Tired of River Access Fees? Act now!

Congress is currently considering re-authorization of Fee Demo on our public lands for four more years. They are considering this now even though they have not solicited public comment, though they are planning to hold hearings on the subject later in the Fall, and though the Government Accounting Office (GAO) will be releasing a report on the program in the Fall. Extension of the program at this time is precipitate and unjustifable without an open public review of the program. Thirteen national, conservation-oriented, recreation organizations including American Whitewater (See our position on Fee Demo), sent the attached letter on July 26, 2001 to the Congressional staffs that are working on this program.

If you are concerned about Fee Demo, call or write to your congressional representatives now! Contact information for your Representative and Senator can be found at http://capwiz.com/rollcall/home/. Please make your calls or send your emails or faxes by Friday, July 27.

Letter to Senate July 26, 2001

The Honorable
Appropriations Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear ______:

The outdoor recreation groups signed below, which collectively represent millions of outdoor recreation enthusiasts, oppose a 4-year extension of the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program through the Appropriations bill. The program has now been in demonstration phase since 1996. We believe that it is inappropriate to continue to extend the program through the appropriations process. If this issue is to move forward, an evaluation by the authorizing committees is necessary. For that reason, we strongly urge Interior conferees to support no more than a one-year extension in the FY 2002 Interior Appropriations bill. This one-year extension will give the authorizing committees time to hold public hearings and determine the fate of the program.

Sincerely,

{SIGNED}

Sam Davidson Executive Director The Access Fund	Lloyd Athearn Deputy Director American Alpine Club
David Jenkins Director of Conservation & Public Policy American Canoe Association	Mary Margaret Sloan President American Hiking Society
Jason Robertson Access Director American Whitewater	Vera Smith Conservation Director Colorado Mountain Club
Gary Sprung Senior National Policy Advisor International Mountain Biking Association	Edward M. Henderson President The Mountaineers
Frank Hugelmeyer President ORCA-The Trade Association of the Outdoor Industry	Robert Nida President Pacific Crest Trail Association
Gary Werner Executive Director Partnership for the National Trail System	Don Hunger National Partnership Coordinator Student Conservation Association
Jonathan Guzzo Director of Advocacy Washington Trails Association

If you oppose recreation user fees, now is the time for you to speak up! House and Senate negotiators on spending for Interior programs are expected to meet this week and discuss whether to extend the fee demonstration program (which began in 1996 and has been extended at least twice -- it is now slated to end in 2002) by four years. This continued extension of the program through the Appropriations process is creating a de facto permanent program, but is doing so without the appropriate hearings and legislative oversight afforded most government programs. If this issue is to move forward, an evaluation by the authorizing committees is necessary. For that reason, we strongly urge you to ask Interior Appropriations conferees (list below) to OPPOSE extension of Fee Demo for another four years.

Contact information for your Representative and Senator can be found at http://capwiz.com/rollcall/home/. Please make your calls or send your emails or faxes by Friday, July 27.

House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations

B308 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515-6023

Joe Skeen, New Mexico, Chairman
Norman Dicks, Washington
Ralph Regula, Ohio
John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania
Jim Kolbe, Arizona
James P. Moran, Virginia
Charles H. Taylor, North Carolina
Maurice D. Hinchey, New York
George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Washington
Martin Olav Sabo Minnesota
Zach Wamp, Tennessee
Jack Kingston, Georgia
John E. Peterson, Pennsylvania

Senate Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations

Robert C. Byrd, Chair
West Virginia

Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont
Ernest F. Hollings, South Carolina
Harry Reid, Nevada
Byron Dorgan, North Dakota
Patty Murray, Washington
Dianne Feinstein, California

Conrad Burns, Ranking
Montana

Ted Stevens, Alaska
Thad Cochran, Mississippi
Pete V. Domenici, New Mexico
Robert F. Bennett, Utah
Judd Gregg, New Hampshire
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado