JONES OPPOSES EXPANSION OF POCOSIN LAKES REFUGE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Walter Jones (NC-3) outlined his opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposal to expand the 110,000-acre Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge by another 11,000 acres.  In a letter to FWS Director Dan Ashe, Congressman Jones outlined the reasons why this proposal is ill advised.

“American taxpayers cannot afford it,” said Jones.  “Uncle Sam is already running $1 trillion deficits every year.  It makes zero sense for the federal government to purchase additional land for the refuge and then force taxpayers to borrow more money from China and other foreign nations to maintain that land.”

In addition to increased cost for taxpayers, Jones said the local economy cannot afford the expansion.  “Over the past several years, Fish and Wildlife has attempted to use its Eastern North Carolina refugees as leverage to block initiatives that would help the local economy,” said Jones.  “In these communities that sorely need jobs, there is little public enthusiasm for giving the service even more land to use as a club to beat back economic growth.”

Hyde County has also filed comments opposing the expansion, citing concerns that it would hurt their ability to provide necessary services to the people in their community.  Like other local governments around the refuge, Hyde is already having a hard time meeting the needs of its residents due to the massive amount federal land that’s been removed from the local tax base.