In a message dated 11/11/2006 5:06:08 PM Central Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:
Dear Friend of Alaska,
While many are discussing how the November 7 election will greatly change the 
dynamics on Capitol Hill, I’d like to entertain another question:  what does 
the election mean for Alaska’s wild lands?  I’m happy to report that the tide 
of change that has just hit DC will bring progress and exciting new 
opportunities to our Alaska campaigns.  
The Democrats have reclaimed control of both the House of Representatives and 
the Senate.  From an environmental perspective, these changes should be 
incredibly positive.  In addition to a more favorable congressional body, we will 
soon find ourselves with more friends in committee chairmanships.  In many 
cases, a proponent of Arctic drilling and clearcutting in the Tongass will be 
replaced as chairman by a sound environmental advocate.  For example, Sen. Pete 
Domenici (R-NM) will likely be replaced as chairman of the Energy and Natural 
Resources committee by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).  And in the House Energy and 
Resources committee, Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) will likely be replaced by Rep. 
Nick Rahall (D-WV).   Further demonstrating this exciting air of change, Rep. 
Pombo, largely because of his extreme anti-environmental stances, was actually 
voted out of Congress.  
With a friendlier political climate, our campaigns will start moving away 
from the defensive posture we’ve been forced into over the past six-years.  
Without constant legislative threats, we will be able to aggressively pursue 
pro-active legislation during the 110th Congress that would permanently protect many 
of the wild places that we care about, including the Arctic National Wildlife 
Refuge, the Tongass National Forest, and Teshekpuk Lake.  We will also 
discover new opportunities to work with the committees in both chambers that have 
oversight authority to examine oil and gas operations and pipeline safety.  
Change, indeed, is in the air.
With such exciting changes underway, the time to act for Alaska is now.  
Contact your representative and senators.  Congratulate them on their victories.  
Enlist their support now for Arctic Wilderness, Tongass protection and an end 
to leasing in the special areas of the Western Arctic.  And remember, Alaska's 
wilderness has no party affiliation.  To find your members of Congress and 
their contact info, follow this link and click on your state.
 
What the Election Means for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
While ten House races are still undecided, there will be at least 53 new 
members of the House of Representatives and seven new senators.  The majority of 
these members will likely support protection for the Arctic Refuge, but not all 
of them have stated this position publicly.  We need your help.  Please call 
your newly elected members of Congress, congratulate them on their victories, 
and ask them if they support protecting the Arctic Refuge.  To find your 
members of Congress and their contact info, follow this link and click on your 
state.  Let us know what you find out.
Unfortunately, some of the representatives who lost their races were good 
friends of the Arctic Refuge and unequivocal leaders of the fight to protect the 
Refuge from legislative sneak-attacks.  Sadly, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and 
Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH) are two of these ousted leaders.  
With the change of leadership in both chambers of Congress, we hope to no 
longer fight defensive battles on budget and appropriations bills.  The 110th 
Congress will thus mark a turning point in our campaign.  While Arctic champions 
introduce permanent protection legislation in every congressional session, the 
110th Congress will present one of the best opportunities in years to 
increase the number of cosponsors and move towards establishing a strong majority of 
representatives and senators in favor of designating the Coastal Plain of the 
Arctic Refuge as Wilderness.
What the Election Means for the Tongass National Forest
In 2006, the House passed an amendment to eliminate taxpayer subsidies for 
building new logging roads in the Tongass.  With new leadership in the House and 
Senate, we will have the opportunity to work towards extending this success 
to the Senate and ultimately putting the legislation on the president’s desk to 
sign into law.  
The new congressional climate will also reinvigorate our efforts to 
permanently protect ecologically significant areas of the Tongass, including its 
remaining roadless areas and old-growth stands.  The pro-active legislative strategy 
coincides with other opportunities in 2007 to protect the Tongass.  The 
Forest Service is currently engaged in a process of revising the land management 
plan for the Tongass due to a previously overestimated demand for timber.  And 
while the Roadless Rule has been restored for all national forests except the 
Tongass, there is a growing movement requesting that the administration remove 
the Tongass exemption. 
You can help by calling your newly elected members of Congress, 
congratulating them on their victories, and asking them if they support protecting the 
Tongass and eliminating taxpayer subsidies for Tongass timber programs.  To find 
your members of Congress and their contact info, follow this link and click on 
your state.  Let us know what you find out.
What the Election Means for You
This election proves that you have a voice and that our government listens.  
Change, in large part because of people like you, has come.  And progress will 
follow.  Now is the time to work harder than ever, because now is the time 
that we can move towards permanently protecting the most important wild lands in 
Alaska.  Please contact all of your members of Congress and ask them to do 
everything in their power to protect the Arctic Refuge, the Tongass National 
Forest, and special areas of the Western Arctic, like Teshekpuk Lake.  To find 
your members Congress and their contact info, follow this link and click on your 
state.  
Thanks for helping keep Alaska Wild.
Sincerely,

Cindy Shogan
Executive Director
Alaska Wilderness League
http://capwiz.com/awc/utr/1/NSDBGKNZSG/HUPPGKPNWN/951902981
 

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