The work at Conservation Alliance wouldn't be possible without all of our outdoor industry brand members. But a lot of them aren't only involved with Conservation Alliance; many of our member brands are committed to a diverse variety of environmental causes. Today we're thanking all of the companies that recently signed our letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, urging him to make time to consider a package of public lands bills during the lame duck session of Congress.
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Conservation Alliance Executive Director John Sterling hand-delivered the letter, signed by over 35 member companies, to key Senate offices last week while he was in DC.
From John:
"It is still hard to tell whether the bills will come up, but there was certainly a lot of discussion in each office we visited about the possibility. Given the many issues Congress wants to tackle before Christmas, a lands package faces a steep uphill battle with a very tight timeline. But there are some powerful and motivated members of Congress pushing hard for it. I will keep you all posted as the effort progresses. Regardless, thank you for helping us make a strong case for these important conservation measures."
Leaders of the House Natural Resources Committee are currently discussing a list of possible bills they would like to see included in a more massive public lands, wildlife and waterways bill.
From The PEW Environment Group:
"On the list are a committee-passed proposal to turn the Devil's Staircase in Oregon into federally protected wilderness where logging and road development would be banned, and a House-passed bill to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington state and extend the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River's wild and scenic river protections.
More controversial bills include the "America's Red Rocks Wilderness Act," a bill that would designate more than 9 million acres as protected wilderness in Utah — including Desolation Canyon, the Grand Staircase-Escalante area and Glen Canyon — but has yet to be passed by the committee and lacks support from the Utah delegation."
More here.