For the first time since Febraury of 1998, Congress is holding hearings
on the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program (Fee Demo). The House
Subcommittee on Forests & Forest Health (part of the Resources
Committee) has just scheduled an oversight hearing on Fee Demo, for
Tuesday, September 25th.

Unfortunately the hearing will only be regarding National Forests as
that is the subcommittee's jurisdiction; fortunately, however, National
Forest fees are the most unpopular portion of Fee Demo.

The subcommittee chair, Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Colorado), has likely
called this public hearing because of the controversy raised by western
Colorado constituents, in response to new Fee Demo projects both near
Aspen and across southwestern Colorado. A few months ago, a protest
organized by the Western Slope No Fee Coalition resulted in numerous
newpaper editorials, letters to the editor, and even county resolutions
opposing Fee Demo (more to come on that later), as well as letters to
Colorado's Representatives and Senators.


WHAT TO DO:

The public record will be held open for 10 days after the hearing (until
Friday, October 5th), to allow for written comments from around the
country.

Since these are the only public hearings in DC specifically on Fee Demo
since Febraury, 1998, we have to generate hundreds of letters in
opposition to Fee Demo to show Congress clearly how unpopular user fees
are with the American public. Please help, by writing once again.


WHO TO WRITE:

Address letters to:

Congressman Scott McInnis
Chair, Subcommittee on Forests & Forest Health
1337 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515

You may also send a second copy of your letter to the minority leader of
the subcommittee, Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Washington), an opponent of
Fee Demo. Address it to:

Congressman Jay Inslee
1329 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515

Letters must be maied by Monday, October 1st from the West Coast; a day
or so later is okay from the East Coast. Letters should arrive in DC on
or before Friday, October 5th.


WHAT TO SAY:

Please state your opposition to Fee Demo for National Forests (this
subcommittee has jurisdiction over National Forests only) and list the
reasons why. Additionally, let them know that National Forests should
be funded from regular appropriations, not user fees. (Reasons for
opposing Fee Demo can be found on the FOF website at http://www.freeourforests.org/whywrong.htm .)

Please make sure to print your name and address very clearly *
legislators may discard letters if they cannot read who they are from.
You should also include a request to have the letter be a part of the
public record for the hearing on Sept. 25, 2001 in order to ensure that
it is entered in the public record.

-MZ

--
Michael Zierhut
zierhutm@ojai.net

Free Our Forests http://www.freeourforests.org

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Sign our online petition against user fees on public lands at
http://www.petitiononline.com/feedemo/petition.html
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