Hello fellow Iowa Sierrans - I just got a call from Sierra National letting me know that today is the day we really need phone calls to our reps. in Washington on this issue. Here is the info. again - there is still time to make calls that count! Please refer to the talking points and information below if you have time. If you are very busy today (aren't we all!), Sierra National asks that you take just a minute to make a brief call and say: "Please preserve the Roadless Area Conservation Rule." BTW - If you are in Nussle's neighborhood, his # is (202) 225-2911. Also - if you have a local Sierra Group e-mail list of members who aren't subscribed to the Iowa-Topics listserve, please forward this message to everyone. THANK YOU! Best, Ericka Dana, ICAG & Iowa ExCom ---------- > From: Jane Clark <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Protect Our National Forests - Vote Expected Tuesday > > Take Action to Protect Our National Forests > > Call the toll-free number to connect directly with the Capitol switchboard > at (888) 569-8906 or via the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask for > your Member of Congress. Deliver the message: > *Support the Inslee-Shays Amendment -- this is the Roadless Area > Conservation Amendment. > > The toll free number will remain active until the vote happens, so if your > Rep. is undecided or waivering, please keep the calls coming. > > Congressional action on our wild National Forest areas is fast approaching. > Most likely by Tuesday night, July 16 the House of Representatives will vote > on an amendment to protect 60 million acres of the last unspoiled roadless > areas in our National Forests from logging and road-building, leaving them > for Americans to enjoy. The measure would ensure that the popular Roadless > Area Conservation Rule goes into effect for one year. > > We need your help. Contact your representatives and urge them to stand up > for our National Forests by voting for the Roadless Area Conservation > amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill. Americans have already made > their feelings clear: they want our last remaining wild forests protected. > > Tell your Representative that: > - Wild roadless areas need protection > - Forest Service should not waste taxpayer funds on logging and roads > - This amendment will not stop the Forest Service from ANY fire > suppression or fire management activity > (It is important to remember that the Roadless Rule allows for fire > management such as the removal of small-diameter trees and the > construction of roads for public safety reasons. The construction of > fire-lines into roadless areas is also allowed. However, Forest Service > documents conclude that roadless areas are not a high priority compared > to areas nearer to homes and communities. It also important to note > that Roadless Conservation Rule does not restrict existing rights to > access to private or state in-holdings.) > > Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Christopher Shays will be an offering an > amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill to cut funding for new > roadless area roadbuilding and logging projects. The amendment would > halt nearly fifty pending projects and send a strong signal to the > Forest Service not to bother planning any additional ones. The vote is > expected to happen on Tuesday. > > For more information on protecting our National Forests, go to > http://www.sierraclub.org/logging/ > > Enclosed are some talking points which will be distributed to Congress > by American Lands tomorrow. > > Roadless Area Conservation is Strongly Supported by the American People > > During the roadless rulemaking process, the Forest Service has received > 2.2 million public comments, more than any rulemaking in American > history. Over 95% of the respondents favored strong roadless area > conservation. In addition, the Forest Service held over 600 public > hearings, including two meetings on every National Forest. Again, of > the 25,000 citizens who showed up and spoke out, 95% favored strong > roadless area protection. Public opinion polls by pollsters of both > parties indicate solid majority support (70-75%) among Republicans and > Democrats from all regions of the nation. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT > to [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]