I. WHERE ON EARTH IS CARA?

II. CARA LEADERS MEET WITH CLINTON

III. SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS

I. CARA Vote Not Scheduled Before Earth Day

Two recent editorials in newspapers of national importance, the Los Angeles Times and the Miami Herald, have asked the question many of us are beginning to wonder: why hasn't the House leadership scheduled H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) for a vote? Earth Day is approaching and despite great external and internal pressure the House Speaker, Majority Leader and Majority Whip have yet to set a date for the consideration of CARA on the House floor. With 316 co-sponsors and the backing of citizens and local leaders across the country, the broad support for CARA is clear; House leadership must respond to this overwhelming call for conservation funding legislation.

While the failure of CARA to reach the House floor before the April recess is not the end of the game for this landmark conservation bill, it is highly disappointing. We must continue to pressure House leaders to ensure that CARA comes to a vote as early in May as possible. The longer H.R. 701 languishes off stage the smaller its chances of being enacted this year become. Congress must not allow this unique window of opportunity for historic conservation legislation to close. Contact your Representative today and ask them to demand a vote on CARA from the House leadership.

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II. CARA and CASA Sponsors and Supporters Meet with Clinton on Conservation Funding

Senate and House supporters of conservation funding legislation met with President Clinton on April 11th to discuss the status of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701, S. 2123- CARA) and the Conservation and Stewardship Act (S. 2181- CASA). The meeting included CARA House sponsors Don Young (R-AK) and George Miller (D-CA), John Dingell (D-MI) and Chris John (D-LA); Senate CARA sponsors Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Frank Murkowski (R-AK); and Senate CASA sponsor Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).

The President expressed his strong support for the bipartisan legislation that has been crafted, and encouraged members to pass H.R. 701 through the House as quickly as possible. After the meeting Miller said "The President made very clear that he believes this kind of strong, permanent commitment to the preservation of our natural heritage needs to be enacted without further delay." Clinton's message builds on the pressure from citizens and the media on House leadership to schedule a floor vote for H.R. 701 as soon as possible.

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III. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to Hold Hearings on S. 2123, S. 2181

The Senate version of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), S. 2123, and the Conservation and Stewardship Act (CASA), S. 2181, have been slated for hearings in mid-May by the Senate Environment and Public Works committee. These committee hearings are a great opportunity for momentum to be built in the Senate for the cause of conservation funding. The National Wildlife Federation and other individuals and organizations will take this opportunity to show our strong support of conservation funding legislation by submitting testimony to the committee. It is expected that these hearings will help catalyze efforts to develop a consensus bill in the Senate.

For more information on CARA, CASA or conservation funding, visit the NWF Conservation Funding program website, or contact Jodi Applegate or Josh Brann (202-797-6840, mailto:%20applegate@nwf.org; or 202-797-6605, mailto:%20brann@nwf.org).

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