NWTF Backs Williams as Fish and Wildlife Service Director

In October, the NWTF sent a letter to the Senate to support the confirmation of Martha Williams to serve as the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

At the time of this printing, Williams, an avid hunter and angler, has served as the principal deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, performing all of the duties of the director, since January 2021. Her nomination was considered by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Nov. 17.

Preceding her current appointment, she served as the director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020, overseeing the state’s diverse fish and wildlife populations and public lands while balancing recreational and resource management needs of the state. She also is a veteran of the Department of the Interior, having served as deputy solicitor of Parks and Wildlife for two years, providing counsel to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Ms. Williams’ diverse experience gives her a unique and valuable perspective of wildlife and natural resource management, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholder and user groups while understanding the legal implications of regulatory changes and implementation,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “These qualifications make her the ideal candidate to lead the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure the nation’s rich fish and wildlife resources and our National Wildlife Refuge System are properly managed for the enjoyment of anglers, hunters and many other outdoor recreationists.”

In other federal policy actions:

• NWTF President Robert Higginbotham, CEO Becky Humphries, Director of Conservation Services Mark Hatfield and Director of Government Affairs Matt Lindler met with several members of Congress to promote active forest management, sportsmen’s issues and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
• Using the strength of partnerships and the combined voices of a coalition of sporting and conservation organizations, the NWTF signed onto letters sent to Congress:
  • To support the conservation-related investment in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  • To support the nomination of Laura Daniels- Davis as assistant secretary for Lands and Mineral Management for the Department of Interior.
  • To support the conservation and forest-management investments in the Build Back Better Act (budget reconciliation package).
  • To support the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act.
  • To provide guidance to President Joe Biden’s administration on sportsmen’s priorities for mapping out the president’s America the Beautiful vision.
  • To request immediate legislative action to reduce frivolous lawsuits that hamper forest management activities on federal public lands.