve the management of wild horse and burro populations on public rangelands, and maintain and strengthen conservation programs in the Farm Bill. TWS made positive strides on several of these issues – and other TWS  policy priorities – during the 114th Congress, and will continue to work with both new and seasoned members of the Senate and House of Representatives to ensure this progress continues in the new legislative session.

In working to fulfill the program’s mission, the Government Affairs & Partnerships staff serves as a consistent resource to policymakers by encouraging science-based decisions on issues impacting wildlife professionals, wildlife management, and conservation. TWS also collaborates with numerous management and conservation organizations through coalitions that collectively assist policymakers with challenging wildlife-related matters.

View TWS’ Policy Toolkit to learn how to to advocate for wildlife professionals and wildlife conservation in the policy realm.

Read the New Congress Letter.