WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 14th, 2025 –It’s with nice unhappiness that the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation acknowledges the passing of one of many best conservationists of our time. Congressman Raul Grijalva, architect of a few of the most essential conservation legal guidelines of our nation, handed yesterday from a protracted battle with most cancers.
“This superb human being had a profound impression on the lives of each American, whether or not they understand it or not,” mentioned Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President and CEO of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System. “Each single one in every of us benefited from his ardour and his drive to make our lives higher and his legacy will proceed to have this impression on future generations.”
Congressman Grijalva spent everything of his 22 years in Congress advocating for wildlife conservation. Serving on the Home Pure Sources 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 Open air Act which completely approved 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 had been locations he visited and was in awe on the wildlife that known as these locations house. And he valued each the federal workers and non revenue Refuge Pals organizations who work so exhausting 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 tougher, for People to get pleasure from these advantages.”
Mr. Grijalva was one of many best conservation heroes our nation has ever recognized. The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System wouldn’t be what it’s as we speak with out his assist and assist and we’ll enormously miss his energy, wit, ardour and dedication to our nation and our nation’s wildlife heritage.
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Because the unbiased 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 impression.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Advertising at [email protected].
