| Wild Olympics Legislation Passes U.S. House of Representatives! |
|
Lana,
We are excited to share with you that on Wednesday, February 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act! Thank you to Representative
Derek Kilmer (WA06) who introduced the legislation in the House and Senator Patty Murray who is the sponsor in the Senate. This is a big victory for salmon recovery, growing local jobs and the economy, and safeguarding clean water.
This
is an important milestone that we could not have reached without your support.
The bill protects the first new Wilderness designations (more than 126,000 acres) in the Olympic National Forest in nearly 30 years and the first-ever Wild and Scenic River designations (for 19 rivers
and their tributaries constituting more than 460 miles of river) on the Olympic Peninsula. The legislation provides permanent safeguards for the Peninsula’s most priceless natural treasures; our towering ancient forests, free-flowing rivers, critical fish and
wildlife habitat, and our clean water.
To
protect these critical resources for all, we need you on our team.
As a founding member of the Wild Olympics Campaign, Washington Wild and local conservation groups on the Olympic Peninsula have been working with neighbors in every single community on the Peninsula
to build support from diverse local voices, listen to concerns, and get feedback to shape the proposal. More than 12,000 Peninsula residents have written letters or signed our petition, and more than 800 Peninsula & Hood Canal area-businesses, farms, faith
leaders, sportsmen groups, elected officials, conservation, outdoor recreation, and civic groups have endorsed Wild Olympics. What happens now? The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will move to the U.S. Senate and hopefully pass into law. The work to pass this important legislation is not done, but we have come a long way. Join us as we continue to advocate for wild lands and waters on the Olympic Peninsula and across Washington State. |
