Land Rights Network American Land Rights Association PO Box 400 -
Battle Ground, WA 98604 Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973
E-mail: alra@pacifier.com Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE - Washington, DC 20003
Congress Moves To Seize Control Of All U.S.
Waters
1/6/08(Do
You Want The Corps Of Engineers In Your Backyard? You’ll get that
result of S 1870 passes the Senate and Congress.-3/26/08)
From Bathtubs To Baptismal Fonts, Congress Moves To Give the Corps
of Engineers Control Of All U.S. Waters
Issue: Having been slapped down by the U. S. Supreme Court's
recent decision that the words "navigable waters" in the Clean
Water Act limited federal agencies to regulation of navigable
waters only. Democrats and liberal Republicans in Congress are
striking back.
They are attempting to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act of
2007 (HR2421 and S1870) that would amend the 1972 Clean Water Act
and replace the words "navigable waters" with "waters of the
United States." Further, it defines "waters of the United States"
with such breathtaking scope that federal agencies would be
required to regulate use of every square inch of the U.S., both
public and private.
The proposed definition states: "The term 'waters of the United
States' means all waters subject to ebb and flow of the tides, the
territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and
their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including
intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs,
prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes [a flat dried up area,
esp. a desert basin.] natural ponds and all impoundment of the
foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters are subject to
the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution."
Obviously, those behind this legislation have only contempt for
the Constitution, limited government and private property rights.
To understand what the framers of the Constitution intended, one
need only look to their writings and the writings of those from
whom they took wisdom and direction. A few of thousands of quotes
follow:
Quote 1: "The moment the idea is admitted into society that
property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not
a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and
tyranny commence. If 'Thou shalt not covet' and 'Thou shalt not
steal' were not commandments from Heaven, they must be made
inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or
made free." - John Adams, A Defence of the Constitution of the
United States against the Attacks of M. Turgot, 1787.
Quote 2: "What a man has honestly acquired is absolutely his own,
which he may freely give, but cannot be taken from him without his
consent." - Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Circular Letter, 1768.
Quote 3: ".'tis not without reason that [man] seeks out, and is
willing to join in society with others who are already united, or
have a mind to unite for the mutual preservation of their lives,
liberties and estates which I call by the name of property." -
John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 1690
Quote 4: "The property which every man has in his own labor, as it
is the foundation of all other property, so it is the most sacred
and inviolable." - Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776
Comment 1: Obviously these are foreign concepts to the
environmental lobby and their fellow travelers.
By Tom Randall Winningreen LLC
3712 N. Broadway - PMB 279 Chicago, IL 60613 Phone: 773-857-5086
e-mail: trandall@winningreen.com
Wetlands (HR 2421) Bill Gives Corps Control Over Your Property
New Wetlands Land Grab Hearing Coming In House. The date has not
been finally set yet but send your testimony anyway.
Please Fill Out the Wetlands Testimony Questionnaire Below And
Forward It To your Congressman and the Committee.
Deadline - February 15, 2008.
If you get this message after that date, send your testimony
anyway as the hearing may be moved to March or April.
-----Apology: Yes, this e-mail is too long. But this is such an
important issue and affects so many people, we felt we needed not
only to explain the issue but also give you the tools to impact
your Congressman. Please take the time to read it. It may be one
of the most important things you do this year.
By sending e-mailing, faxing or mailing the Testimony
Questionnaire below, you can have a profound affect on the future
of land use in America and you can personally make a difference in
how Congress writes the law. Don't miss your chance to affect
history.
Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 expansion of power.
Congress considering expanding the power of the Clean Water Act of
1972 to include all waters of the United States and not limit it
to navigable waters as is currently the law under two Supreme
Court Decisions.
This is a massive threat to all private property in America. It
also threatens the use of Federal land.
Under the name "clean water" HR 2421 would give the Corps of
Engineers and the Federal Government massive additional regulatory
powers that supercede local and state government.
People may be tempted to jump in favor of "clean water" not
realizing they are trading away control over their land.
Besides private property, it threatens grazing, forestry, mining
and many other uses on Federal land.
