NEW HAVEN— The Center for Biological Diversity, Connecticut activists and Frostpaw, the Center’s polar bear mascot, will gather outside Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 8, to urge her to increase funding for endangered species and help stem the global extinction crisis.

As chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. DeLauro is one of the most powerful members of Congress, overseeing funding allocations for federal agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Earlier this year, President Biden requested a more than $60 million increase for endangered species — the largest increase requested for this program in history. Despite the urgent need for more funding, the committee undercut the president’s budget request by $17 million.

“People in Connecticut care deeply about our wildlife, and we expect our leaders to be doing everything they can to help stop the extinction crisis,” said Stephanie Kurose, a senior policy specialist at the Center. “From polar bears to monarch butterflies, our world’s most iconic animals are at risk of vanishing forever if we don’t take action right away. Chair DeLauro can either fully fund extinction-prevention efforts or starve them of the money they so desperately need. For the sake of her legacy, we hope she makes the right choice.”

What: Rally at Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s New Haven office to urge Endangered Species Act funding.

When: Noon EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Where: Outside Rep. DeLauro’s office, 59 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510.

Who: Center policy specialist Stephanie Kurose will be dressed as Frostpaw the Polar Bear and will be available for comment.