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Our Congressional Representatives respond to farm
protection
Thanks to the following Wisconsin land trusts
for contacting their legislators in regards to the March 18 Farm
and Ranch Lands Protection Program policy alert:
- Bayfield Regional Conservancy (Rep. Dave Obey)
- Driftless Area Land Conservancy (Rep. Ron Kind)
- Natural Heritage Land Trust (Rep. Tammy Baldwin)
- West Wisconsin Land Trust (Rep. Ron Kind and
Rep. Dave Obey)
- Gathering Waters also contacted Wisconsin's
entire Congressional delegation. (see
the letter here)
Reps. Baldwin and Kind
signed on to the House of Representative's Dear Colleague letter
supporting the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). Rep.
Ryan indicated support, but has a policy of not
signing onto letters to the appropriators due to his membership
on the Budget Committee. Similarly, Rep. Obey may
not have signed the letter due to his position as Ranking Member
on the Committee on Appropriations (to whom the letter was addressed).
Click
here to see the final House letter and the list of signatories.
Now it is time to contact our senators!
Senators Santorum (R-PA) and Leahy (D-VT) are
circulating a companion "dear colleague letter" for the
Senate Appropriations Committee. Click
here for a copy of the letter. The deadline for our Senators
to sign on is Friday, April 28.
Please contact Senators
Kohl and Feingold at the phone or email address below and ask them
to contact Senator Leahey's office to sign on to this letter.
Senator Russ Feingold
ph: 202-224-5323
fx:202-224-2725
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Senator Herb Kohl
ph: 202-224-5653
fx: 202-224-9787
go to http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html
to send an email
A personal message is best (let them know that
this program is important to you!). Feel
free to use Gathering Waters' letter to Senators Feingold and Kohl
for background.
Schedule a visit with your Representatives this
summer
While the Land Trust Alliance is working hard
on behalf of land trusts in Washington D.C., there is no substitute
for Congress members learning about the value of the Farm Bill programs
from their constituents.
Reps will next be in their districts from May
22-June 4 and throughout the month of August. If you would like
assistance in arranging for a visit with your Congressional Rep.,
contact Althea Dotzour, outreach and policy coordinator at althea [at] gatheringwaters.org.
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