Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515

July 17, 2002

HELP SAVE AMERICA'S FORESTS

DEADLINE FOR ORIGINAL COSPONSORSHIP WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2002

Dear Colleague:

We're writing to urge you to join us as an original cosponsor of The Act to Save America's Forests.

There's overwhelming scientific evidence that we're destroying America's natural legacy through overly aggressive logging practices on federal forestlands. Clearcutting, roadbuilding, and excessive logging are causing alarming amounts of environmental damage, especially in ancient forests, roadless areas, and other fragile forests. Many species, plant and animal, are being pushed toward extinction, and less than 5 percent of our nation's biologically rich virgin forests still remains.

It's evident that federal forest policy must move in a new direction. The Act to Save America's Forests gets at the problem by banning clearcutting on all federal forestlands. It also ends logging in the last virgin forests, roadless areas, and other core areas of the federal forest system. At the same time, the bill allows limited and ecologically sustainable logging outside core forest areas - lands that have already been logged.

This legislation makes economic sense, since the maintenance associated with logging on federal forestlands drains $330 million from the federal budget annually.

It also makes scientific sense. Indeed, the Union of Concerned Scientists and 600 of America's leading scientists in ecological sciences and related fields have strongly endorsed the Act.

The Act to Save America's Forests is a sensible bill that ensures that future generations of Americans will be able to inherit and enjoy our nation's irreplaceable natural forest treasures.

If you'd like to become an original co-sponsor or have any questions, please contact Steven Keenan with Rep. Eshoo at 5-8104 (a list of current co-sponsors is attached.)

Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress

Robert Simmons
Member of Congress

Carolyn Maloney
Member of Congress