The U.S. House of Representatives will soon have the chance to protect our national forests with two upcoming forests votes.

One vote will protect Alaska's Tongass Rainforest and stop fiscally irresponsible spending by prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being wasted on new logging roads in the Tongass National Forest. For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize clearcut logging in the Tongass; in a single year, taxpayers spent $36 million on the Tongass logging program and received only about $1 million in revenue.

The second vote, on the Forest Wildlife Conservation amendment, would conserve wildlife and ensure sustainable forest management.

Please take a moment to ask your U.S. Representative to protect our national forests and vote YES on the Tongass amendment and the Forest Wildlife Conservation amendment. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=695&id4=ES

Background

Representatives Steve Chabot (OH) and Robert Andrews (NJ) are working to protect Alaska's Tongass Rainforest and stop fiscally irresponsible spending. They plan to offer an amendment to the Interior Department budget bill that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being wasted on new logging roads in the Tongass National Forest. For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize clearcut logging in the Tongass, which is our country's largest national forest and the world's largest intact coastal temperate rainforest. In a single year, taxpayers spent $36 million on the Tongass logging program and received only about $1 million in revenue. American taxpayers should not have to foot the bill to clearcut the Tongass.

Representative Tom Udall (NM) will also offer the Forest Wildlife Conservation amendment to the Interior Department budget bill. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has issued forest management rules that weaken wildlife protection, undermine public involvement, and ignore science. The Udall Forest Wildlife Conservation amendment is important to conserve wildlife and ensure sustainable forest management.

Please take a moment to ask your U.S. Representative to protect our national forests and vote YES on the Tongass amendment and the Forest Wildlife Conservation amendment. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=695&id4=ES