Forwarded by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] -- Update on Interior Bill
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To:             All Activists
From:           Steve Holmer
Date:           October 27, 1999

Subject:        White House & Congress Negotiating Riders -
                Vote on County Payments Possible Next Week

        After finishing work on the Interior Appropriations bill Republican
Leaders chose to hold the bill rather then send it to President Clinton
to avoid a certain veto.  Negotiations are now underway to make the bill
acceptable to the President.

        There are numerous anti-environmental riders in the Interior spending
bill that must be removed.  In addition, the bill contains misplaced
spending priorities - more money for logging subsidies and not enough
for needed land acquisition.  For a complete list of riders go to
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/riders.htm

        The President and Republican Leaders in Congress have an equal
responsibility to protect the environment and remove these riders.
Please contact Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert at 202/225-0600,
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott at 202/224-3135 and President Clinton
at 202/456-1111 or mailto:[log in to unmask] and urge them to
remove all anti- environmental riders from the Interior Appropriations
bill.


House Nearing Vote on County Payments
        Negotiations are continuing between the supporters of the Deal/Boyd
bill, moderate Republicans and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) on the
Craig/Wyden bill,
S. 1608, which does not decouple county payments from timber sale
receipts.  If an agreement is reached in the next few days we can expect
a vote on this threatening legislation early next week.

        Even if no agreement is reached, the Deal/Boyd bill may be brought to
House floor next week for a vote where we expect amendments would be
offered to make the bill less of an environmental disaster.  In either
scenario, we need to rapidly build opposition in the House to both the
Deal/Boyd bill, H.R. 2389 and Craig/Wyden bill, S. 1608.

        Please contact your Representative at 202/224-3121 and urge him/her to
oppose the Deal/Boyd bill, H.R. 2389 and the Craig/Wyden bill, S. 1608
and to support the Forest Service proposal to decouple county payments
from timber sale receipts, H.R. 2868.  Thanks.

        Oregon activists please contact Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) at
202/225-6416 or fax 226-3502 and urge him to oppose the Craig/Wyden
bill, S. 1608 and contact Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and let him know that
you oppose his bill and are very disappointed that he is proposing new
incentives to log the National Forests.

Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
[log in to unmask]
www.americanlands.org

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