On July
10, 2002, H.R. 4840 was Passed by the House Resources Committee. Annual
August Recess for Members of Congress to Return to Their Home Districts is an
Excellent Opportunity for Grange Members to Voice Support for H.R. 4840. Please
Review Some Talking Points and Summary of H.R. 4840 Below and Contact Your Representatives
Immediately! Members
of Congress have adjourned for the annual August recess to return to their home
districts to meet with constituents and to campaign for the upcoming midterm election.
This is an excellent opportunity for Grange members to voice support for H.R.
4840. Last month's passage of this important legislation by the House Resources
Committee was a great victory. But, there are a limited number of legislative
days left in this Congress and the agenda that Congressional Members face continues
to grow. We
must take advantage of the ability to get "up close" with Members during events
back home to express support for H.R. 4840. Please show up at events attended
by Members such as fairs, town hall meetings and public speeches over the next
several weeks and let your Representative know you and your Grange support ESA
reform and want to see the entire House of Representatives pass sound science
legislation. Our combined membership throughout the country has a powerful voice
that can move this bill forward. Make sure to convey the following points to your
Representative: - H.R.
4840 is the only ESA reform bill to be reported to the House floor this Congress!
- H.R. 4840 will
improve the science used to make ESA decisions. There is no rational argument
against the use of sound science.
-
Good science strengthens the Endangered Species Act, it does not weaken it. It
means better results for the endangered species, and better use of our land and
water resources.
- Nearly
all scientific studies - either government or private - are peer reviewed. There
is no reason that the science used to make ESA decisions should not also be peer
reviewed to prevent disastrous mistakes like the ones we have witnessed recently
in the Klamath Basin and in the western wildfires.
- Scientific
peer review will not delay ESA decisions. It will make sure that ESA decisions
based on inadequate science are avoided.
- H.R.
4840 allows local governments and individuals affected by ESA decisions to submit
their own scientific data. When scientific information is available from a reliable
source, there is simply no good reason it should not be considered. H.R. 4840
makes sure that all science is considered, not just the data from federal scientists.
Action
Plan --- Please contact your Members of Congress and ask them to support H.R.
4840 immediately! Also, show up at events attended by your Members of Congress
such as fairs, town hall meetings and public speeches over the next several weeks
to express your and your Grange's support for H.R. 4840. Please keep us posted
on your interaction with your Members of Congress over the recess so that we may
follow up with the staff in their Washington offices. The
attached summary of H.R. 4840, as passed by the House Resources Committee, highlights
some of its major provisions.
Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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