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." ### 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp