CARA

[superchub]

For those who are interested!
only two weeks left in the schedule for this Congress

The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701 - CARA) sets aside $3
billion of revenues from offshore oil leasing every year for fish,
wildlife, conservation and related activities. We are close to passage.
Two-thirds of the House voted for CARA. The Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee voted for CARA. But powerful Senators have blocked the
Senate from voting on the bill. 63 of 100 Senators sent a letter to the
leadership urging that the bill be brought up for a vote. But time is
running out.

Please write your Senators by clicking on the below link. Even better,
print out the text available at the below link and send it by fax. Or call
your Senators and urge support for a vote on CARA.
http://congress.nw.dc.us/cgi-bin/alertpr.pl?dir=tu&alert=13

[THE EG]

If you really want to be active about this, here are suggestions from the Fish & Wildlife Agencies

To: Friends of the Conservation & Reinvestment Act and Teaming with Wildlife

From: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies


CARA Call-In and Fax Alert!
PLEASE UNDERTAKE THESE 3 ACTIONS TODAY
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26th


Thanks to the unprecedented coalition of more than 5,000 organizations nationwide, including the nation’s governors and mayors, national to local conservation organizations, wildlife and parks directors, sportsman’s groups, civic groups, the sporting goods and outdoor recreation industries, historic preservationists, and the youth sports community, INCLUDING YOU, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) has been elevated from an issue that was once a “non-starter” to one that is in the heart of the debate during last-minute negotiations in the 106th Congress.

In fact, because of our very success, detractors on both sides of the political aisle are working quickly behind the scenes on substitutions to CARA that would diminish the integrity of permanent, comprehensive conservation funding, including funding for state level wildlife conservation, recreation and education. They’re trying to create a watered-down version of CARA - trying to throw us crumbs rather than the cake we have been hard at work baking for SO many years. These negotiations are moving fast and it is imperative that we stand firm in our efforts to achieve landmark conservation funding legislation THAT INCLUDES WILDLIFE FUNDING. THIS IS IT!!! WE NEED TO ROAR LIKE THE TEAMING TIGERS WE ARE!!!

What you can do:

1. Call your Senators today! You can reach them via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Make the following points:
· CARA Reflects American Values: Four out of five Americans, 5,000+ organizations, 50 governors, 1,100 mayors, 315 representatives, 63+ senators, and one president support comprehensive conservation funding through CARA. Follow America’s lead and pass CARA now!
· CARA is a Program that Returns Conservation Funds to States and Local Communities: Eighty percent of the money in the bill will be provided to states for conservation and restoration projects that reflect local concern and needs. This includes $350 million for state level wildlife conservation, recreation and education aimed at preventing species from becoming endangered.
· CARA Can’t Wait: Do not leave Washington this year without passing legislation that would make timely investments in conservation that will pay great dividends for future generations. Indeed, CARA addresses the concern shared by 88 percent of the public that “we must act now or we will lose many special places, and if we wait, what is lost or destroyed cannot be replaced.” We already have over 1000 species on the federal endangered species list; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
2. Fill out the attached form and fax it to your senators after you make your call. You don’t need a cover sheet, just fill out the bottom portion of the fax form and send it immediately after your call. This will give your message twice the power of just one call. Also, please send the fax form to others so they can fax their senators, too. Visual reminders help keep Members of Congress and their staffs focused on the issue at hand.

3. Make two quick calls to the Senate Leadership (Senate Majority leader Trent Lott (202-224-6253) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (202-224-2321). Ask them to use their leadership positions to move CARA through Congress this year.

We don’t have much time. Congress will make their decision soon. Please act TODAY before they act without your voice.

With the support of over 5000 organizations nationwide, confirmed strong public support for CARA values throughout the country, broad bipartisan support in Congress and the White House, there is no question CARA -- the greatest conservation funding program in over half a century -- should be signed into law this year! For more information on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, please visit www.teaming.com (http://www.teaming.com)

[Windknot]

While everything I’ve read about CARA in the Outdoor/Enviro press sounds wonderful and worthwhile, I remain a cynical, grumpy old man whenever politicians profess to do something nice for me. Allow me to play devil’s advocate for a bit.

The Act was sponsored over a year and a half ago by Rep. Don Young, R-AK, who has steadfastly maintained pressure in Congress to vote the Act into law. This is the same Don Young who the environmental press has long accused of dining on baked spotted owl while sitting in front of a roaring old-growth fire, and who feeds his dog team freshly-netted king salmon.

Question 1 – Has the leopard suddenly changed his spots? Is this guy now a friend of fish & wildlife, hiking trails & soccer fields? Not to mention a paragon of bipartisan support?

Question 2 – Nah, I didn’t think so either. So, where does the money trail point?

A couple observations and I’ll go wash my hands. The postings Jimmy & SC put on the board used the word “permanent” to describe the funding, but the Act now has a life of 15 years. And news articles on the Act refer to the strong likelihood that it will be attached to an appropriations bill at the end of the session, which gives cover and semi-plausible deniability to congresspersons if it turns out to be a dog – “We had to keep the government from shutting down!”

My political trust factor was never very high, and certainly never extended to any politician for very long. I want very much for this Act to be what we think it will be – just don’t ask me to bet on it.

Don

[NiteOwl]

I must admit that I too have wishy washed on this for lack of info, at tiimes, and lak of trust, also, Don. Who knows anymore.


Soon, we'll all be living in Socialist America and trout and deer and woodlands will be the least of our worries, I'm afraid.