The Friends of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) and Patuxent Research Refuge, Inc. (PRR) invited staff members from the Senate and House Interior Appropriations Committees and from the Maryland Delegation to visit the PWRC and PRR on September 23, 2005. The staff members arrived shortly after 9AM and were greeted at the National Wildlife Visitor Center (NWVC) by Refuge Manager Brad Knudsen and Center Director Dr. Judd Howell. After brief introductions, the staff members were given a tour of the NWVC, learning about our efforts to educate the public about the environmental issues that face the nation's wildlife and refuges and the research done to understand and address those issues. The group then toured the Central Tract of the Refuge, which is the home of PWRC and FWS Division of Migratory Bird Management. The tour included the service area and the main office buildings where discussions revolved around refuge management, research, public use, historic/cultural resource management, and facilities issues. The tour went on to the sea duck, American kestrel, and whooping crane colonies with discussions about declining species, effects of contaminants and disease on wildlife, and imperiled species research and propagation. A brief lunch followed at the NWVC, and the meeting was adjourned.

Those in attendance are as follows: Congressional Staff: Kathleen Gohn Senator Sarbane's staff (USGS Employee on Detail from Congressional Affairs Office) Jim Wood Congressman Hoyer's staff Terrance Taylor Congressman Hoyer's staff Greg Knadle House Interior Appropriations subcommittee majority staff Friends: Richard Dolesh Member of the Board, Visit Organizer Harlan Tucker Chair of the Board Edward Grimes Member of the Board US Fish and Wildlife Service: Brad Knudsen Refuge Manager - PRR Steven Bekkerus Senior Legislative Specialist, DOI, Washington, DC Nell Baldacchino Interpretation Specialist - PRR