High Stakes for Birds and People at Confirmation Hearing for David Bernhardt

High Stakes for Birds and People at Confirmation Hearing for David Bernhardt

Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2019) — In advance of tomorrow’s Senate confirmation hearing for David Bernhardt to become Secretary of the Department of Interior, Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy at National Audubon Society, issued the following statement:

“No person holds more power to protect birds and the places they need than the Secretary of the Interior. Since David Bernhardt began his tenure at the Agency, he’s opted instead to hamstring bedrock laws while accelerating destruction of the most important bird nurseries on the planet from the open sagebrush steppe to the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Yesterday’s news, that the nominee blocked science revealing certain pesticides are poisoning birds as well as over 1000 wildlife species, begs a question Rachel Carson asked so many years ago: 'Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons?' It’s a question the nominee and the Senators evaluating his nomination must answer.”

Learn more about Audubon’s work on Western Water, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Sagebrush Ecosystem and our other policy priorities.

About Audubon: The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using, science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more and how to help at www.audubon.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.

Media Contact: Anne Singer, asinger@audubon.org, 202-271-4679