-----You should send testimony again even if you sent testimony
for the previous hearing. This Testimony Questionnaire below has
been modified and updated.
Below is the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
You must check to see if your Congressman is on this list. If he
or she is, you need to be all over your Representative with white
hot intensity. Call, Call and call again. Get your friends and
neighbors to call. Also E-mail and fax. Your Congressman must feel
the pressure and know in no uncertain terms that you oppose HR
2421.
If your Congressman is not on the Committee, go ahead and send the
Testimony Questionnaire to the Committee Members and your
Congressman. Ask your Congressman to write each Member of the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee opposing HR 2421.
-----HR 2421 is the biggest threat to private property since CARA
and actually affects far more land and people.
-----Action Items Below
We call HR 2421 the National Wetlands - Land Grab Bill.
(It's real name is the Clean Water Restoration Act but it has very
little to do with clean water or restoration. It is mostly about
land use control and expanding the power and reach of the Corps of
Engineers under the Clean Water Act of 1972. )
What the bill supporters are doing is using the term "Clean
Water," which everybody wants, as a tool to pass legislation (HR
2421) that is really about land use control and has little or
nothing to do with clean water. It is a huge rural land grab.
Their target is land use control over all lands, both urban and
rural.
What it really does is give the Corps of Engineers control over
nearly all private property in America by changing the definition
of "wetlands" under the Clean Water Act of 1972 vastly expanding
the regulatory reach of the Corps of Engineers over private
property.
Take the Testimony Questionnaire below, save it to your word
processor, edit it to say how you feel, and then e-mail it back to
the Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
listed below.
Also e-mail it to your own Congressman.
This Testimony is for the new hearing now set to take place
sometime in the next month but don't delay sending your testimony.
-----You may print out a formatted version of the Testimony
Questionnaire that is below by going to www.landrights.org.
-----Urgent Action Required
-----Below we have created a Testimony Questionnaire for you to
fill out and send to every e-mail address for Congress we have
listed below for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Be sure and send it to your own Congressman as well. You can call
any Congressman at (202) 225-3121 to get the e-mail of a Member of
his or her staff.
The Testimony Questionnaire is designed so you can simply save it
into your word processing file, edit it with your comments, and
then send it to the Congressmen listed on the Committee using your
e-mail program. Be sure to edit out or cut off the parts that are
not part of the testimony. We've marked them so read it carefully.
-----We agree with all the statements on the Testimony
Questionnaire, but you don't have to. You can mark it Agree,
Disagree or No Opinion.
What is most important is that you fill out the blank space below
the Statements with your own personal comments. You may get ideas
and draw from the statements we have provided or preferably write
your own. But don't fail to fill out the blank space.
The Testimony Questionnaire is rated at a much higher value by
your Congressman if you write your own personal thoughts in the
space provided after the section with the statements with Agree,
Disagree, or No Opinion.
So please, take the time to either borrow from our statements at
the upper part of the Questionnaire or write your own. But write
something in that blank space above where we have made a place for
you to write your name and address toward the bottom of the
Testimony Questionnaire.
Please send a copy of your Testimony, no matter how you feel about
the issue, to American Land Rights at ccushman@pacifier.com.
Write in the Subject line: Copy of Testimony Sent to Congress.
Otherwise we won't know whether you sent it to Congress or not.
And we would like to know how you feel about the issues. You do
not have to send a copy to us.
-----Testimony Questionnaire - Please be sure to edit the
Testimony Questionnaire so our e-mail information and instructions
are removed.
-----Committee Vote on the National Wetlands Land Grab Bill, HR
2421, could come as early as February or March. They tried to
sneak a vote in November but your e-mails and phone calls stopped
them.
The official name is the Clean Water Restoration Act but it does
virtually nothing for clean water and is mostly about land use
control. It would greatly expand the power of and the amount of
land affected by 1972 Clean Water Act
-----See Action Items Below.
-----Updated -- Committee Staff Members do change and we have
corrected several additional committee e-mail addresses below. If
you find e-mail does not work, call the Congressman's office at
(202) 225-3121 and ask for the staff person. Then ask for the
correct e-mail. Send us an e-mail telling us about the correction.
