On Feb. 19, the House Majority — on a virtual straight party-line vote — passed an extreme budget bill, or continuing resolution,that if accepted by the Senate, will terminate funding for dozens of critical environmental programs and harm some of the nation’s bedrock conservation laws.

We need your help to stop these extreme cuts before they make it through the Senate.

Wildlife, wildfire suppression, climate change research and other natural resource programs get a much-needed boost in funding in the 2010 Interior Appropriations bill. The 16.8 percent increase is a welcome change after eight years of inadequate funding that had led to the shutdown of some National Wildlife Refuges and research programs, as well as shortfalls in funding for firefighting on public lands.

The House of Representatives made history today by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), a bill sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Bill Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society, released this statement upon passage of the bill.