WASHINGTON, D.C. | December 2, 2021 — National Whistleblower Center (NWC) celebrates the reintroduction of the Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act (WCATA) by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK). NWC thanks Reps. Garamendi and Young for their tireless support of wildlife whistleblowers.
The Act, first introduced in 2018, aims to enhance conservation efforts and thwart wildlife trafficking. By mandating whistleblower programs with strong rewards and using recovered funds to enhance conservation efforts, WCATA is the blueprint for how whistleblowers can increase enforcement.
NWC joins several prominent wildlife advocacy organizations endorsing this bill, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). In November, NWC and IFAW hosted a Q&A about how whistleblowers are indispensable tools, and highlighting the reintroduction and enactment of WCATA as crucial, in the fight against trafficking.
Recognizing the need for stronger wildlife whistleblower protections and programs, NWC has launched the Wildlife Whistleblower Pledge. NWC applauds the thousand-plus signatories and encourages others to join in the fight for wildlife. Signing the pledge ensures you will be kept up to date on the legislative progress of WCATA. The bill, HR.6059, has been introduced to the House Natural Resources committee and currently has 18 cosponsors. NWC encourages all 86 cosponsors of the original bill to come forward and join the reintroduced bill.
For more information, contact National Whistleblower Center at info@whistleblowers.org.
