June 10, 2009 (WASHINGTON D.C.) -The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and more than 30 other organizations representing millions of American hunter conservationists sent a letter today to Rep. Nick Rahall, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and to Rep. Doc Hastings, Ranking Member of the Committee, urging them to support H.R. 1454, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act.

H.R. 1454, introduced by Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Member Rep. Henry Brown of South Carolina with 105 co-sponsors, creates a supplemental funding source for the five current Multinational Species Conservation Funds, directly benefiting some of the most cost effective conservation programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Allowing the U.S. Postal Service to design and sell a semi-postal stamp would prove a convenient way for the public to contribute to funding for the projects supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds," said Rep. Brown.

The funds realized from the sale of the stamp would not offset appropriations that already exist for the conservation funds. Instead, they would help supplement these important conservation programs at no-cost to U.S. taxpayers.

"This bill has the potential to raise a significant amount of money for international wildlife conservation by creating an additional funding source, thereby preserving and strengthening these valuable USFWS programs," said CSF President Jeff Crane.

In committee markup Wednesday morning, the committee favorably reported H.R. 1454 to the full House of Representatives.