Forest Trails Bill
We need your help. Now is a critical time for our “Forest Trails” bill. A hearing has been scheduled this week on the bill before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 EST on Thursday, July 16, in Washington DC.
Please contact your senators today. You can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.225.3121 and ask to be connected to the office of one of your senators. Or you can locate contact information for your senators here.
Once connected, ask to speak to a staff person who handles public land issues for the senator. Then describe your support for Senate Bill 1110, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act. Consider using some or all of the talking points, below.
1. I am a resident of (state) and a member of Back Country Horsemen of America;
2. I support Senate Bill 1110, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act;
3. The bill is important to trail riders and all trail users in the state;
4. The bill will improve trail maintenance without adding to the federal deficit;
5. The bill is bi-partisan and supported by a wide range of public land trail users; and
6. I would like the Senator to please co-sponsor Senate Bill 1110.
Background
You’ll recall from previous alerts that BCHA, along with partners American Horse Council and The Wilderness Society, are working diligently to persuade Congress to move forward on the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act. In the House of Representatives the bill’s number is H.R. 845. Your earlier calls and letters have been effective, as the bill now has 52 co-sponsors in the House!
The Forest Trails bill was introduced in the Senate in late April. It was forwarded to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, whose membership is listed here.
It’s critical you call your senators prior to Thursday.
More information regarding the bill can be found on BCHA’s website, for your reference. Thank you for taking action to support forest trails!
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Get to Know BCHA’s New Chairman
Click here to view a short article about BCHA’s new Chairman, Don Saner, who was voted in during BCHA’s National Board Meeting in late April. The article appeared last week in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, News & Guide. We’re proud of the story this article conveys about BCHA, the chapter that Don founded, and the passion for volunteer service shared by Don and Karen!
Out-going BCHA Chairman, Jim McGarvey, was term-limited. But he happily signed up to serve as BCHA’s Executive Director–on a volunteer basis, no less–for up to two years. Jim and his wife, Cindy Mitchell, have accomplished much in terms of elevating the profile and professionalism of BCHA. We’re thrilled that this dynamite duo will remain heavily engaged in BCHA’s day-to-day affairs (Cindy maintains BCHA’s Facebook site, among things).
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View Public Land Fact Sheets on BCHA’s Website
Take a look at BCHA’s website for new fact sheets on congressional actions that could affect your use and enjoyment of federal public lands. We recently added fact sheets regarding the need to promote:
• The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act,
• Reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund,
• Keeping public lands in public hands by opposing attempts for large-scale sales or transfers of federal public lands to the states.
Lastly, we added to our website an informative slideshow presented during BCHA’s National Board Meeting (April 2015) by Dr. Rob Atwill, University of California-Davis, titled “Science and Research on Packstock and Waterborne Pathogens: Misconceptions, Realities and the Way Forward.” Check it out.
Dr. Atwill’s presentation contains some eye-popping statistics that help us push back against the (largely baseless) accusations that horses and packstock serve as vectors for the introduction of waterborne pathogens.
Thank you! Please call your senators today in support of S.1110.
Randy Rasmussen, Advisor for Public Lands & Recreation
Back Country Horsemen of America
Back Country Horsemen of America | | peg@bcha.org |
P.O. Box 1367
Graham, WA 98338