WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 14th, 2025 –It’s with nice disappointment that the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation acknowledges the passing of one of many biggest conservationists of our time. Congressman Raul Grijalva, architect of among the most essential conservation legal guidelines of our nation, handed yesterday from an extended battle with most cancers.
“This wonderful human being had a profound affect on the lives of each American, whether or not they notice it or not,” mentioned Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President and CEO of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System. “Each single considered one of us benefited from his ardour and his drive to make our lives higher and his legacy will proceed to have this affect on future generations.”
Congressman Grijalva spent the whole lot of his 22 years in Congress advocating for wildlife conservation. Serving on the Home Pure Assets Committee all his Congressional tenure, and because the prime Democrat on the Committee for ten of these years, he was instrumental in advancing legal guidelines to guard and improve the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System together with the Nice American Outdoor Act which completely licensed the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Grijalva was additionally passionate in regards to the nationwide wildlife refuges and different public lands in his district. Cabeza Prieta and Buenos Aires Nationwide Wildlife Refuges have been locations he visited and was in awe on the wildlife that referred to as these locations house. And he valued each the federal workers and non revenue Refuge Associates organizations who work so arduous to make sure wildlife just like the Pronghorn Antelope and Masked Bobwhite Quail thrive for current and future generations of People
The Congressman spoke in regards to the significance of the Refuge System in a 2015 opinion piece in The Hill, “Nationwide Wildlife Refuges protect and restore key items of our pure heritage, gasoline native economies, and supply unparalleled outside alternatives. They’re America’s insurance coverage coverage for nature. Congress ought to make it simpler, not more durable, for People to get pleasure from these advantages.”
Mr. Grijalva was one of many biggest conservation heroes our nation has ever recognized. The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System wouldn’t be what it’s right this moment with out his assist and help and we’ll enormously miss his power, wit, ardour and dedication to our nation and our nation’s wildlife heritage.
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Because the impartial voice advocating on behalf of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation protects, promotes, and enhances America’s wildlife heritage via strategic packages that serve the System and wildlife past its boundaries. The group addresses Refuge System funding, administration, and strategic development, whereas additionally selling packages that maximize the system’s conservation affect.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Advertising and marketing at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.