Remember how the U.S. House of Representatives tried to stuff the Farm Bill with attacks on the Endangered Species Act, the Roadless Rule, and other existing laws that conserve our shared natural resources such as our own Hoosier National Forest?
Well, now the Senate Agricultural Committee is reviewing the Farm Bill’s Forestry policy — which is supposed to be about conservation. Now is the time to thank Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly in advance for helping to craft a bipartisan bill that will “keep the bill clean” and resist any amendments that cater to special interests — such as the logging industry.
The Wilderness Society is a national organization keeping watch on these issues. They shared the current draft of the Farm Bill, and issued this request to all forest advocates:
CONTACT Senator Joe Donnelly. He sits on the Senate Ag Committee: (317) 231-7108 /info@joeforindiana.com.
If you say one thing: I support the Senate’s effort to produce a bipartisan farm bill by including a federal forestry title focused on conservation, collaboration, and other bipartisan policies, not on reckless environmental rollbacks intended to promote logging on our national forests above all else.
If you say two things: Senators should reject any amendments to the farm bill that eliminate environmental review of national forest management projects, cut out public participation, force arbitration on forest management projects, or attack conservation and species protections, such as the Roadless Rule, Endangered Species Act, or National Environmental Policy Act.
More Talking Points:
– The House and Senate farm bills offer wildly different visions for the future of our National Forests.
– The Senate farm bill renews important Forest Service programs, such as the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) and promotes the public’s use of our national forests.
– The Senate bill preserves the Roadless Rule, which protects water, wildlife, and popular recreation destinations on our national forests from harmful logging and road building.
– The Senate bill expands the National Wilderness Preservation System by designating more than 25,000 acres of public lands in Tennessee and Virginia as wilderness.
– The Senate Farm bill allows the Forest Service to get to work with the public in protecting the clean water, soil, wildlife habitat, recreational, and natural values of our national forests.
– In contrast, the House bill includes fringe, partisan attacks on environmental protections, public input on projects, and endangered species while prioritizing logging over clean water, recreation, and wildlife.
– For years the Congressional debate over forest management has been framed by the need to address hazardous fuels and wildfire. The recently enacted fire funding fix is an opportunity for the Forest Service to use their existing tools to work with the public and address the needs of our national forests.
– Congress should stop trying to legislate logging projects and allow the Forest Service to use the many tools it has at its disposal to keep our communities safe from wildfire and protect the priceless values that our national forests provide.
– Keep public lands in public hands! All Americans deserve a chance to have a say in how national forest lands are managed, not just the timber industry.
What’s the timing of this legislation? We expect the bill to move to the Senate floor shortly after markup and prior to the July 4 recess.
We will succeed or fail in defending our forests from attacks via the Farm Bill based on whether we can persuade the Democrats on the Senate Ag Committee to resist suspect amendments. Let’s give Donnelly the support he needs!
Our friends at the Hoosier Environmental Council could use extra help spreading the word about this issue. Can you help? If so, please contact HEC’s Wilderness Protection Campaign Coordinator, Marianne Holland, at mholland@hecweb.org or (317) 981-3210
