COUNTDOWN TO CARA!

Countdown to CARA Campaign Beginning: 5...4...3...

Five weeks remain until the April recess for the House of Representatives. To encourage grassroots support of H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), the National Wildlife Federation, as well as other environmental groups, have started the Countdown to CARA Campaign.

This is a grassroots effort designed to help H.R. 701 reach a floor vote and be successfully passed by the House of Representatives before the April recess. We are asking activists to focus on one advocacy activity per week leading up to April 15th. Enclosed is an Action Alert detailing the campaign, including the advocacy actions for the first three weeks. If you are unable to view this attachment, please contact Josh Brann, at mailto:%20brann@nwf.org, or 202-797-6605.

Following this message is the text of sample thank you and support letters to send to your representative. The first letter is for those members who are already cosponsors, the second letter is for those who are not cosponsors at this time (double check the text before you send them!). If you were in Washington, D.C. two weeks ago for the Wildlife Rally and were able to meet with your representative you may consider adding a personalized note as well. A list of the 317 cosponsors of H.R. 701 is available at www.nwf.org/naturefunding. The Countdown to CARA Campaign Action Alert should also be available on our website in the next week or two.

For more information on the Countdown to CARA Campaign or H.R. 701 please contact Josh Brann or Jodi Applegate (mailto:%20brann@nwf.org, 202-797-6605; mailto:%20applegate@nwf.org, 202-797-6840), or visit the National Wildlife Federation website at www.nwf.org/naturefunding.

On behalf of the [enter number of members] members of the [enter name of group], thank you for cosponsoring H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). We greatly appreciate your joining with more than two thirds of the House of Representatives to advance this unprecedented $2.8 billion annual investment to protect America's parks and wildlife.

The broad, bipartisan support that CARA has received from its approximately 317 Republican and Democratic cosponsors reflects the diversity and depth of support from governors, mayors, and a wide range of organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including wildlife associations, park and recreation associations, conservation and smart growth groups, land trusts, the recreation industry, realtors and chambers of commerce, the youth sports community, and garden clubs for a permanent federal investment to protect our nation's parks, wildlife, and natural heritage.

We look forward to working with you to advance CARA to the House Floor for a vote before the April recess.

With the large number of cosponsors it is clear the majority of the House understands the importance of this landmark legislation. We urge you to help CARA reach a floor vote as soon as possible; an early vote is needed to help H.R. 701 continue it's momentum and become law. Please urge House leadership to recognize the will of the majority and bring H.R. 701 to a vote. Our organization looks forward to working with you on the successful passage of CARA to provide much-needed, reliable funding for parks and wildlife. Again, thank you for your cosponsorship.

Sincerely,



Name
Title

On behalf of the [enter number of members] members of the [enter name of group], I am contacting you to urge you to support and become a cosponsor of H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). We greatly appreciate your joining with more than two thirds of the House of Representatives to advance this unprecedented $2.8 billion annual investment to protect America's parks and wildlife.

The broad, bipartisan support that CARA has received from its approximately 317 Republican and Democratic cosponsors reflects the diversity and depth of support from governors, mayors, and a wide range of organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including wildlife associations, park and recreation associations, conservation and smart growth groups, land trusts, the recreation industry, realtors and chambers of commerce, the youth sports community, and garden clubs for a permanent federal investment to protect our nation's parks, wildlife, and natural heritage.

With the large number of cosponsors it is clear the majority of the House understands the importance of this landmark legislation. We urge you to become a cosponsor of CARA, and to help this bill reach a floor vote as soon as possible. Our organization looks forward to working with you on the successful passage of H.R. 701 to provide much-needed, reliable funding for parks and wildlife. Again, thank you for considering cosponsorship of H.R. 701.

Sincerely,



Name
Title