In anticipation of Earth Day, Senator Richard Durbin is set to re-introduce “America's Redrock Wilderness Act” (ARWA) into the United States Senate this Thursday, April 19. The ARWA would provide formal wilderness protection for one of the most spectacular landscapes in the United States.

“There is no better way to celebrate Earth Day than to save places such as this for our families. Land stewardship is a core American value and we appreciate Sen. Durbin's efforts to protect these special places,” said Clayton Daughenbaugh of the Illinois Task Force for Utah Wilderness.

The iconic redrock canyonlands of southern Utah have drawn people from across the country and around the world for over a century. This was the last place in the lower 48 states to be mapped and it remains a remote area where the human imprint on nature is at a minimum.

Sen. Durbin has introduced the bill in each Congress for the past ten years and hopes are high for its success this time around according to Daughenbaugh.

A companion bill is being introduced into the House of Representatives on the same day. Illinois representatives Costello, Emanuel, Gutierrez, Hare, Kirk, LaHood, Rush, and Schakowsky have signed on to be original cosponsors of that bill.

“We have an excellent track record of support within the Illinois congressional delegation and expect the numbers to grow as we get closer to the introduction,” said Daughenbaugh.

One person conspicuous by his absence is Senator Barack Obama. Since ARWA was first introduced ten years ago every Illinois senator has cosponsored until now.

“We remain hopeful that Sen. Obama, who has voice support for protecting Utah's wild lands, will maintain Illinois' tradition and decide to cosponsor Sen. Durbin's bill,” Daughenbaugh said.