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WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) reintroduced legislation that will reauthorize 2004 legislation which was created to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and their nesting habitats in foreign countries. Brown, an ardent advocate for coastal wildlife conservation, issued the following statement about his proposed legislation:
“I am pleased to reintroduce the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009 which will further protect the seven species of marine turtles once abundant throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Sadly, six of those species have experienced tremendous over-exploitation and are now listed as critically endangered under our Endangered Species Act.
In response to this crisis, Congress enacted the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004, which I strongly supported. This legislation sent a powerful message to the international community that the United States was willing to take proactive conservation efforts to save these flagship species from extinction.
I urge consideration of the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009 and call upon the Appropriation Committees to increase the investment in the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund. We should continue to protect these animals and not allow any of these six species of marine turtles to disappear during our lifetime.”
As a bellwether species for the health of the world’s oceans, marine turtles have been a vital component of our ocean ecosystems for more than 100 million years. They have symbolized longevity, fertility and strength. Congressman Brown is proud of the fact that populations of loggerhead sea turtles nest on the beaches of South Carolina where they are highly protected.
The South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC is assisting in this protection effort, using its facilities to aid sick and injured sea turtles through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program. When an unhealthy sea turtle is found along the coast, it is brought to their Turtle Hospital by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources where animal care staff can begin to monitor and treat the animal in their state-of-the-art facility.
Wildlife conservation has always been one of Congressman Brown’s top priorities as he has worked diligently for a dramatic increase in funding for sea turtle conservation. To learn more about Congressman Brown’s work with other marine species and his previous efforts on the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and Wildlife, visit http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/fisheries.shtml.
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