----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Hed<mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: undisclosed-recipients:<mailto:undisclosed-recipients:> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 1:23 PM Subject: Tongass National Forest Update Tongass Amendment Not Offered But Effort To End Wasteful Spending Continues May 20, 2005 Dear Activists, Last night, May 19, 2005, Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Robert Andrews (D-NJ) offered their Tongass Subsidy Amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill. Unfortunately, due to a sneaky procedural maneuver by our opposition, led by Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA), the amendment was stopped before members of Congress had the chance to vote on the measure. We believe that it was the broad spectrum of support for this amendment from budget watchdog groups, sportsman organizations, religious leaders, conservationists and over 100 small businesses in Southeast Alaska, in addition to our outpouring of support from activists all over the country, forced our opposition to resort to this tricky political tactic to avoid a vote. While they may have prevented the vote from happening this time, we will have more opportunities to bring this amendment back for a vote. Furthermore, our champions in the House and our broad coalition of groups will continue working to get this amendment passed. Right now it is very important to let our members of Congress know that this latest move by our opposition has not stopped us and we will to continue fighting until something is done to stop wasteful spending in the Tongass National Forest. To help us get this message out, please contact your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to keep fighting to end taxpayer subsidies used to build new logging roads in the Tongass National Forest. To Take Action Now: 1. Call Your Members of Congress : <http://capwiz.com/awc/callalert/index.tt?alertid=7628616&type=CO<http://capwiz.com/awc/callalert/index.tt?alertid=7628616&type=CO>> Click here to find a phone number for each of your Members of Congress and talking points. 2. Email Your Members of Congress : <http://capwiz.com/awc/issues/alert/?alertid=7628431&type=CO<http://capwiz.com/awc/issues/alert/?alertid=7628431&type=CO>> Click here to send an email to your Senators and Representatives. 3. Be an Organizer: Ask your family and friends to call and email their Representatives as well. The more calls and emails we get into their offices the better are chances are! Now more than ever we need to tell Congress that we don't want to pay to pave and log America's Rainforest! More Information: At a time when the government is running huge budget deficits, the Forest Service wasted $48 million taxpayer dollars last year to subsidize the timber industry's clearcutting of America's Rainforest -and they want to continue to throw good money after bad. If the Bush administration were to stick to its proposed logging schedule in the Tongass, over the next decade America's taxpayers could expect losses totaling over $1.2 billion-a hefty price tag for clearcutting America's Rainforest. If the President and Congress are serious about cutting government waste, the subsidy to the logging industry in Alaska is a good place to start. It should not be the responsibility of American taxpayers to foot the bill to clearcut America's rainforest. American taxpayers deserve better and so does America's Rainforest. Let's keep telling Congress to support the Chabot/Andrews Amendment to stop using taxpayer subsidies to log our nation's largest National Forest. If you have any questions or want to know other ways you can help, please send an email to <mailto:[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sincerely, The Alaska Coalition <http://www.alaskacoalition.org/<http://www.alaskacoalition.org/>> www.alaskacoalition.org<http://www.alaskacoalition.org/> Scott Hed Director of Sportsmen Outreach Alaska Coalition 231 S. Phillips Avenue, # 361 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 605-336-6738 office 605-351-1646 mobile www.alaskacoalition.org<http://www.alaskacoalition.org/> Scott Hed Director of Sportsmen Outreach Alaska Coalition 231 S. Phillips Avenue, # 361 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 605-336-6738 office 605-351-1646 mobile www.alaskacoalition.org<http://www.alaskacoalition.org/> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp