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Washington, DC -- Today, the House Natural Resources Committee, held an oversight hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget request for the Department of the Interior. During today’s hearing, Congressman Sarbanes questioned Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Department of the Interior about funding cuts slated for the Patuxent Research Refuge and Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in the President’s 2009 budget.
“I do not understand why you have not continued upgrading the Refuge particularly since President Bush recently visited and recognized Patuxent’s mission as one of national importance,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Last year I fought to sustain funding to update the water, sewer and the electrical infrastructure; but now the President has come up short on funding the second stage of the recapitalization plan.”
Secretary Kempthorne responded by saying that he had visited Patuxent with the President and the First Lady. He continued by saying that although he admired the facilities beauty and valuable research, they were not able to identify the funds to do the additional upgrades scheduled for 2009.
Funds are needed to upgrade some of Patuxent’s aging facilities that might otherwise compromise the Refuge’s important mission. Congressman Sarbanes will continue to work with others in the Maryland Congressional delegation to restore this funding and to support the Refuge and its research mission as critical green space in the Baltimore/Washington corridor and a safe haven for wildlife.
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