Edit out all above this line before e-mailing this message.
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-----Fax, and E-mail Deadline Friday February 15th. Congressional
Testimony Questionnaire
Testimony For The Record HR 2421 -- Clean Water Restoration Act
(National Wetlands Land Use Control Bill)
Honorable __________________ US House of Representatives
HR 2421, The Clean Water Restoration Act, is really a massive
Federal land and water power grab. It will use "wetlands" to take
control over every farm, ranch, and piece of private property with
any water on it or even if the landowner only engage in activities
that might affect water.
It expands the authority of the Federal government under the Clean
Water Act of 1972 to include all waters of the U.S. and activities
affecting these waters.
It will give the Corps of Engineers control over most private
property.
In the words of Reed Hopper of Pacific Legal Foundation, lead
attorney in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory, "...this bill
pushes the limits of federal power to an extreme not matched by
any other law, probably in the history of this country."
Below are my concerns and testimony regarding HR 2421, the
inappropriately named Clean Water Restoration Act. It has little
to do with clean water and is mostly about land use control.
Please allow this Testimony to be submitted for the record for any
additional hearings to be held on HR 2421, the Clean Water
Restoration Act.
Please consider a photocopy of this document as valid as the
original and include my testimony for the official record.
Signature ________________________________ Print Your Name
______________________________
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Dear Private Property and Multiple-Use Advocate:
You must send your testimony in immediately. H.R. 2421 may come up
for a hearing and possibly a vote in the House in February or
March. The Committee Chairman tried to rush a vote in November. It
is imperative that you act now. The Clean Water Restoration Act
may be the biggest threat to property rights and local control
yet.
The bill would overturn two U.S. Supreme Court decisions that
favored landowners and local government. It would give federal
agencies and the Corps of Engineers in particular almost unlimited
control over land, water and people.
Reed Hopper, lead attorney in the latest Supreme Court victory for
landowners said "...this bill pushes the limit of federal power to
an extreme not matched by any other law, probably in the history
of this country. Jim Burling, senior attorney for the Pacific
Legal Foundation, said "If our constitutional system of limited
federal powers means anything, we have to win on this issue."
It is important that you fill out the following testimony
questionnaire and send it to your Congressman and all those
Congressmen on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
listed below. It must be submitted by e-mail or fax by Friday,
February 15th. Ask your Congressman to make sure it is put in the
record of any upcoming hearing on HR 2421.
Please act on this as soon as you get this e-mail message. Do not
put it off until tomorrow. Tomorrow may be too late. Supporters of
this bill are trying to ram HR 2421 through before people like you
know how dangerous it is.
Below is a Testimony Questionnaire for you to fill out and e-mail
or fax back to your Congressman and the Members of the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the US House of
Representatives.
Be sure to check to see if your Congressman is on the
Transportation Committee. This makes your Testimony even more
valuable.
-----Alert -- Be aware of the legal concept called "laches" or
"sleeping on your rights." You may lose legal rights later if you
fail to comment or testify on HR 2421. So at least send this
Testimony Questionnaire and possibly a letter opposing HR 2421. It
can be as short as one page or longer.
In the next section you will see a series of statements about HR
2421 that American Land Rights agrees with but you don't have to.
This Testimony Questionnaire is about helping you get your
testimony to Congress. Your Congressman and the Members of the
Committee want to know what you think. It is critical that you
write your responses to the statements with your opinion and not
what you think we would want you to write. You are free to
disagree with us. You can add comments to each statement or change
the statements to fit your preference.
You have a chance to change the course of history on the whole
"wetlands" or Clean Water Act issue by filling out this Testimony
Questionnaire, writing your Congressman's name in the appropriate
place, and e-mailing it to all the Members of Congress listed
below.
We would appreciate it if you would send a copy to American Land
Rights with the words "copy sent to Members of Congress in the
subject line.
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-----Please edit this document in your word processor and e-mail
it or print it out and fax it to your Congressman and the other
Members of the Transportation Committee listed below. Your
personal comments make this document more valuable. So be sure to
fill in the blank space with your own personal comments or
concerns below where the section is with the Agree-Disagree
statements are listed.
