“There has never been a more critical time to have an ally on Capitol hill as passionate and persistent as Rep. Neguse, who has worked tirelessly for imperiled wildlife and the unique habitats they need to survive and thrive."

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, DC

For his work championing national policy aimed at stemming the joint climate and biodiversity crises, Defenders of Wildlife has recognized Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) with the Spirit of Defenders award for Public Service. 

“Since first being elected to Congress, our team has worked hard to enact solutions to protect our environment, our wildlife and address the climate crisis—and I’m honored to have been recognized with the Spirit of Defenders Award. As our public lands and wildlife continue to be impacted by this crisis, I will continue to work to improve the health and well-being of our communities and protect our environment for generations to come,” said Congressman Neguse.

“There has never been a more critical time to have an ally on Capitol hill as passionate and persistent as Rep. Neguse, who has worked tirelessly for imperiled wildlife and the unique habitats they need to survive and thrive,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “We thank him for championing efforts to preserve our nation’s natural heritage and protect the species we care so deeply about.”

 

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Robert Dewey, VP of Government Relations for Defenders of Wildlife presents Rep. Joe Neguse with the Spirit of Defenders award

Rep. Neguse has been instrumental in the campaign to establish a national biodiversity strategy and has been the lead sponsor on Congressional resolutions encouraging the Biden administration to adopt one. 

Additionally, he recently co-led members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus (SEEC) urging a strong biodiversity framework for the first ever National Nature Assessment, which was announced by President Biden last year.
 

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

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