[pct-l] Fwd: Alert: Right-toRide bill moving through Congress

[Bighummel at aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

I do not want to start an argument on whether commercial packers should be 
allowed on the trail and certain sensitive areas of delicate alpine 
environments. However, if you care :


URGENT ACTION ALERT

Horse and mule users (including commercial packstock outfits) are lobbying 
Congress to "grandfather" their existing stock animal uses (and abuses) of 
wilderness, parks, and forests. Their bill passed the House of Representatives on 
Sept 21, and has moved to the U.S. Senate. All concerned hikers need to contact 
their senators, as soon as possible, to prevent this horrible legislation 
from becoming law. Your letters now will make a huge difference !!

The bill (HR 2966), called the "Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Lands Act 
of 2004," would create a new federal law that says (among other things): 

"As a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle 
stock shall remain open and accessible for such use." 

This bill has already passed the House, and if passed by the Senate, will 
likely be signed by President Bush and become law. This could make it very 
difficult for the agencies to close any routes to stock animals, or to limit stock 
numbers, even where resource damage is documented. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Send a letter ASAP to each of your two U.S. Senators and ask them to OPPOSE 
H.R. 2966. Say the following:

1) You strongly OPPOSE HR 2966 ("Right-to-Ride")
2) No user group should receive such preferential treatment
3) The agencies should be able to limit any and all uses that are damaging to 
public lands and/or harmful to the experience of other visitors. HR 2966 
could prevent them from doing so.

End your letter by repeating that you urge your senator to strongly OPPOSE HR 
2966.

The address for all senators:

The Honorable Senator (name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

If you live in California, your two senators are Dianne Feinstein and Barbara 
Boxer. Please write to both !!!   If you live in another state, and don't 
know the names of your two U.S. senators, ask your local newspaper editor, or 
find your senators' names at:  http://www.vote-smart.org/

To see the bill in its entirety, visit the Library of Congress website, and 
type in HR 2966:
http://thomas.loc.gov/

Please spread the word, and get other hikers, friends, and family members to 
write their senators, urging them to OPPOSE HR 2966.

Alert prepared by:

High Sierra Hikers Association
P.O. Box 8920
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158
email: HSHAhike@aol.com
web: http://www.highsierrahikers.org/