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--1. The jurisdiction of federal agencies under the Clean Water
Act of 1972 should remain limited to navigable waters and not
expanded to include all waters of the U.S., such as wetlands,
sloughs, meadows, intermittent streams, prairie potholes, ponds,
playa lakes, mudflats and sandflats.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--2. The definition of wetlands under federal jurisdiction should
be limited to those areas that are permanently wet or free
flowing.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--3. The Clean Water Act 1972 should not be used as a tool for
national land use controls.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--4. The Clean Water Act of 1972 should not be expanded to include
activities affecting waters.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--5. The U. S. Supreme Court decisions of 2001 and 2006 that ruled
in favor of local government and landowners should not be
overturned by the proposed Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 2421).
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--6. Mostly dry land and isolated wetlands should be excluded from
federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act of 1972.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--7. The definition of pollutants under the Clean Water Act of
1972 should not include clean fill or natural material of any
kind.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--8. The term 'discharge' should not apply to the disturbance of
soils or natural materials.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--9. Citizens cited for violation of regulations under the Clean
Water Act of 1972 should not face criminal penalties.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--10. National Water Quality goals should be achieved without
violating constitutionally protected property rights.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--11. National Water Quality goals are best achieved by local and
state governments, rather than by federal agencies.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--12. National Water Quality goals should consider priorities and
costs
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--13. National Water Quality goals should consider regional
differences in landscapes and other ecological characteristics.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--14. 'Regulatory Takings' that devalue private property should be
compensated under provisions of the 5th Amendment.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--15. Access to and use and enjoyment of public lands and waters
should be guaranteed under provisions of the Clean Water Act.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--16. 'Environmental' organizations have become too radical and
have too much power and influence over federal legislation.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--17. The Clean Water Restoration Act and other environmental
legislation is often not about environmental protection, but about
control over land, water, and people.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
--18. Please do not give the Corps of Engineers increased power to
regulate more private land.
Agree...Disagree...No Opinion
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(Your written comments here are essential if you want Members of
Congress to really pay attention to this document. You are free to
use as much space as you need. But please write some comments
below before sending this important document to Congress.)
Open space for your personal comments.
(If needed, use additional sheets or attach a personal letter) To
validate your comments please fill in completely (PRINT or TYPE)
and be sure to sign. Signature_________________________________
Name____________________________________________
E-Mail___________________________________ Fax ___________________
Phone ____________________ Address_______________________________
Town______________________ State_____ Zip____________
Please do not fail to send this testimony questionnaire even if
you receive it late.
Deadline for Fax, E-mail Friday, February 15th. However, if you
receive this message late, the Committee will usually accept
testimony late.
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Please edit out or cut below this line before sending to your
Congressmen and others on the Transportation Committee.
-----You can get a formatted version of this Testimony
Questionnaire by going to www.landrights.org.
-----Background:
HR 2421, The Clean Water Restoration Act, what we call the
National Wetlands Land Grab Act, is really a massive Federal land
and water power grab. It will use the Corps of Engineers
regulation of "wetlands" under the 1972 Clean Water Act as the
pretext to take control over every farm, ranch, and piece of
private property with any water on it or even if you only engage
in activities that might affect water.
HR 2421 expands the authority of the Federal government under the
Clean Water Act of 1972 to include all waters of the U.S. and
activities affecting these waters.
In the words of Reed Hopper of Pacific Legal Foundation, lead
attorney in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory, "...this bill
pushes the limits of federal power to an extreme not matched by
any other law, probably in the history of this country."
Original Hearing Date Thursday, December 6, 2007 That hearing was
cancelled. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee James
Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman
Your E-mail and Fax Testimony Deadline is now February 15th.
The chief author of HR 2421, titled the Clean Water Restoration
Act, is Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James
Oberstar (D-MN). By Oberstar's own admission, the bill is intended
to overturn two U.S. Supreme Court decisions that recently ruled
in favor of local government and local landowners on Wetlands
issues.
In both cases, the high court ruled that the federal government
exceeded the authority granted under the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972, what is commonly called on Wetlands issues
the Clean Water Act of 1972.
