“Gina McCarthy has decades of experience working across party lines with officials at the local, state and federal levels to protect our air, water, wildlife, public health and the jobs that depend on them.”

UPDATE, JULY 16, 2013: The sportsmen’s organizations placed an advertisement in Politico today in support of McCarthy’s nomination.

Eight national organizations and more than 60 local and state groups and businesses representing millions of sportsmen have written to Senate leaders asking for the Senate to confirm Gina McCarthy as Environmental Protection Agency Administrator as soon as possible.

“Gina McCarthy has decades of experience working across party lines with officials at the local, state and federal levels to protect our air, water, wildlife, public health and the jobs that depend on them,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Working under both Republican and Democratic administrations at the state and federal levels, Gina McCarthy has proven herself to be fair and pragmatic while determined to carry out her responsibilities under the law.”

In 2011 alone, more than 90 million Americans spent close to $145 billion on fishing, hunting and other wildlife-related recreation, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey.

“From ensuring the nation’s water quality to protecting wetlands and reducing air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency needs strong leadership now,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “I hope that the Senate will confirm Gina McCarthy soon so that she can begin to formally oversee the agency’s critical work on all these issues of importance to America’s sportsmen.”

Threats to America’s conservation heritage are priority issues for sportsmen, on par with gun rights, according to a 2012 sportsmen poll by Chesapeake Beach Consulting. Conservation is just as important as gun rights, according to nearly half (47 percent) of hunters and anglers polled. Another 13 percent believe conservation issues are even more important than gun rights.

“I have known Gina McCarthy from her days in Connecticut and she is exactly what we need right now,” said Jim Martin, conservation director for the Berkley Conservation Institute. “She demonstrates clear thinking, strong leadership and is respectful of people with different points of view.”

McCarthy is also a passionate advocate for reconnecting children with nature and outdoor education, an important issue to sportsmen, with 87 percent of hunters and anglers saying it’s a serious problem that children today are not spending enough time outdoors. As Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Quality in 2006, McCarthy launched the successful ‘No Child Left Inside’ program that continues to get thousands of kids and families outside today.

“Clean air. Clean water. Healthy wetlands and watersheds. It couldn’t be any simpler to understand the needs of American hunters and anglers, and Gina McCarthy gets it,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Sportsmen call on the Senate to approve her nomination in July and get her to work as EPA Administrator this summer.”

The national organizations signing the letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:

• American Fly Fishing Trade Association
• Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
• Berkley Conservation Institute
• Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance
• Izaak Walton League of America
• National Wildlife Federation
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
• Trout Unlimited

Local and state organizations and businesses:

• Arkansas Wildlife Federation
• Yell County Wildlife Federation (AR)
• White River Conservancy (AR)
• Delaware Nature Society
• Kansas Wildlife Federation
• Androscoggin Wooden Boat Works (ME)
• Maine Wilderness Guides Organization
• Northwoods Canoe Company (ME)
• Great Lakes Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers
• Michigan League of Conservation Voters
• Clean Minnesota River
• Lake City Sportsman’s Club (MN)
• Minnesota Conservation Federation
• Izaak Walton League of America, Minnesota Division
• Izaak Walton League of America, Austin, MN Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Bush Lake, MN Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Cass County, MN Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Jaques, MN Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Minnehaha, MN Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Owatonna, MN Chapter
• Natural Resources Club (MN)
• New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen (MN)
• Wildlife Forever (MN)
• Mississippi Wildlife Federation
• Conservation Federation of Missouri
• Belknap County Sportsmen’s Club (NH)
• Buck Mercier Guide Service (NH)
• Diver’s Den Sport Shop (NH)
• K&S Outdoor Adventures Guide Service (NH)
• Morse Sporting Goods (NH)
• Opechee Trading Post (NH)
• Suds N’ Soda Sport Shop (NH)
• Trout Unlimited, New Hampshire Council
• Trout Unlimited, Ammonoosuc, NH Chapter
• Wildlife Sports and Taxidermy Sport Shop (NH)
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation
• Trout Unlimited, North Carolina Council
• Trout Unlimited, Rocky River, NC Chapter
• Trout Unlimited, Table Rock, NC Chapter
• North Dakota Wildlife Federation
• Association of Northwest Steelheaders
• Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association
• Northwest Guides and Anglers Association
• Wild Salmon Center (OR)
• Izaak Walton League of America, Berks County, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Brownsville, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Fairmont Springs, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Franklin County, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Harry Enstrom Chapter (PA)
• Izaak Walton League of America, John Harris Chapter (PA)
• Izaak Walton League of America, Lancaster Red Rose Chapter (PA)
• Izaak Walton League of America, Lebanon County, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Oil City, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Uniontown, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, Washington County, PA Chapter
• Izaak Walton League of America, York County, PA Chapter
• PennFuture
• South Dakota Wildlife Federation
• West Virginia Rivers Coalition

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Sarah Mullkoff
Energy and Climate Policy Associate
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) – Great Lakes Office

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