Senators Portman and Brown Champion Bi-partisan Conservation in Senate by Honoring Passenger Pigeon Extinction Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2014 

Contact: Melanie Gade; mgade@defenders.org; (202) 772-0288

Senators Portman and Brown Champion Bi-partisan Conservation in Senate by Honoring Passenger Pigeon Extinction Anniversary

WASHINGTON – Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) asked Congress to recognize the importance of wildlife conservation yesterday by introducing a resolution (S. Res. 564) on the September 1^st centennial of the passenger pigeon’s extinction to the Senate.

Once numbering as many as five billion in North America, the passenger pigeon was driven to extinction by 1914. Today, the sobering tale is a strong reminder of the continued need to protect the nation’s treasured natural heritage and wildlife. The resolution requests that the Senate “commemorates the importance of this centenary, our natural heritage, the suitability of our ecosystem and the conservation of our Nation’s wildlife.”

Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife issued the following statement:

“I am grateful to Senators Brown and Portman for their display of foresight and leadership on the crucial issue of wildlife conservation by highlighting the tragic but important message to be learned from the loss of the passenger pigeon. Their joint resolution takes a strong stand on the continued need to protect our nation’s treasured natural resources for future generations, an issue that today too often gets lost in partisan turmoil.

“The tale of the passenger pigeon's demise is much more than a tale about this particular species. The bird’s extinction was an event that changed the way we thought about our nation’s treasured natural resources. Today we know that if we don’t work to protect our wildlife, it will vanish. Senators Brown and Portman understand this equation and in speaking out have demonstrated the wisdom and courage we need when so many imperiled species face extinction like the passenger pigeon. I am honored to have their support on this crucial issue.”

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