Hello Alaska Coalition Leaders,

This is an advanced notice on the Chabot/Andrews amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill, it is slated to come to votes on the House floor the next week either Tues or more likely Thurs.

I wanted to get this warning out and am hoping that you can all help with getting an alert out to your lists, it may be Friday/Monday call-in if the vote is Tues [or] on Tues/Wed call-in if the vote is set for Thurs. A full alert with proper call in information and hopefully an 800 number will be forwarded soon for our use.

Brief:

At a time when the government is running huge budget deficits, the Forest Service is wasting $48 million taxpayer dollars each year to subsidize building logging Roads to Nowhere used by the timber industry to clearcut the Tongass--America’s Rainforest in Alaska. Taxpayers from Iowa shouldn’t have to pay to destroy the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. This appalling subsidy can be stopped. Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) will be offering an amendment to the FY2007 Department of Interior spending bill to stop more taxpayer subsidized road construction in the Tongass.

Congress has the power to stop this irresponsible spending and harm to our country’s wild forests in Alaska. An identical amendment offered by Chabot and Andrews in 2004 passed the House with strong bipartisan support (222-205), but was later removed during conference.

(supported by Rep. Leach) We are trying to work particularly with Rep Bosworth and Leach's office at this time, but all should be receiving calls if possible.

For more information please contact me,

thanks,

Lois Norrgard
Regional Organizer
Alaska Coalition
10368 Columbus Circle
Bloomington MN 55420
ph/fx: 952.881-7282
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