To: Sierra Club Activists

Help stop attacks on the Endangered Species Act.

At Issue
Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) is pushing forward with efforts to gut the 
Endangered Species Act, America's safety net for fish, wildlife and plants 
at the edge of extinction. The Pombo bill was voted out of the House 
Resources Committee on September 22 and is expected to come up for a vote by 
the full House of Representatives on Thursday, September 29th.

Call Rep. Boswell's office today and ask him to oppose Congressman Pombo's 
efforts to turn back the clock on fish and wildlife conservation. Calls can 
be placed through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or e-mail him at 
[log in to unmask]

Also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing 
opposition to the Pombo bill. Two sample letters to the editor are provided 
at the bottom of this e mail.

Message: Oppose the Pombo Bill to Gut the Endangered Species Act

Talking points:

* The Endangered Species Act works. Of all the species ever conserved under 
the Act over 99% of them, including the bald eagle, have been saved from 
extinction.

* Congressman Pombo's bill would rob American children of the natural 
heritage that is their birthright.

* Congressman Pombo's bill would impose costly new burdens on the public, 
including requiring the public to pay developers, the oil industry and other 
special interests to avoid harming or killing endangered wildlife.

* Congressman Pombo's bill would eliminate conservation measures on 
tens-of-millions of acres of land, the "critical habitat" endangered species 
need to survive and recover.

* Congressman Pombo's bill should be subject to extensive and open 
deliberation before a House vote is scheduled.

Issue background:
A look at Congressman Pombo's staff analysis shows his draft bill would:

1) Eliminate conservation measures on tens of millions of acres of land 
around the country, the "critical habitat" of endangered species, and 
prevent such conservation activities in the future.

2) Require the federal government to pay developers, the oil industry and 
other special interests to keep them from killing or injuring publicly owned 
fish and wildlife.

Sample Letters to the Editor

Sample Letter 1

Dear Editor:

For 30 years the Endangered Species Act has worked to safeguard America's 
fish, wildlife and plants facing extinction. The law has prevented 99% of 
all species ever placed under its care from going extinct and helped foster 
the return of wildlife such as the bald eagle.

Despite these and other successes Congress is now considering gutting the 
Endangered Species Act. Congressman Richard Pombo of California has 
introduced legislation that would create a new entitlement program, 
requiring the government to pay developers and polluters to not kill 
publicly owned fish and wildlife. It would also remove protections from 
tens-of-millions of acres of land across the country that fish and wildlife 
depend on and American families enjoy.

Congressman Pombo's bill turns back 30 years of successful stewardship and 
would rob American children of the natural heritage that is their 
birthright. Representative Pombo's bill leads America in the wrong direction 
and should be rejected by Congress.

Sample Letter 2

America's Endangered Species Act has helped secure a future for hundreds of 
native plants and animals, including the bald eagle. Of all the fish, plants 
and wildlife conserved under the law 99% have been saved from becoming 
extinct and lost forever. When fish and wildlife wind up on the brink of 
extinction, the Endangered Species Act is their safety net.

Despite this successful track record, Rep. Richard Pombo of California is 
renewing his push to gut the Endangered Species Act. His bill would abandon 
basic conservation principles and turn back three decades of stewardship by 
the American people.

But Congressman Pombo's radical agenda is not just limited to salmon, 
peninsular bighorn sheep and bald eagles. While plowing forward with plans 
to gut the Endangered Species Act, Representative Pombo has also set his 
sights on revoking the National Environmental Policy Act and drilling in the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off America's coasts.

All of these measures lead America in the wrong direction. The Endangered 
Species Act is an example of American values at their best. Congress should 
reject any proposals that would jeopardize this law of which we can all be 
proud.

Please let me know if you do write a letter to the editor so I can watch for 
it.  Thanks,

Neila Seaman, MPA
Director
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA  50310
[log in to unmask]
515-277-8868

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