Miranda Cosgrove to Join Science, Business Leaders in Washington to Defend Marine Mammal Protection Act - Oceana

Miranda Cosgrove to Join Science, Business Leaders in Washington to Defend Marine Mammal Protection Act

Press Release Date: November 9, 2017

Location: Washington

Contact:

Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter

Actress and activist Miranda Cosgrove will join science and business leaders in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, November 15 to urge Members of Congress to defend the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). While the MMPA has provided vital protections for marine mammals like dolphins, whales and seals for 45 years, it now faces attacks from special interests in Congress.

The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering legislation (H.R. 3133) that would make it easier for activities like seismic airgun blasting – an extremely loud and dangerous process used to search for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean’s surface – to harm marine mammals. H.R. 3133 has been included in a larger energy bill, H.R. 4239, an extreme measure that would encourage expanded offshore drilling, while removing commonsense safeguards.

WHO:            

  • Miranda Cosgrove, actress and activist
  • Dr. Lee Talbot, professor at George Mason University and one of the original authors of the MMPA under President Richard Nixon
  • Science and business leaders
  • Representatives from Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Conservancy, the Animal Welfare Institute, The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society Legislative Fund and Cetacean Society International

WHEN:          Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Reception from 6 to 8 p.m.  

Press Scrum from 6:05 to 6:15 p.m.       

WHERE:        Room 2045, Rayburn House Office Building                          

NOTES:         Space is limited. Please RSVP to RSVPs@Oceana.org. For other media availability, please contact Dustin Cranor at 954.348.1314 or dcranor@oceana.org.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one third of the world’s wild fish catch. With nearly 200 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that one billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. To learn more about Oceana’s work in the United States, please visit www.usa.oceana.org.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

Founded in 1969, The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) rescues and protects animals around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With nearly 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit Newsroom.Defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywhere – in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. For more information, visit www.awionline.org.

The Humane Society of the United States is the most effective animal protection organization, as rated by our peers. For more than 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. We and our affiliates are the nation’s largest provider of hands-on services for animals, caring for more than 150,000 animals each year, and we prevent cruelty to millions more through our advocacy campaigns. Read about our more than 60 years of transformational change for animals and people. HumaneSociety.org

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Cetacean Society International (CSI) (www.csiwhalelsalive.org) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, dedicated to conserving whales, dolphins, porpoises and their environment. CSI was founded in 1974 with a purpose and a mission that stands true today: “to stop the killing, capture and display of cetaceans”. CSI strives to encourage human activities that enhance public awareness and stewardship of cetaceans and the marine environment.