Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
|
National |
 | Clean Air |
| Energy |
| Population |
| Wildlands |
Please call or write (or e-mail) Senators Durbin and Moseley-Braun and urge them to cosponsor S.687 offered by Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT). Even though we did not manage to persuade the Illinois legislature to pass the energy efficiency and renewables amendments to the electricity deregulation bill, we have the chance to pass many of the same provisions at the national level! The Jeffords bill will: * Promote energy efficiency - it requires that utilities invest in renewable energy portfolios (20% by 2020); this is crucial to getting the economies of scale that the coal, gas, and oil interests enjoy. * Reduce Air pollution and global warming - sets a national emissions cap on emissions that create smog and soot and cause global warming. The cap approach is the right one. It lets utility managers handle the technology decisions. * Provide energy assistance for low-income households and full access- makes sure that price competition doesn't kill support for low-income residents to ensure that people don't freeze to death. * Give consumers the information necessary to make smart choices- requires that utilities disclose the sources of their electricity and how much pollution each emits. This is critical if you are to have a real choice about power. (for example, Clark County, WA, PUD has a phony choices program that tells people to choose, but gives them no information other than price - so what do you think people base their decision on?)
E-mail Addresses: --Senator Durbin: dick@durbin.senate.gov --Senator Moseley-Braun: Go to her home page on the internet, and you can send her an email from the home page: http://www.senate.gov/~moseley-braun
The House Budget Committee just passed its FY99 Budget Resolution, which contains about $5 billion in cuts over the next five years to programs that conserve and protect our environment and natural resources. These cuts are over and above the deep cuts already contained in last year's Balanced Budget Agreement. Moreover, the Resolution provides for an additional $12.3 billion in unspecified cuts - some of which could come out of environment and natural resource programs as well.
Our public lands and fish and wildlife programs are already underfunded even under current budget levels. With these new cuts, the following needs will become even worse, for example:
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND: with the proposed funding cuts, the backlog of needed acquisitions under the Land and Water Conservation Fund will continue to grow. Opportunities to protect wildlife habitat, water resources, wilderness areas, and provide recreational opportunities for our families and communities will be lost.
ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION: With the proposed funding cuts, the Fish and Wildlife Service cannot address the backlog of at least 400 species needing listing under the Act nor implement desperately needed recovery activities, including support to landowners for essential efforts on private lands.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS OF OUR WILDLIFE REFUGES, PARKS AND FORESTS: The National Wildlife Refuge System alone currently has an $850 million backlog in operations and maintenance needs and can't carry out needed monitoring of fish, wildlife, and plant populations, habitat restoration projects, nor provide compatible recreational activities.
PLEASE ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO TELL HOUSE SPEAKER GINGRICH AND HOUSE BUDGET CHAIR KASICH THAT HE/SHE WILL OPPOSE THE HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION UNLESS FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS IS RESTORED. Your U.S. Representative can be reached in Washington at (202)224-3121 or at the local numbers until June 1. It is critical to let your Representative know about your opposition to the House Budget Resolution before it goes to the House floor sometime in early June. Rep. Costello - 529-3791; email - jfc.il12@mail.house.gov (that's a number 12) Rep. Poshard - (618) 993-8532
-------------sign--clip---mail------------------------------
The Yards For Nature Pledge
"This summer, I pledge to manage my yard without pesticides."
Name:_____________________________________
Address____________________________________ Phone_____________
E-mail___________________
_____ Yes, I am taking the Yards for Nature Pledge. Enclosed with this signed form is my $15 check made payable to SPCP. I will receive a packet including one Chemical-free Yard sign, a lawn care fact sheet, one copy of "Great Lakes Great Lawns," and a handy order form to receive free information regarding how to tackle specific pest problems in my yard without pesticides.
_____ I already manage my yard without pesticides, but I want to show my support for the YNC, so here's my signed pledge. (Please order yard signs, call for free information, and support the YNC with a donation)
_____ Please send me ____(#) of Chemical-free Yard Signs at $2 each. Enclosed is my check made payable to Safer Pest Control project (SPCP), send to : Safer Pest Control Project, 17 E. Monroe St., Suite 212, Chicago, IL 60603
-------------sign--clip---mail------------------------------
| ||||
