Action Alert Letters

Iowa republican Representative Jim Leach, remarked recently that "the U.S. government is the only property owner that I know of that pays private parties to deplete its own resources." And what do we, the American people, get for our plundered assets? More clearcuts and roads to maintain, violated natural lands, silted salmon streams, degraded wildlife habitat, landslides and fouled water supplies.

In April 1996, the Forest Service issued a report which predicts that, by the year 2000 recreation, hunting and fishing on National Forests will contribute 30 times more to the economy than the subsidized logging program. Since only about 4% of our nation's timber supply comes from National Forests, the federal timber sales program is completely unnecessary. In addition, Americans want change in the way their forests are managed. A recent conservative poll showed that 70% of Americans want commercial logging in our national forests to end.

I believe it is time that the government listened to the people on this issue. That’s why I am writing to urge your support for the McKinney-Leach bill, H.R. 1396. This bill, also known as the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act, calls for a phasing out of timber sales over the course of two years, redirects timber subsidies into worker retraining and ecological restoration, and saves taxpayers at least $300 million annually. Please stand tall for the forests that are the birthright of every American. Please help end the insanity that is robbing taxpayers and destroying our National Forests. Please co-sponsor H.R. 1396. Thank you.

Sincerely,

THANK YOU LETTER:

Respectfully,