DEFENDERS ACTION FUND WILDLIFE HEROES 2006

After a year that saw both the first vote ever to effectively dismantle the Endangered Species Act and a tremendous conservation victory on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund named eight members of the House of Representatives and four members of the Senate as 2006 Wildlife Heroes.

"Each of our awardees exhibited tremendous leadership in a very visible and effective manner, choosing to stand against anti-conservation special interests, President George Bush, and other powerful members of Congress," stated Rodger Schlickeisen, president of the Defenders Action Fund. "They put the interests of America's wildlife conservation heritage and our children's future ahead of political expediency and lobbyists' contributions -- something too rare in Washington these days."