Ask your Congressional Delegation to Support the Boxer/Miller LWCF Bill

Permanent Protection for America's Resources 2000
CALL FOR COSPONSORS

Folks,

On February 23rd, Representative George Miller and Senator Barbara Boxer will be introducing landmark legislation to create long-overdue, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). In addition, their bill will give hundreds of millions of dollars to federal, state and local projects to protect wildlife habitat.

Both Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) have also introduced their own versions of this bill. Their bills would permanently fund LWCF, but would give hundreds of millions of dollars to states that allow offshore oil drilling for "coastal impact assistance". This sends the wrong message to states that have done the right thing by not allowing offshore oil development, and gives them an incentive (pools of money to go along with the pools of oil) to allow offshore oil development. If that weren't enough, the money given to "coastal impact assistance" in Young and Murkowski's bills could be used for coastal development, including roads and bridges for oil companies to continue operations.

Unfortunately, the Young and Murkowksi bills have a head start on the Miller/Boxer bill. They have already been introduced and are gaining support. We need to support the Miller/Boxer bill to send the message to Congress that environmentalists support funding for increased wildlife and habitat protections, not increased offshore oil drilling.

The Miller/Boxer bill represent an enormous opportunity to win much-needed funding to help protect America's wildlife and wildlands. I urge you to take the time to call your Senators and Representative today.

Thanks,

Roger Featherstone
GREEN Director

WHAT TO DO

This bill URGENTLY needs all of our support.

Call your Senators and Representative immediately.

Capitol switchboard 1-202-224-2321

Tell them to be an original cosponsor to Rep. Miller and Sen. Boxer's bill called "Permanent Protection for America's Resources 2000". Fax or e-mail your members of Congress as well!

For more information contact GREEN's Grassroots Coordinator, Eric Wingerter, (202) 682-9400 x236.

Permanent Protection for America's Resources 2000

On February 23rd, Congressman George Miller and Senator Barbara Boxer will introduce a bill to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and give millions more dollars to habitat and wildlife protection. Known as "Permanent Protection for America's Resources 2000 (PPAR 2000), the bill will have many of the same positive initiatives found in President Clinton's Lands Legacy Initiative with some notable improvements. The bill's $2.5 billion in funding will be distributed in the following manner:

$350 million distributed to states for the development and implementation of comprehensive native wildlife conservation plans;
$900 million to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This includes $450 million for federal land acquisitions and $450 million for a state matching grant program for the purchase of lands or creation of recreation facilities;
$300 million for grants to states and private entities for the development of restoration and management plans for ocean fish and wildlife;
$100 million towards incentives for endangered species protections by private landowners;
$250 million for maintenance and restoration work on existing federal lands;
$100 million for urban parks;
$150 million for historic preservation; and
$150 million for farmland and open space conservation.

Unlike two other bills in Congress that also permanently fund LWCF, the Miller bill does not create incentives for increased offshore oil drilling or allow funds to be used for coastal development. In addition, funds dispersed to state wildlife agencies for wildlife conservation will be given to species with the most pressing need, raising the likelihood that non-game and endangered species will benefit.

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