In the latest case, a Michigan landowner faced steep fines and a
recommended 5-year jail sentence for moving gravel on his
property, located some 20 miles from the nearest navigable water.
-----Reasons To Oppose Oberstar's Wetlands Land Grab Bill (HR
2421):
-----A. HR 2421 replaces the word 'navigable' waters under the
1972 Clean Water Act with 'waters of the U.S.,' including
wetlands, sloughs, ponds, meadows, prairie potholes, sandflats,
mudflats, playa lakes, and intermittent streams. This change
vastly increases the land area covered by this Wetlands--land use
control legislation.
-----B. Adds the new language 'activities affecting these waters,'
essentially a thinly-disguised attempt at national land use
control;
-----C. This bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Rep. Oberstar is
attempting to get his way by using the popular political appeal of
the nice sounding term 'clean water' and by using his newly gained
power as chairman of a major 'pork committee' to intimidate the
bill's opponents, including elected officials in his own state;
-----D. The bill is intended to overturn two U.S. Supreme Court
wetlands cases (SWANCC, 2001 and Rapanos, 2006) that ruled in
favor of landowners and local government;
-----E. In the later case, a Michigan landowner faced stiff fines
and a possible 5 year prison sentence for moving gravel on his
land located 20 miles from the nearest navigable waterway. If you
do anything on your land without permission, you could be facing
criminal penalties;
-----F. The bill is an attempt to control 'non-point sources' of
water pollution, essentially any type of significant
uses--farming, logging, mining, development of any kind, and even
atmospheric deposition;
-----G. The bill will be also be used by environmental groups to
restrict and prohibit uses of Federal lands and waters, including
and especially motorized recreational uses;
-----H. The bill will result in endless litigation, unacceptable
permitting delays, and will be a severe blow to property rights
and local control;
-----I. There are serious constitutional concerns with the bill,
and states should not relinquish control of natural resources to
the federal government;
-----J. Many of the 17O co-sponsors of the bill have supported it
because of the political appeal of the term "clean water", and
because Oberstar's position as chairman of a powerful pork
committee to intimidate the bill's opponents by depriving them of
funding for projects in their home districts; and
-----K. This could be the biggest threat to freedom and property
rights ever!! As Jim Burling, senior attorney for the Pacific
Legal Foundation said recently, "If our constitutional system of
limited federal powers means anything, we have to win on this
issue."
-----L. We all want clean water. HR 2421 does virtually nothing
about clean water. People in rural areas may not realize that if
HR 2421 passes, they have traded local and state controls for new
land use regulations by the Corps of Engineers. That is a bad
trade.
Action Items:
-----1. Check to see if your Congressman is on the Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee listed below. If so, you need to
call, fax and e-mail him or her with white hot intensity over the
next two weeks.
-----2. Please call, e-mail and fax your member of Congress and
ask him or her to oppose HR 2421, this new Federal power grab. You
may call any Congressman at (202) 225-3121. Ask him or her to
write Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
to oppose HR 2421 and send you a copy of their letter.
-----3. Our deadline for testimony is February 15th. You must
deluge your Member of Congress with calls immediately. Get your
friends, neighbors and business associates to call.
-----4. Call, fax and e-mail each Member of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in opposition to HR
2421.. We have provided an updated and corrected staff and e-mail
list below. Staff is always changing. If an e-mail does not work,
call the staff member to get the current e-mail. Any Congressman
can be called at (202) 225-3121. This is a little work and you
don't have much time. Failure to defeat HR 2421 would be a
disaster for private property rights and you.
-----5. Ask any organizations or groups you are part of to fax or
e-mail a letter opposing HR 2421. Make sure they send you a copy
and if you would, send us a copy too.
-----6. You can send testimony for the record to the following
addresses. The hearing date is not final yet. Try to get your
testimony in by February 15th. This is the best date to get your
testimony in. Send your Testimony to both the Majority (Democrats)
and Minority (Republicans).
-----Reminder -- Be aware of the legal concept called "laches" or
"sleeping on your rights." You may lose legal rights later if you
fail to comment or testify on HR 2421. So at least send a letter
opposing HR 2421. It can be as short as one page or longer.
