MEMORANDUM

 

To:       AHC Organizations and Members

 

From:   American Horse Council – Action Alert

 

Re:       Grassroots Contacts Needed Now on “Right to Ride” Bill

 

Date:    June 19, 2006

 

The House of Representatives has passed Congressman George Radanovich’s “Right-to-Ride” bill (H.R. 586).  The bill is intended to protect the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands, wilderness areas, national monuments, and other areas that are administered by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service where there is a historical tradition of such use.  The legislation would require that these federal agencies manage these lands to preserve and facilitate the traditional and continued use and access of horses to these areas.  As you know, Right-to-Ride legislation is important to riders and their continued use of public lands.  We want to keep all federal lands open to riders and pack stock.

 

The House-passed bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 

 

The Riders and organizations must now turn their attention to the Senate bill (S. 781), which has been introduced by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and is before that same Committee.  It is vital to the passage of this legislation that we generate broad support in the industry and convey that message of support to Senators. 

 

If we have any hope of passing this legislation this year, contacts are urgently needed showing the broad support in the riding community and asking Senators to support the bill and to co-sponsor it.  If your Senator is a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (a list is attached), ask them to move the bill to the Senate floor for a final vote.  But contacts are needed to all Members of the Senate, even Senators not on the Committee.  The more contacts we generate showing Senators that recreational riders’ support this bill, the greater the chance of passage.

 

When contacting your Senator, please fax a copy of the attached letter to him or her.  Faxing the letter is much quicker than mail because of the security process for mail to the Congress.  If you do not know your Senators fax number, you can find it at the Senate website at http://www.senate.gov/ and by following the instructions.

 

Also attached are Talking Points in support of the bill in case you speak to your Senator or his/her staff about this legislation.

 

Thank you for your support and involvement.  Please fax us copies of any letters you send to Congress.  The AHC fax number is 202-296-1970.  Please do not hesitate to contact the AHC at (202) 296-4031 if you have any questions.

 

[Please fax to your Senators.]

 

                                                                                    Date

The Honorable…. . .

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

 

Dear Senator . . .

 

The Right to Ride Livestock on Federal Lands Act of 2005 has been passed by the House of representatives (H.R. 586) and referred to the Senate for action.  A companion Senate bill (S. 781) has been introduced by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID).  The legislation is now before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 

 

[We or Your Organization] ask that you support and co-sponsor this legislation.  Millions of Americans enjoy trail riding because of the pleasure, exercise and family-time that it provides.  In addition, [please personalize the letter to your state, situation or interests, if you wish.]

 

The purpose of this legislation is to preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands.  The legislation would require that public lands be managed by the various federal agencies to recognize and preserve the continued use of horses, pack and saddle stock on lands where there is an historical tradition of such use.  But the legislation would not diminish any Agencies’ ability to implement emergency closures or permanent reductions in the use and access of these animals, after complying with the full public review process required by law.

 

The [insert organization] is concerned that too often public lands and trails are closed and access denied to recreational riders.  We are concerned that some closures are effected without sufficient consideration of the long-standing use of horses and pack animals on these federal lands.

 

This country was settled by people on horse back.  Please preserve this important American heritage by supporting this legislation and passing it in the Senate in this Congress.

 

If you have any questions about riding in [insert your state], please contact us.  Thank you for your support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Organization and/or Name

 

 

 

Talking Points in Support of Ride-to-Ride Bill

(H.R. 586 and S. 781)

 

  • This legislation is intended to preserve the use and access of horses and pack stock to public lands where there is a historical tradition of such use.

 

  • Right-to-Ride legislation is crucial to riders and their continued use of public lands.

 

  • Horses have played a critical and historic role in opening and settling our country.

 

  • What may now be perceived by some as recreation was once a vital part of everyday living in the U.S., particularly in the West.

 

  • This bill does not diminish the Secretary of Interior’s ability to implement emergency closures or permanent reductions in the use and access of these pack and stock animals, after complying with the full public review process required by law.

 

  • The House of Representatives passed this bill by voice vote in May 2006;  It passed a similar bill in the 108th Congress.

 

  • S. 781, introduced by Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 14, 2005.

 

  • The recreational horse industry, which includes recreational riders and pack and saddle stock, has a $32 billion effect on our economy each year and supports 435,000 jobs nationwide.

 

  • Please support passage of this important legislation in the Senate this year.

 

 

SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

 

Member                                                                       Fax

 

Republicans

 

Pete V. Domenici (NM), Chairman                               202-228-3261

Larry E. Craig (ID)                                                       202-228-1067

Craig Thomas (WY)                                                     202-224-1724

Lamar Alexander (TN)                                     202-228-3398

Lisa Murkowski (AK)                                      202-224-5301

Richard Burr (NC)                                                       202-228-2981

Mel Martinez (FL)                                                        202-228-5171

James M. Talent (MO)                                     202-228-1518

Conrad Burns (MT)                                                      202-224-8594

George Allen (VA)                                                       202-224-5432

Gordon Smith (OR)                                                      202-228-3997

Jim Bunning (KY)                                                         202-228-1373

 

Democrats

 

Jeff Bingaman (NM)                                                     202-224-2852

Daniel K. Akaka (HI)                                                   202-224-2126

Byron L. Dorgan (ND)                                     202-224-1193

Ron Wyden (OR)                                                         202-228-2717

Tim Johnson (SD)                                                         202-228-5765

Mary L. Landrieu (LA)                                     202-224-9735

Dianne Feinstein (CA)                                      202-228-3954

Maria Cantwell (WA)                                                   202-228-0514

Ken Salazar (CO)                                                        202-228-5036

Robert Menendez (NJ)                                     202-228-2197