Congress will make the final decision on whether our precious Desert National Wildlife Refuge is protected or whether it will largely be turned into a military base. On June 11th, the Senate Armed Services Committee said no to military expansion in Nevada for both the Nellis Test and Training Range and the Fallon Naval Air Station. Both bases would have their current military withdrawal extended for 20 years - but no new expansions.  The House Armed Services Committee should be making their decision of these bases in the next few weeks.

The National Wildlife Refuge System turns 117 this year. On March 14, 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt established Florida’s Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge as the first national wildlife refuge to protect egrets and other birds from extinction due to plume hunters.