Hello Friends of the
Tongass National Forest,
I am writing to you because we are now at the point of seeing action in
Congress that will once again eliminate the road building funding on the Tongass
National Forest. In the past three years there has been an amendment
brought to the Interior Appropriations Bill that eliminates this huge
taxpayer waste. Two of the last three years it has passed overwhelmingly with
bi-partisan support, the third year it was pulled before the vote but most
likely would have passed.
Since 1982
(longest we have records) $1Billion taxpayer dollars have been spent
building roads in the Tongass for industry access to old growth, on average $40
million a year. For many reasons this is not acceptable, taxpayers
overwhelmingly do not want roadless areas of the national forests impacted, the
local economy of southeast Alaska is primarily based on standing forests -
hunting, fishing, and tourism, roadbuilding on the Tongass is extremely
expensive and a money loser to the FS, plus the timber sales put forward are not
competitive, with usually only one bidder on a sale (if there are any, many
sales are put forward and have no bids).
So far we have not heard
how Congressman Boswell will
vote on this amendment, but he has
not supported it in the past - the timing for
votes is late May or possibly into early June.
I could really use your help in
two ways - ONE - please write or call Boswell (ask for/direct
to Enviro staffer Alexis Taylor) and ask the Congressman to support this important
amendment. (202-225-3806
[log in to unmask] ) Let me know if you hear that he
will support, oppose, or is undecided.
AND TWO - consider
writing a letter to the editor of a district paper. I have email LTE contact
for the Des Moines Register
below, plus sample LTEs to base a letter
from.
Also
attached are internal talking points on this issue, plus a general
factsheet.
It is time
to urge Congressman Boswell to help stop taxpayer waste and support
this amendment when it comes forward. It
would be great to have your help on this, if there are questions /
concerns please let me know and I can provide further information. (also - forward this note to others who support Tongass
protection).
Thanks!
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