LETTER TO THE EDITOR / GOOD NEWS – HOPEFUL LEGISLATION

In spite of White House efforts to open public lands and parks to commercial and extraction interests, and to remove safeguards for these national jewels that were established by previous Presidents – something good from the legislative branch is about to happen.

The Senate just voted 92 to 8 for a bipartisan bill that protects 1.5 million acres of wilderness throughout many states, including rivers and historic sites, from roads, motor vehicles and commercial development. This bill would preserve pristine lands for future generations and should permanently authorize the use of revenue from offshore drilling to fund conservation efforts, so taxpayers won’t have to.

If, as expected, the House passes this bill with a similar bipartisan majority (meaning that both houses could easily overcome a presidential veto), it will be a big bipartisan and bicameral win for both Congress and the American people. The fact that many states and many politicians from both political parties, as well as hunters and anglers, all stand to benefit from this legislation was helpful – but we can hope that it is a harbinger of things to come.

Roger Kostmeyer

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