Address your testimony: (Committee Address)
Honorable James Oberstar (D-MN) House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee US House of Representatives
2165 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515.
(202) 225-4472
Because of the Anthrax postal inspections, mail to Congress can be
slowed by several weeks. Mailed testimony will not get there in
time. You are safer to fax or e-mail your testimony. The Committee
fax number is (202) 226-1270. E-mail: transcomm@mail.house.gov Be
sure to e-mail it to the staff people listed below to make sure
they get it in case any e-mail does not work. Call (202) 225-4472
if that e-mail address fails to work.
-----7. Call, fax and e-mail James Oberstar, Chairman of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at his personal
office. Honorable James Oberstar, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC 20515. Fax: (202) 225-0699. Send e-mail to Rep.
Oberstar care of the following staff persons: bill.richard@mail.house.gov
john.schadl@mail.house.gov; chip.gardiner@mail.house.gov;
meloday.hamoud@mail.house.gov; kipp.johnson@mail.house.gov;
jonathan.rucks@mail.house.gov.
-----8. Call, Fax and e-mail John Mica (R-FL), Ranking Minority
Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Because the Committee Chairman, James Oberstar, is also the author
of HR 2421 you may not receive favorable treatment of your
testimony from him. Also send Rep. Mica a copy of your testimony.
Address it: Honorable John Mica (R-FL), Ranking Minority Member,
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 2165 Rayburn
House Office Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC
20515. Minority Phone: (202) 225-9446. Minority Fax: (202)
225-6782. Send e-mail to John Mica and Don Young (R-AK) at the
Committee care of: jon.pawlow@mail.house.gov; geoff.bowman@mail.house.gov;
john.anderson1@mail.house.gov
-----9. Send a copy of your testimony to both your Senators. The
Senate version is S 1870 and is worded exactly like the HR 2421.
It is sponsored by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). By wording both
bills the same, they are looking to ram through this bill fast
before you get a chance to get organized. You must forward this
e-mail to as many friends and business associates as possible.
-----10. Ask organizations or groups in your State to send letters
by fax or e-mail opposing HR 2421. Especially those involved in
farming, ranching, and anyone who owns private land. Get copies of
all the letters or resolutions to all the Members of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee listed below. Send
them to ALRA as well.
-----11. Call your local representative of the American Farm
Bureau to urge them to go all out against HR 2421. Ask to be put
on any special mailing lists the Farm Bureau may be sending out.
Send us the contact information, phone number and e-mail of your
local American Farm Bureau Representative. Ask for a copy of a
letter from the Farm Bureau to Mr. Oberstar opposing HR 2421.
-----12. No matter where you live, but especially if you live in
Minnesota or better still, in Rep. Oberstar's district, it is
critical that you notify organizational leaders as well as average
citizens to have them send letters and pass resolutions to Reps.
Oberstar and John Mica opposing HR 2421.
Also notify your state legislators and local elected officials.
You should hold local public meetings and get as many people in
your area as possible informed about HR 2421. This is especially
true in Minnesota. Of course you should do this in other states as
well.
There are 300 green groups supporting the HR 2421 and 171
Congressmen are co-sponsoring HR 2421 so far. Oberstar has said
publicly that the House will pass the bill. You must help prove
him wrong. He is twisting arms by threatening to withhold pork
money for local projects, which he controls, from each Members
district unless they support his bill.
