This will only take a minute. Click on the link at the bottom and enter some very basic info if you support this, it couldn't get any easier

22 Members Have Already Cosponsored H.R. 1581 – We Need Your Help to Enlist More!

Before leaving for Easter break, U.S. Representative and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) formally introduced H.R. 1581, the “Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011.” Earlier this month ARRA asked you to send an email urging your Representative to sign on as an original cosponsor to this legislation prior to introduction. 21 Members of Congress, including National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce (R-NM) are currently listed as cosponsors.

Now that the bill has been introduced, it is time to reach out to your Representative again to urge them to sign on!

As you will recall, this very important draft bill would release all Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) that have been recommended or evaluated as not suitable for wilderness by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service from restrictive management practices and direct that they be managed for multiple use, including recreation.

As is stands, the BLM currently manages nearly 7 million acres of WSAs as de facto wilderness despite the fact the BLM itself has already determined these areas as not suitable for wilderness designation by Congress. The situation with the Forest Service is even worse, as access is restricted to over 36 million acres of IRAs that have been deemed unsuitable for ultimate designation as wilderness. Current law and regulation dictates that these lands must be managed to protect wilderness characteristics. H.R. 1581 would release these areas from restrictive management and require the agencies to ensure increased access.

The Members’ “Dear Colleague” letter with a list of bill supporters can be viewed here.

A summary of the bill provided by Rep. McCarthy’s office can be viewed here.

Please click the Take Action link below to send an email encouraging your Representative to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 1581.
click link -> SEND A SIMPLE EMAIL - IT'LL TAKE 1 MINUTE <- click link