Bipartisan Senators Push for Increased Funding to Protect Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators from New England, including several from Connecticut, is advocating for increased funding for the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

Senators Richard Blumenthal D-CT, Chris Murphy D-CT, Edward J. Markey D-MA, Bernie Sanders I-VT, Jeanne Shaheen D-NH, Elizabeth Warren D-MA, and Peter Welch D-VT have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior requesting that the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request allocate funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF to support conservation efforts in the Conte Refuge.

The Conte Refuge covers over 50,000 acres across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, with a key focus on protecting lands within the Connecticut River Watershed.

The senators emphasize the need for funding to protect more than 24,000 acres of priority lands valued at over $51 million in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

In their letter, the lawmakers underscored the importance of wildlife refuges for both ecological health and local economies, noting that every $1 invested in federal funding for these areas generates nearly $5 in local economic returns.

They argue that increased investment in the Conte Refuge will not only preserve vital ecosystems but also stimulate local job creation and economic growth, particularly in outdoor recreation.