American Land Rights Association is working as a team with the
American Property Coalition in Minnesota and many other
organizations across America to defeat HR 2421. You can reach the
American Property Coalition at donp@americanpropertycoalition.org
or mail:
Don Parmeter Linda Runbeck American Property Coalition
161 St. Anthony Ave., Ste. 935 St. Paul, MN 55103
(651) 224-6219
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Below is the fax
and e-mail list of most of the Members of the Committee. You need
to send your e-mail care of one of their staff that we have
listed. You may call any Congressman at (202) 225-3121
Chair: Oberstar (D-MN) 42 Democrats Ranking Minority: Mica (R-FL)
33 Republicans
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Minority (Republican) Direct Line: (202) 225-9446
Chief of Minority Staff - James Coon, (202) 225-9446 jim.coon@mail.house.gov--or
ryan.boyce@mail.house.gov
Minority (Republicans) Fax: (202) 226-5435
Republicans: John L Mica (R-FL) Fax (202) 226-0821 Contact: Brian
Waldrip - brian.waldrip@mail.house.gov
Don Young (R-AK) Fax (202) 225-0425 Contact: Pamela Day -
pamela.day@mail.house.gov
Thomas Petri (R-WI) Fax (202) 225-2356 Contact: Lindsay Bowers -
lindsay.bowers@mail.house.gov
Howard Coble (R-NC) Fax (202) 225-8611 Contact: John Mautz -
john.mautz@mail.house.gov
John J Duncan Jr. (R-TN) Fax (202) 225-6440 Contact: Ryan Temme -
ryan.temme@mail.house.gov
Vernon J Ehlers (R-MI) Fax (202) 225-5144 Contact: Matthew Reiffer
-matt.reiffer@mail.house.gov
Steven C La Tourette (R-OH) Fax (202) 225-3307 Contact: Tim
Lundquist - tim.lundquist@mail.house.gov
Richard Baker (R-LA) Fax (202) 225-7313 Contact: Paul Sawyer -
paul.sawyer@mail.house.gov
Frank A LoBiondo (R-NJ) Fax (202) 225-3318 Contact: Geoff Gosselin
-Send to: jacob.sciandra@mail.house.gov
Jerry Moran (R-KS) Fax (202) 225-5124 Contact: Alex Richard -
alex.richard@mail.house.gov
Gary G Miller (R-CA) Fax (202) 226-6962 Contact: Sandra
Breitengross - sandra.breitengross@mail.house.gov
Robin Hayes (R-NC) Fax (202) 225-4036 Contact: Tommy Sevier -
tommy.sevier@mail.house.gov
Henry E Brown Jr. (R-SC) Fax (202) 225-3407 Contact: Chris
Berardini - chris.berardini@mail.house.gov
Timothy V Johnson (R-IL) Fax (202) 226-0791 Contact: Stephen Borg
- stephen.borg@mail.house.gov
Todd Platts (R-PA) Fax (202) 226-1000 Contact: Joe Thomas -
joe.thomas@mail.house.gov
Sam Graves (R-Mo) Fax (202) 225-8221 Contact: Paul Sass -
paul.sass@mail.house.gov
Bill Shuster (R-PA) Fax (202) 225-2486 Contact: Stephen Martinko -
stephen.martinko@mail.house.gov
John Boozman (R-AR) Fax (202) 225-5713 Contact: Kathee Facchiano -
kathee.facchiano@mail.house.gov
Jim Gerlach (R-PA) Fax (202) 225-8440 Contact: Bill Tighe -
bill.tighe@mail.house.gov
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) Fax (202) 226-0346 Contact: Lauren
Robitaille - lauren.robitaille@mail.house.gov
Kenny E Marchant (R-TX) Fax (202) 225-0074 Contact: Ryan Young -
ryan.young@mail.house.gov
Charles W Dent (R-PA) Fax (202) 226-0778 Contact: Pete Richards -
pete.Richards@mail.house.gov
Ted Poe (R-TX) Fax (202) 225-5547 Contact: Alan Knapp - alan.knapp@mail.house.gov
Dave Reichert (R-WA) Fax (202) 225-4282 Contact: Chris Miller -
chris.miller@mail.house.gov
Connie Mack (R-FL) Fax (202) 226-0439 Contact: Francis Gibbs -
francis.gibbs@mail.house.gov
John R "Randy" Kuhl Jr. (R-NY) Fax (202) 226-6599 Contact:
Meredith Bircher - meredith.bircher@mail.house.gov
Lynn A Westmoreland (R-GA) Fax (202) 225-2515 Contact: Joe Lillis
- joe.lillis@mail.house.gov
Charles W Boustany Jr. (R-LA) Fax (202) 225-5724 Contact: Terri
Fish - terri.fish@mail.house.gov
Jean Schmidt (R-OH) Fax (202) 225-1992 Contact: Joe Jansen -
joe.jansen@mail.house.gov
Candice S Miller (R-MI) Fax (202) 226-1169 Contact: Sean Moran -
sean.moran@mail.house.gov
Thelma Drake (R-VA) Fax (202) 225-4218 Contact: Dena Kozanas -
dena.kozanas@mail.house.gov
Mary Fallin (R-OK) Fax (202) 226-1463 Contact: Jeff Ringer -
jeff.ringer@mail.house.gov
Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Fax (202) 226-0828 Contact: Max Goodman -
max.goodman@mail.house.gov
Democrat Committee Members (We've listed only those we hope may be
open minded.)
