By Brandt Mannchen
The most ambitious conservation proposal since 1980, which protects public national wildlands in the U.S., has been introduced in our Congress. The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA) in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington would:
1) Create 23 million acres of Wilderness areas on public lands; 2) Create 1,800 miles of wild/scenic rivers/streams; 3) Create a system of biological corridors that connect ecosystems, ensure the existence of native plants and animals, and mitigates the effects of climate change; 4) Provide more preservation for existing Wilderness areas via protection of wildlands and wild rivers that surround them; 5) Save taxpayers $245 million over 10 years by elimination of subsidized logging and road-building in roadless areas.
The Northern Rockies Ecosystem is one of most magnificent landscapes in the world. It contains national parks and forests including Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks, Clearwater and Payette National Forests, Frank Church River of No Return and Gospel Hump Wildernesses, and other treasures with plants and animals that Lewis and Clark saw in 1804. Bull Trout, Canadian Lynx, Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and others make their homes here.
Protection of national public lands via NREPA ensures that iconic species like the Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf will be saved; links wildlife/wild areas; provides ecological stability and reduces the impacts of climate change; emphasizes history; combats plant/animal loss; prevents wildlife habitat fragmentation; keeps streams, rivers, and watersheds clean; saves roadless areas from development; and assists local economies by encouraging tourism, outdoor recreation, and wildlife viewing which provide jobs and tax revenue.
February 22, 2019, U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney and 27 other co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 1321, NREPA in the U.S. House of Representatives. Two Texas representatives, Sheila Jackson Lee and Eddie Bernice Johnson, have co-sponsored this bill. NREPA has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. A companion bill, S. 827, was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sheldon Whitehouse and 7 other co-sponsors. It was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Now is the time act! Write your U.S. Congressperson and two U.S. Senators and urge that they support and co-sponsor NREPA. Contact them at:
Your U.S. Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Ted Cruz
404 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Leave a legacy for our families, future generations, and ourselves. For more information contact Brandt Mannchen 281-570-7212 or brandtshnfbt@juno.com.