Senate Unanimously Passes Four Wilderness Bills; legislation protects almost a half-million acres in California, New Mexico, Washington, and Puerto Rico. House to vote in September: TELL YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE to Vote YES on these 4 Bills!

Date:   8/2/2005 12:50:13 AM ( 19 y ago)

News Release from The Wilderness Society  

http://www.wilderness.org/NewsRoom/Release/0050726.cfm

July 26, 2005 (Washington, DC) - The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed wilderness legislation that will permanently protect thousands of acres of roadless wildlands in California, Washington, Puerto Rico, and New Mexico. The Senate vote sets the stage for the bills to be considered when the House of Representatives returns after the August recess.

“Today’s unanimous vote in the Senate is yet another sign of the growing national support for protecting our country’s remaining wild places,” said William H. Meadows, president of The Wilderness Society. “Our Senators have done a great job moving these important measures through the process. We hope that the House of Representatives will follow the Senate’s lead and act quickly to protect these special places.”

“In addition to these four efforts there are active wilderness campaigns across the country that continue to gain momentum,” said Meadows. “We hope to see lawmakers setting aside other special places before the end of this Congress.”

The four bills that were passed by the Senate today include:

The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (S.128 and H.R. 233),     introduced by California Senators Barbara Boxer (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D). Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) sponsored the companion legislation in the House. The bill would designate as wilderness more than 300,000 acres of spectacular scenery and important fish and wildlife habitat, including the King Range, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 states. In addition, 21 miles of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County will be designated as a Wild and Scenic River. This popular legislation, which is also backed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), has broad, local bipartisan support and would guarantee outstanding opportunities for recreation, such as riding horses, hunting, fishing, hiking, and whitewater rafting for future generations. The House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing on the measure on July 14th.

The Ojito Wilderness Act (S.156 and H.R.362),  introduced by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pete Domenici (R-NM), with the companion bill in the House sponsored by Representatives Tom Udall (D-NM) and Heather Wilson (R-NM). The Ojito Wilderness Act would permanently protect more than 11,000 acres of picturesque public land northwest of Albuquerque. The area is home to mule deer, antelope, and elk, as well as Navajo and Pueblo cultural sites.

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act (S.152 and H.R.851),   introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The bill would designate as wilderness 106,000 acres in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The bill is sponsored in the House by Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) and cosponsored by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA). A little more than an hour from downtown Seattle and Everett, Wild Sky is a rugged landscape with thousand-foot cliffs, high alpine peaks, cascading waterfalls, lush old-growth forests, and crystal clear rivers. The bill is backed by dozens of local businesses, citizens groups and elected officials from the Sky Valley.

The Caribbean National Forest Act (S.272 and H.R.539),   introduced by New York Senators Hillary Clinton (D) and Charles Schumer (D), would designate 10,000 acres of forest in Puerto Rico as the “El Toro Wilderness,” the first tropical forest wilderness in the United States. The companion bill was introduced in the House by Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno (R). The new wilderness area is home to the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, one of the most threatened species in the world.

TAKE ACTION!

E-Mail your U.S. Representative and tell him/her to VOTE YES on all Four Wilderness Bills!

Go to the website U.S. House of Representatives--Write Your Representative  http://www.house.gov/writerep/    to find the name of your Representative and send an e-mail.

Sample e-mail (Make up your own e-letter, or copy-and-paste!):

"Honorable (Name of U.S. Representative):

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed wilderness legislation that will permanently protect thousands of acres of roadless public lands in California, Washington, Puerto Rico, and New Mexico. I am urging you to VOTE YES on all four House versions of this legislation:

The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (S.128 and H.R. 233),
The Ojito Wilderness Act (S.156 and H.R.362),
The Wild Sky Wilderness Act (S.152 and H.R.851), and
The Caribbean National Forest Act (S.272 and H.R.539).

Sincerely,

(Your Name)"

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Thanks for your time and ECO-ACTION!!
Liora Leah

ECO-Alert: Wildlife/Forestry/Wilderness/Coasts:  

Help protect and conserve U.S. forestry, Utah's Redrock Wilderness, U.S. and World wildlife, America's coasts, and California sea otters with these fast and simple ECO-Actions!  

For more information and to TAKE ACTION, go to:  http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=309&i=62

ECO-ALERT! Save Wilderness!

Help save 4 Wilderness Areas from snowmobiling, airplanes, logging, road building, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles! Sign e-letters and e-petitions TODAY!

For more information and to TAKE ACTION, go to: http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=309&i=53

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