Direct line for Majority (Democrats) (202) 225-4472 Fax: (202)
226-1270
Gene Taylor (D-MS) Fax (202) 225-7074 Contact: Courtney Littig -
courtney.littig@mail.house.gov
Ellen O Tauscher (D-CA) Fax (202) 225-5914 Contact: Paul Kidwell -
paul.kidwell@mail.house.gov
Leonard L Boswell (D-IA) Fax (202) 225-5608 Contact: Susan McAvoy
- susan.mcavoy@mail.house.gov
Tim Holden (D-PA) Fax (202) 226-0996 Contact: Keith J Pemrick -
keith.pemrick@mail.house.gov
Brian Baird (D-WA) Fax (202) 225-3478 Contact: Hilary Cain -
hilary.cain@mail.house.gov
Mike Michaud (D-ME) Fax (202) 225-2943 Contact: Kim thompson -
kim.thompson@mail.house.gov
Russ Carnahan (D-MO) Fax (202) 225-7452 Contact: Jeremy Haldeman -
jeremy.haldeman@mail.house.gov
John T Salazar (D-CO) Fax (202) 226-9669 Contact: Eric Wortman -
eric.wortman@mail.house.gov
Nicholas V Lampson (D-TX) Fax (202) 225-5241 Contact: Dan Easley -
dan.easley@mail.house.gov
Zachary T Space (D-OH) Fax (202) 225-3394 Contact: Aaron Schmidt -
aaron.schmidt@mail.house.gov
Bruce Braley (D-IA) Fax (202) 225-6666 Contact: Mike Goodman -
mike.goodman@mail.house.gov
Jason Altmire (D-PA) Fax (202) 226-2274 Contact: Erik Komendant -
erik.komendant@mail.house.gov
Timothy J Walz (DFL-MN) Fax (202) 225-3433 Contact: Meredith
Salsbery - meredith.salsbery@mail.house.gov
Heath Shuler (D-NC) Fax (202) 226-6422 Contact: Sean O'Brien -
sean.obrien@mail.house.gov
Nick J Rahall (D-WV) - Fax (202) 225-3452 -- Contact: erika.young@mail.house.gov
Jerry F Costello (D-IL) - Fax (202) 225-0285 - Contact:
christa.fornarotto@mail.house.gov
Harry E Mitchell (D-AZ) - Fax (202) 225-3263 - Contact:
matthew.weisman@mail.house.gov
Christopher P Carney (D-PA) - Fax (202) 225-9594 - Contact:
jeffrey.gabriel@mail.house.gov
Steve Kagen (D-WI) - Fax (202) 225-5729 - Contact: casey.frary@mail.house.gov
Steve Cohen (D-TN) - Fax (202) 225-5663 - Contact:
marilyn.dillihay@mail.house.gov
Jerry McNerney (D-CA) - Fax (202) 225-4060 - Contact: nick.holder@mail.house.gov
Laura Richardson (D-CA) - Fax (202) 225-7924 - Contact:
matt.chiller@mail.house.gov
You must take urgent action to help stop HR 2421. This bill will
have a huge impact on rural America, farming, ranching and private
lands. No one who owns private land is safe. Your help is greatly
appreciated.
Chuck Cushman Executive Director American Land Rights Association
(360) 687-3087 ccushman@pacifier.com
Please forward this message as widely as possible. This is a
historic issue.
It is incredibly important for you to forward this message. By
forwarding the message, you can help get millions of copies of
this critically important e-mail distributed. Thank you in advance
for your help.
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