Sneaky Riders Still a Threat

[Guest guest]

URGENT: STOP CONGRESS' ENVIRONMENTAL SNEAK ATTACK!

Date: 000921

From: " Dennis W. Schvejda " {dschvejda@...}

Each year, by September 30, Congress must pass legislation to fund

federal agencies or risk a government shutdown. Unfortunately, as in

previous years, some in Congress exploit this opportunity and attach

dozens of anti-environmental riders. This year the count is 45.

These so-called riders are amendments unrelated to the spending

bills. They are a backdoor attack on our nation's environmental laws.

This strategy avoids the public scrutiny that accompanies

Congressional hearings, committee approval, and subject-specific votes

in the House and the Senate.

SOME OF THE RIDERS WOULD...

- EXEMPT old-growth forests from all environmental protections, under

the guise of fire " protection. "

- DOUBLE logging of our National Forests.

- DELAY grizzly bear recovery efforts.

- ALLOW damaging grazing on public lands without environmental

review.

- DELAY U.S. efforts to combat global warming.

- PREVENT stronger taxpayer protections from problems caused by large

mines. Current regulations have left taxpayers potentially liable

for more than $1 billion in mine cleanup costs.

- PROHIBIT federal agencies from spending any money to further study

dam removal to save endangered Snake River salmon.

- USE taxpayer dollars to target Yellowstone bison.

- LIMIT funding for Endangered Species listings.

- PREVENT citizens, and the courts, from ordering the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service to complete Endangered Species protections.

- PROHIBIT funds for implementation of needed pesticide protections.

For a complete list and explanation of the riders (over 20 pages!)

visit: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/riders/fy2001riderslist.pdf

**WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* DEMAND that your Representative vote AGAINST all appropriations

bills until they are free of ALL anti-environmental riders!

* DEMAND that your Representative represent YOUR interests, NOT

special interests!

* DEMAND that President Clinton VETO appropriations bills until they

are free of ALL anti-environmental riders!

Conservation organizations will be fighting an uphill battle to

encourage Congress to strike these damaging provisions and persuade

the President to veto any spending bills containing anti-environmental

riders. Your response to this alert will help these efforts a great

deal.

Visit http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/riders

Here you'll find a pre-written message. Modify it, or send as is, to

your Representative, Vice President Gore, and President Clinton,

encouraging them to vote against or veto any legislation containing

anti-environmental riders. You don't have to know who your Rep. is, or

their specific e-mail address. The web alert software takes care of

that with an address look-up.

Thanks for your help,

Dennis

# # #

Dennis W. Schvejda

Conservation Chair

NJ Chapter Sierra Club

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