New Postal Stamp Will Support Species Conservation

Legislation Establishing Fundraising Stamp Heads to White House

WASHINGTON, DC--It's official! The Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF) Semipostal Stamp Act, HR 1454, is on its way to President Obama for signing. The new legislation, which passed the House by voice vote last week, will ensure elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles get the support they need. Conservation organizations are now working with the White House to arrange a signing ceremony.

A decade in the making, HR 1454 authorizes the U.S. Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp to help generate funds for conserving these highly threatened species. Members of the public can support conservation efforts by purchasing a wildlife postage stamp at a premium price above the first class rate. The premium will go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) to support grants for species conservation, which have provided valuable support to AWF and partners' programs.

The fund-raising stamp is modeled on the Breast Cancer Research stamp, which has sold over 800 million copies since its authorization in 1998, and has raised almost $70 million for breast cancer research. Funds raised for international conservation would be in addition to the annual Congressional appropriation for these programs.

Last year thousands of AWF and other wildlife supporters contacted their representatives in support of the MSCF Semipostal Stamp. These efforts were incredibly successful, with 154 bipartisan cosponsors signing on to the bill. Your support has encouraged Congress to pass this bill, and AWF is proud of your efforts.

We did it!