Here's the good news - we're one step closer to rid the Omnibus
Appropriations bill of the Tongass Anti-Wilderness rider. Senator Boxer
has agreed to offer a second degree amendment to strike the Tongass
language. We don't have final information yet on which first degree
amendment this will be offered on.

Again, thanks to everyone who has been able to generate grassroots on
the Tongass rider. It's gotten us this far which is a major
accomplishment. Pasted below is the updated alert with the
NEW ask re: the Boxer Amendment. Your help getting the new Tongass Alert
out is much appreciated!

Scott Hed




TONGASS VOTE EXPECTED TOMORROW!

Here's how you can help!

CALL your Senators (202-224-3121) and ask them to SUPPORT SENATOR
BARBARA BOXER's AMENDMENT TO PROTECT THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST.

If you're from California, call to THANK SENATOR BOXER FOR HER
LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT THE TONGASS!

Or send a fax directly from the Alaska Rainforest Campaign website:
http://www.akrain.org/action/faxes/actionpage.asp

UPDATE
Thanks to your efforts, we are one step closer to defeating the Tongass
Anti-Wilderness rider that is buried deep in the pages of the sweeping
in the budget bill.

Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) is leading the way in the Senate! She will
offer the amendment to strike the Tongass Anti-Wilderness language from
the bill.  Now is the time to keep up a steady drumbeat of calls, faxes
and emails in favor of protecting the Tongass. The Alaska delegation in
the Senate and their anti-wilderness supporters won't stop their
backdoor attempts. And neither will we! We've got the momentum going in
our favor - let's keep it that way.

The Tongass Anti-Wilderness rider is a short sentence inserted by Alaska
Senator Ted Stevens provides that a nine million acre wilderness review
underway for the Tongass may NOT be subject to further Forest Service
public appeal process or any judicial review by any court in the United
States.  The Forest Service had been scheduled to release its decision
on whether to recommend wilderness in the Alaska Forest in late
February. 

After their draft review recommended no new wilderness areas, Alaskans
and the American public were outraged and in record numbers asked the
Forest Service that valuable areas be protected. The Tongass Wilderness
review comments represent one of the largest outpourings of public
response to protect any single forest in the nation. Almost 100 percent
of the comments asked the Forest Service to designate more wilderness in
the Tongass.

SAMPLE PHONE MESSAGE:

"Hello, I'm a constituent from your state and I oppose the backdoor
attempt which threatens America's Rainforest and seeks to silence the
public's overwhelming support for the Tongass National Forest. I urge
you to support Senator Boxer's amendment to protect the Tongass National
Forest."


SAMPLE EMAIL OR FAX MESSAGE:

Dear Senator,

I'm a constituent from your state and I oppose the backdoor attempt
which threatens America's Rainforest and seeks to silence the public's
overwhelming support for the Tongass National Forest. I urge you to
support Senator Boxer's amendment to protect the Tongass National
Forest.

Senator Boxer's amendment seeks to strike a Tongass Anti-Wilderness
rider which would prohibit any further Forest Service public appeal
process or any judicial review by any court in the United States. The
Forest Service had been scheduled to release its decision on whether to
recommend wilderness in the Alaska Forest in late February.  After their
draft review recommended no new wilderness areas, Alaskans and the
American public were outraged and in record numbers asked the Forest
Service asking that valuable areas be protected. The comments represent
one of the largest outpourings of public response to protect any single
forest in the nation.

The Tongass National Forest, stretching 500 miles along the southeastern
coast of Alaska, is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the
world. It is also the last expanse of old growth rainforest in the
United States. Please don't let a backdoor rider silence America's
support for this national treasure.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

NAME and full address


***

For more information please contact Laurie Cooper, Alaska Coalition
Forest Outreach Director ([log in to unmask]) or call (202)
544-0475.

Laurie Cooper
Forest Outreach Director
Alaska Coalition
122 C Street, NW - Suite 240
Washington, DC 20001
(202)544-0475, Fax: (202)544-5197

Visit us on the web www.alaskacoalition.org!




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