WASHINGTON – The House passed a bipartisan bill Tuesday by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to reauthorize a volunteer program that provides important support for our National Wildlife Refuge System.

Mike Leahy, the National Wildlife Federation’s senior manager of public lands and sportsmen policy, said of H.R. 3979, the “Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act”:

“National Wildlife Refuges are beautiful public lands managed for fish and wildlife, and also great places for people to watch wildlife, fish, hunt, and enjoy nature. And volunteers, who lend their expertise and other support, are crucial to helping keep wildlife refuges across the country operating,” Leahy said. “The National Wildlife Federation thanks Congressman Jeffries and his colleagues in the House of Representatives for doing something good for wildlife and public lands by passing a bill today to extend volunteer, community partnership, and education programs at wildlife refuges nationwide.”