Posted 2006-03-21 12:23 PM (#39202) Subject: Right to Ride-Federal Trail Closures
Location: KY
----- Original Message -----
From: ARRA-Access
To: Linda Granneman
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 11:08 AM
Subject: Keep the Trails Open
Forest Service Budget Cuts
Tell Congress NO! The Administration is calling for drastic cuts in the Forest Service’s budget. If the Forest Service doesn’t have the money for trail maintenance or to implement the OHV rule, the only operational option remaining for Forest supervisors is to CLOSE trails. This is not something we want to see happen.
With more and more Americans visiting our National Forests for hiking, horseback riding, and OHV recreation, tell Congress that now is NOT the time to cut funding for general recreation and trail maintenance.
Your action is needed NOW. Let your House and Senate members know that you want funding for the Recreation and Trails programs restored.
Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Congressperson
Your Senators
Below is the sample letter:
Subject: Support Restoration of Cuts to the Forest Service Budget
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
I am a constituent and I am writing to you to express my serious concerns about the Administration's proposed Forest Service budget for FY 2007. Overall, the Administration has advocated large cutbacks in a variety of Forest Service programs, thereby restricting the agency's availability to manage our National Forests.
Of special concern to me are the proposed cuts for the Recreation and Trails programs. In comparison with the appropriations made by the Congress in FY 2006, the President's budget calls for a 4% cut in the Recreation program, a decrease in $10 million in funding, and a 19.4% cut in the Trails program, a $14.5 million reduction in funding!
Everyday, more and more Americans are using our National Forests for a variety of recreational pursuits. Accessing part of the 133,000 mile trail system plays a key role in attracting so many visitors to our National Forests. If the Forest Service does not have the sufficient financial means to maintain and rehabilitate this wonderful trail system, forest supervisors are left with only one choice and that is to begin closing some of these trails to the American public.
I know that as a Member of the 109th Congress, you are facing some very difficult choices in terms of our nation's spending priorities. Caring for ou r National Forests and making them accessible to all Americans should be one of your high priorities. Restoring funding for the Trails and Recreation programs to a level equal to that which the Congress appropriated in FY 2006 is an important step in keeping our National Forests open for all to use.
Please reject any attempts to cut the Forest Service Trails and Recreation programs. Fund these programs in FY 2007 at the same level you funded them in FY 2006.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Linda Granneman
What's At Stake:
ARRA along with representatives from some of our member organizations have been walking the halls of Congress to tell Members that we are very unhappy with the Administration’s FY 2007 proposed cuts to the USFS trails and recreation program budgets. The President’s proposed budget would reduce Trails funding by 19.4% for a total decrease of $14.5 million, while Recreation funding would be cut by 4% for a decrease of $10 million from the amount appropriated in FY 2006.
With the Forest Service beginning the process of going to a designated route system for OHV recreation, and with more and more Americans visiting our National Forests for hiking, horseback riding, and OHV recreation, now is NOT the time to cut funding for general recreation and trail maintenance.
This is the message that we have been telling members of the House and the Senate. Now, it’s your turn to lend your voice to this important effort. If the Forest Service has inadequate financial resources for trail maintenance or to implement the OHV rule, the only operational option remaining for Forest supervisors is to CLOSE trails. This is not something we want to see happen.
ARRA has been targeting visits with Members of the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees since these members will be making the initial decisions on these funding issues and we have limited time to get the job done. We think, however, that it is important for all members of the House and the Senate to hear about your concerns about the Forest Service budget. We hope you will contact your two Senators and House member today and urge them to support full funding of the Forest Service’s trails and recreation programs.
This chart provides a look at how the proposed budget for the Trails and Recreation programs compare with funding approved by the Congress in FY 2006. We are asking Members to fund these programs in FY 2007 at the very same level they funded them in FY 2006. We are not seeking an increase in funding, though we believe there is merit for one. With the federal budget being tight, we will settle for maintaining the status quo.
Your action is needed NOW. Let your House and Senate members know that you want funding for the Recreation and Trails programs restored to last year’s funding levels.
Right to Ride-Federal Trail Closures
