Letter to Congressman Bonilla ...

 

March 23, 2004

The Honorable Henry Bonilla

Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

2362 Rayburn HOB

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Bonilla:

We write to ask for your help in addressing the resource issue that can have the

greatest impact on land use throughout the west.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering whether to list the sage

grouse under the Endangered Species Act. Eleven states in the west have sage grouse

habitat. Should the Service decide to list bird, land use throughout this vast region may

be adversely impacted.

Fortunately, there are things that can be done to bring about a positive result. If

the federal, state, and private interests can show that concrete steps are being taken to

conserve the species, the Service will be in a stronger position to not list the bird. You

can help by working to ensure that no less than $5 million out of the $70 million Wildlife

Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) program is directed towards sage grouse

conservation projects on private and public lands.

WHIP was reauthorized as part of the 2002 Farm Bill in large measure to help

farmers and ranchers address wildlife conservation and mitigate regulatory pressure.

There cannot be a more important use for WHIP funding. While a $5 million

commitment to sage grouse conservation will not solve the entire listing issue, it will

nevertheless be a significant demonstration by the federal government that it is serious

about doing the right thing. The funding commitment can go a long way in advancing

sage grouse conservation and producing a broadly acceptable result to the public under

the Endangered Species Act.

Thank you for your attention to this critical request.

Sincerely,

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Rep. Denny Rehb

Rep. Doc Hastings

Rep. Scott McInnis

Rep. Richard Pombo

Rep. Tom Tancredo

Rep. Stevan Pearce

Rep. George Nethercutt 

 

And, the letter to Secretary Veneman ...

 

March 23, 2004

Secretary Ann Veneman

Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Madame Secretary:

We write to ask for your help in addressing the resource issue that can have the

greatest impact on land use throughout the west.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering whether to list the sage

grouse under the Endangered Species Act. Eleven states in the west have sage grouse

habitat. Should the Service decide to list bird, land use throughout this vast region may

be adversely impacted.

Fortunately, there are things that can be done to bring about a positive result. If

the federal, state, and private interests can show that concrete steps are being taken to

conserve the species, the Service will be in a stronger position to not list the bird. You

can help by working to ensure that no less than $5 million out ofthe $70 million Wildlife

Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) program is directed towards sage grouse

conservation projects on private and public lands.

WHIP was reauthorized as part of the 2002 Farm Bill in large measure to help

farmers and ranchers address wildlife conservation and mitigate regulatory pressure.

There cannot be a more important use for WHIP funding. While a $5 million

commitment to sage grouse conservation will not solve the entire listing issue, it will

nevertheless be a significant demonstration by the federal government that it is serious

about doing the right thing. The funding commitment can go a long way in advancing

sage grouse conservation and producing a broadly acceptable result to the public under

the Endangered Species Act. Thank you for your attention to this critical request.

Sincerely,

 

ep. Jim Gibbons

PRINTED DN RECYCLED PAPER

Rep. Barbara Cubin

Rep. Denny Rehb

Rep. Tom Osborne

Rep. Doc Hastings.

Rep. Richard Pombo

Rep. Tom Tancredo

Rep. Stevan Pearce

Jennifer Dunn