For Immediate Release: June 18, 2003
Contact: Erin Jordahl, 515-321-6144
Congress Squanders Chance to Protect America's Forests and Parks
Despite stand by Rep. Leach, Congress Fails to Stop Attack on Forests, Parks
Des Moines, IA - The Sierra Club expressed disappointment today that, despite
the leadership of Representative Jim Leach, the House of Representatives
failed to stop attacks on National Forests and Parks. A slim majority of the
House defeated amendments designed to protect America's natural treasures as part
of the Department of Interior Appropriations bill.
"With serious threats to the wild places Americans cherish, the House failed
to help protect public lands from special interests, said Erin Jordahl,
Director of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club. "We're thankful that Rep. Leach
stood up for the protection of our National Parks and Forests."
Amendments to preserve the landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule,
reinstate a phase-out of snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park, and other
amendments were defeated. The bill was also stocked with several anti-environmental
provisions that did pass.
Reps. Rush Holt (D-NJ), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Christopher Shays (R-CT), and Tim
Johnson (R-IL) sponsored an amendment to protect wildlife and human health in
Yellowstone National Park by phasing out snowmobiles in favor of snowcoaches
as recommended by a 2001 National Park Service plan. The vote failed by the
slimmest of margins, 210-210 (a majority is required to pass).
Reps. Jay Inslee, Jim Davis (D-FL) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) offered an
amendment that would preserve the landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule,
designed to protect 58 million acres of America's wildest National Forests and the
clean water, recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat they provide. This
vote failed 234-185.
"Despite the strong support for conservation today from Rep. Leach, and other
environmental heroes, the quantity and quality of America's parks, forests,
monuments and refuges are still threatened," said Jordahl. "We applaud his
opposition to plans to open up America's National Forests, Parks, Monuments and
Refuges to timber companies and other special interests, with taxpayers footing
the bill."
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Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org
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