Letter to The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Republican Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, The Honorable Nita Lowey, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, The Honorable Kay Granger, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, The Honorable Betty McCollum, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, and The Honorable David Joyce, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment - Reps. Lowenthal, Rep. Young, Colleagues, Call For COVID Relief Funds For Zoos And Aquariums

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Chair Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chair McCollum, and
Ranking Member Joyce:
Every day, our nation's accredited zoos and aquariums care for hundreds of thousands of animals and
provide critical services in support of federal wildlife conservation goals. Unfortunately, these
institutions are facing an unprecedented economic crisis due to COVID-19 that is putting them and their
crucial work in jeopardy. Without much needed assistance soon, many of these important institutions are
at risk of closing permanently. Given the increasing risks to these institutions and hundreds of tourismdriven economies nationwide, we request urgent action to include targeted relief for accredited zoos and
aquariums in the next COVID-19 legislative package.
Zoos and aquariums drive economic activity, play a critical role in our communities, and provide
important services to the federal government. Importantly, these institutions contribute professional
capacity and resources to care for, rescue, breed and relocate protected, endangered and threatened
species in support of federal wildlife recovery goals. Zoos and aquariums take this responsibility
seriously with a lifelong commitment to rescued animals, but the COVID-19 pandemic is quickly
eroding their ability to do this life-saving work.
As the COVID-19 crisis evolved this year, nearly all zoos and aquariums nationwide closed to adhere to
state mandates and protect public health. While some institutions have reopened on a limited basis,
necessary COVID-19 operating restrictions and the loss of peak season visitation have resulted in
staggering revenue losses -- in some cases institutions are losing millions of dollars per month. Zoos and
aquariums are uniquely vulnerable because, unlike many other business entities, they must provide
ongoing care for hundreds of thousands of animals. Today, some institutions face the potential of
permanent closure and an uncertain future for their animals that cannot be easily transferred to other
zoos and aquariums that face similar economic challenges. This challenge extends to animals that have
been confiscated at borders and ports, federally protected species, and other animals that are owned by
the federal government. Typically, this care is almost entirely funded by guests and ticket sales, which
are now nonexistent or severely reduced.
In recent months, Congress passed important provisions to stabilize small businesses and nonprofits
through the CARES Act and other subsequent COVID-19 relief legislation. However, to date, many
accredited zoos and aquariums have been entirely left out and unable to access needed relief. In
particular, relief legislation has not considered animal care costs and many zoos and aquariums are not
eligible for relief loans, or the loans require institutions to take on additional debt as they continue to
lose money each day.
In order to ensure that zoos and aquariums can maintain essential animal care and continue to serve as
important partners in support of the federal government's wildlife recovery and conservation work, we
urge you to provide targeted relief to accredited zoos and aquariums in the next COVID-19 relief
legislation. Specifically, we request $250 million to be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation (NFWF) to provide emergency operating grants for accredited zoos and aquariums with an
established record of partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration in conserving endangered, threatened and other federally protected species.
Grant funding should support facility operational costs necessary to ensure the continued viability of
these institutions during the pandemic (March 2020 through December 2020).
Nationwide zoos and aquariums are economic drivers in our communities and are trusted sources of
innovative education, scientific research, and wildlife conservation. These institutions are critical
partners with the federal government in caring for protected species and supporting conservation. The
COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in major economic hardship, and we request that you include targeted
relief for zoos and aquariums in the next COVID-19 legislative package.
Thank you for your consideration of this request

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