On November 10, the House Resources Committee approved, on a vote of 37-12, legislation providing $2.8 billion off-budget annually for conservation
programs through the year 2015. H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment
Act:

• fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund - a fund that buys parks,
  open space and wildlands at the federal and state levels - at $900 million
  annually
• funds the "Teaming with Wildlife" program without the onerous "backpack
  tax"
• provides $200 million for federal land restoration projects.

The bill also creates a coastal impact assistance program and provides
dollars for urban parks, historic preservation and conservation easements.

13 Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill.

Thanks to all ORCA members who contacted Resources Committee members in
support of reporting the bill to the full House. Thanks should go to all
House Members who voted in support of the legislation. (See vote count
below).

This is a huge step forward for legislation that helps our industry in many;
many ways. Not only does it provide recreation and land conservation dollars
at the local, state and federal levels, it puts the "backpack tax" on the
backburner, probably for decades to come.

Moving this bill out of the House Resources Committee is just the first step
in this landmark effort. We anticipate the bill will change as it moves
through the process. House floor action will not take place until next year,
and Senate action has not yet begun. Stay tuned as this historic legislation
moves forward!

Rep. Don Young(R-AK) Y
Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) Y
Rep. Jim Hansen (R-UT) Y
Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) Y
Rep Elton Gallegly (R-CA) N
Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) --
Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO) Y
Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) N
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) Y
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) N
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) N
Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) N
Rep. Helen Chenoweth(R-ID) N
Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) --
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) Y
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) N
Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) Y
Rep. Ken Brady (R-TX) Y
Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) --
Rep. Rick Hill (R-MT) N
Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO) N
Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) N
Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) Y
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) N
Rep. Don Sherwood (PA) Y
Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) Y
Rep. Mike Simpson (R- ID) N
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R- CO) Y
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) Y
Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) Y
Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN) Y
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) Y
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Y
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) Y
Rep. NeilAbercrombie (D-HI) Y
Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) Y
Rep. Owen Pickett (D-VA) Y
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Y
Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-CA) Y
Rep. Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR) Y
Rep. Robert Underwood (D-GU) Y
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Y
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) Y
Rep. Chris John (D-LA) Y
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI) Y
Rep. Ron Kind (R-WI) Y
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) Y
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) Y
Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) Y
Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) Y
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) Y
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) Y

Yea 37
Nay 12
Not voting 3

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