National Wildlife Refuge Association Applauds Jewell Confirmation

The National Wildlife Refuge Association on April 11 expressed its strong support for Sally Jewell as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior following the Senate's confirmation of her nomination. Jewell's appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife, as well as her extensive knowledge of the economic benefits of our natural resources, will bring a unique perspective in the President's cabinet.

"We are extremely pleased by the Senate's confirmation of Sally Jewell to be the 51st Secretary of the Interior and look forward to working closely with her to grow our nation's commitment to wildlife conservation at a landscape level, in places such as the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and Cache River National Wildlife Refuge." said David Houghton, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "She will undoubtedly be an excellent spokesperson for the President's America's Great Outdoors initiative and will continue to bring attention to our nation's great public lands."

Jewell has earned national recognition for her management skills of the nearly $2 billion outdoor equipment company, REI. This expertise makes her uniquely qualified to lead an agency with hundreds of millions of acres of lands where Americans recreated.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 560 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System spanning 150 million acres and where the sun literally never sets, with lands from Guam to Puerto Rico, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Over 40 million annual visitors contribute over $4.2 billion in economic output and over 34,000 jobs from recreation-related spending. National wildlife refuges and their recreational opportunities is part of a growing industry in the United States. Jewell's leadership at the helm of the Department of Interior comes at a crucial time.

"Sally Jewell has been a leader in the outdoor recreation industry using innovative strategies to protect and restore wildlife habitat throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country; as Secretary of the Interior, she will have an opportunity to articulate and implement a larger conservation vision for the nation." said Houghton. "We look forward to working with her to further the goals and mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Refuge System."