Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 12:53:34 EDT Reply-To: GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding Comments: Resent-From: GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU Comments: Originally-From: William Benner From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: CARA Emergency Hi all -- As hopefully many of you are aware, there are some important actions this week regarding CARA (the Conservation and Reinvestment Act) which would direct some much-needed resources towards conservation. The following message forwarded from BirdChat should be read carefully, and please, tak= e some time to call the bill's sponsors as well as our own senators (Sarban= es and Mikulski). If we all wait for something to happen, it probably won't! Thanks, Gail Mackiernan, MC/MOS Conservation Chair ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- This is from the PABIRDS listserv: >Ya-all, > >My appologies for regaling the list with another political appeal. Suff= ice >it to say that this is really a critical moment, and that action is VERY >EASY. I called the numbers below, and they DIDN'T even ask my NAME. Ju= st >my state! >If you can support the CARA bill (money for wildlife), then consider mak= ing >this call. THANKS. Dan Brauning, Lycoming County. >>RED FLASH - TUESDAY, JULY 11 >> >>I've just heard that the property rights folks and other CARA >>opponents are trying to swamp CARA with a negative >>phone-in campaign designed to delay the committee mark >>up. >> >>A Pennsylvania CARA supporter who called Murkowski's >>office this morning was told that Murkowski is receiving many >>calls about CARA, but the majority are negative! >> >>WE MUST GO TO BAT FOR CARA ONCE AGAIN!! Please >>call today! We cannot let Senators Murkowski and >>Bingaman think that CARA's opponents speak for all of us! >>They should not lose their momentum on this bill! >>The time has come to cut CARA loose and let it sink or swim >>on its own merits. >> >>The message is simple: >> >>1. The nation's conservationists want S.2123 to be enacted >>this year. >> >>2. CARA must be moved out of committee on July 18-19 - the >>mark-up cannot be delayed again. >> >>3. This is a bill of national importance - we must reinvest in >>our nation's open space and wildlife while there is still time. >> >>> >Frank Murkowski (AK) >>> >322 Hart Bldg >>> >Washington DC 20510 >>> >phone: 202-224-6665 >>> >fax: 202-224-5301 >>> > >>> > >>> >Jeff Bingaman (NM) >>> >703 Hart Bldg >>> >Washington DC 20510 >>> >phone: 202-224-5521 >>> >fax: 202-224-2852 >> >>Please make the phone call today!! >I can't be the only one on this list who doesn't know the nature of the >CARA legislation which we are being asked to support. I don't even >recognize the acronym. Can someone supply a short summary of what >this legislation does? CARA stands for the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, and with all respect, I find it terribly discouraging that at this late date, active birders wouldn't know that CARA would direct up to $40 billion in offshor= e oil money to wildlife and conservation over the next 15 years. Less than two months ago, Pennsylvania conservationists helped lead the charge that pushed the House to approve it by an overwhelming 315-102 vote. This is the big enchilada, folks -- the kind of serious money we in the conservation community have been pleading for over the years, for researc= h, education, land acquisition, wildlife protection and a lot more, includin= g green space and historical preservation and community recreation. (Ironically, the money, which comes from offshore drilling royalties, was supposed to have been used for these purposes decades ago, but Congress h= as never appropriated it.) Here at home, it would mean tens of millions of dollars a year in federal matching grants to Pennsylvania agencies for wildlife conservation. What follows is a short press release about CARA that came out today fr= om the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which has be= en working for years to create a stable funding source for conservation. It should answer most of the questions about CARA. Thanks, Scott Weidensaul sweidnsl@pottsville.infi.net Schuylkill Haven, Pa. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Naomi Edelson ATTENTION: National Desk/Environmental Reporter/ Outdoor Writer Sara Marinello July 12, 2000 (202) 624-7890 teaming@sso.org Media Update CARA Continues to Build Strong Support Washington, DC - The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) would guarantee $40 billion over 15 years for federal, state and local conservation programs such as wildlife conservation, parks, outdoor recreation, coastal restoration and historic preservation. Since the House's May 11th passage of CARA by an overwhelming margin of 315-102, th= e landmark conservation legislation continues to build momentum as it races for passage in the Senate. Here are some highlights of CARA's progress si= nce it passed the House: * The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a marku= p and vote on CARA for July 18-19th in 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The next step is a full Senate floor vote, expected in September. * Over 52 Senators are now cosponsoring CARA or related legislation that would reinvest federal outer continental shelf oil and gas revenue in conservation (see http://www.teaming.com/sen_co.htm). * All fifty governors, as well as the National Governors' Association, th= e Western Governors' Association and the Southern Governors' Association, h= ave endorsed the concepts of CARA. * A coalition of over 5000 organizations, businesses, and elected officia= ls has grown in support of permanent conservation funding in CARA including: National Audubon Society, American Farmland Trust, National Trust for Historic Preservation, US Soccer Federation, National Wildlife Federation= , Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Rifle Association, American Hiking Society, Coastal States Organization, The Wilderness Soci= ety and many more. The coalition is in the midst of a "Save our Summers" campaign, in which people from around the country have been sending their Senators summer souvenirs, such as beach balls and trail maps, to remind them of what CARA is all about. * Over 30 editorials have been published in support of CARA in such paper= s as: The New York Times, The Denver Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angel= es Times, Albuquerque Journal, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal a= nd Constitution, and Dallas Morning News (see http://www.teaming.com/press_quotes.htm). * CARA has support from the Senate leadership. * The Clinton Administration supports protected and permanent funding for conservation purposes in a CARA-like bill and "looks forward to working w= ith the House and the Senate to ensure enactment of an historic conservation legacy this year" (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/legislative/sap/2000/HR701-h.html). For additional information on CARA including a state-by-state breakdown o= f funding available under this legislation, visit www.teaming.com or contac= t IAFWA at Tel: (202) 624-7890. To receive IAFWA press releases via email, email teaming@sso.org, type 'Get News Online' in the subject line and include your name and news affiliation. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, founded in 1902, is a nonprofit organization serving all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies in the protection and management of North America's fish and wildlife. ________________ Bill Benner Glen Cove, NY billb55@aol.com ========================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ========================================================================= ===========================================================================