146 



1101 Fountenlh Sircet, NW 

 Suiic l-KIO 



Washington. DC 20005 

 Telephone 202-682-9400 

 Fax 202-682-1331 



Testimony of Defenders of Wildlife 



on Reauthorization of the 

 Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 



Before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans 

 of the House Resources Committee 



September 28, 1995 



Introduction 



On behalf of our 1 1 8,000 members and supporters, Defenders of 

 Wildlife urges the members of this subcommittee to support reauthorization 

 of the Wild Bird Conservation Act without any weakening amendments. 

 Defenders played an active role in the development of this important 

 conservation law, participating in a dialogue with the pet industry and other 

 Interested groups. We helped draft more stringent legislation — supported 

 by a broad coalition — that would have banned most wild bird imports 

 immediately. Instead, the WBCA was adopted as a carefully-crafted 

 compromise. It phased out the most problematic species in trade while 

 allowing some imports to continue, subject to reasonable restrictions. We 

 continue to support this moderate approach and urge you to not reopen 

 the debate via any substantive amendments. 



For the past three years, the Wild Bird Conservation Act has 

 protected hundreds of wild bird species from excessive commercial 

 Importation to the United States. At the same time, the law has promoted 

 captive breeding of birds by aviculturists in the U.S., and has benefitted 

 American consumers by ensuring quality, healthy pet birds. By all 

 accounts, the law has tjeen an unqualified success. 



