Wild Rockies Action Fund Accomplishments

Wild Rockies Action Fund ensures a strong presence on Capitol Hill:

The Wild Rockies Action Fund provides funds for travelling expenses enabling citizen activists to go to Washington, D.C. to educate Congress on the importance of protecting biological diversity and our quality of life in the Wild Rockies. 20 activists from the following groups have made their voice resound in the halls of Congress with WRAF funding:

The Ecology Center, Greenpeace, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Wilderness Watch, American Wildlands, Montana Ecosystems Defense Council, Sierra Club, Friends of the Bitterroot, Craighead Wildlife-Wildlands Institute, U of M Economics and Wildlife Biology Departments, University of Utah Economics Department, and Friends of the Wild Swan.

WRAF Published and Distributed:

• Over 50,000 copies of an 8-page, full color brochure detailing the scientific and economic merits of NREPA.
• Over 125,000 postcards to key congressional representatives.
• 50,000 postcards distributed on Steve Miller's "Concerts for the Environment" tour.
• Petition drive for NREPA - over 75,000 signatures.
• Action alerts via fax and e-mail networks generate thousands of calls and letters to the House of Representatives in favor of protecting the Northern Rockies Ecosystem.

Promotional Advertisements:

• Full-page ads in The New York Times, Washington D.C.'s Roll Call & Congressional Quarterly, Missoulian, the Missoula Independent, Bozeman Chronicle and the Yellowstone Gateway Post.
• TV and radio advertisements aired throughout Montana and Idaho.

History of Montana Wilderness Legislation and NREPA

September 10, 1991
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduces "The Montana National Forest Management Act, S 1696," which sets off a national campaign to prevent the bill's passage.

March 4, 1992
Bob Weir ofthe Grateful Dead writes editorial, "Forest for Sale, it's a Steal," for the New York Times denouncing S. 1696.

1992
WRAF played a key role in defeating Senate bill 1696, "The Montana National Forest Management Act," co-sponsored by MT senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns & MT representative Pat Williams. The bill would have released over 4 million acres of roadless wildlands for taxpayer subsidized roadbuilding and clearcutting, mining, and oil and gas development.

September 16, 1992
Representative Kostmayer offered a NREPA-style amendment to the Montana Wilderness Bill. This marks the first time ever that bioregional wilderness ecosystem protection is debated on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

September 9, 1992
WRAF helped gain the introduction of the first ecosystem protection bill ever--NREPA, H.R. 5944, sponsored by Pennsylvania representative Peter Kostmayer (D-PA). He is joined by 2 republicans and 2 democrats in sponsoring the bill.

June 18, 1993
Representative Pat Williams (D-MT) introduced HR 2473, "Round 16 of the Montana Wilderness Act." WRAF helped delay this bill that would release over 4 million acres of roadless wildlands to development. It ends up being the last of the statewide wilderness proposals during the 1980's and 90's.

July 14, 1993
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Arthur Ravenel (R-SC), Ron Dellums (D-CA), and James Walsh (R-NY) introduced NREPA on July 14th as H.R. 2638 with the help of WRAF. These original sponsors were joined by 59 members of Congress, totaling 63 cosponsors.

July 20, 1993
Hearings were held on Representative Williams bill. Mike Bader, of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, testifies against the bill and is subjected to a lengthy diatribe from Idaho Democrat Larry LaRacco.

September 1, 1993
More than 50 leading scientists send a letter to Congress in support of NREPA including Drs. John Craighead, Lee Metzgar, Reed Noss, and Michael Soule'.

April 12, 1994
Representative Bruce Vento (D-MN) held a hearing on NREPA. This historic hearing, the first-ever on a wilderness ecosystem protection bill, gains new credibility for NREPA.

May 4, 1994
NREPA gains a historic joint committee hearing in Congress. Testimony is presented by Dr. John Craighead, Dr. Lee Metzgar, Carole King, economist Michael Garrity, and Mike Bader. Written testimony is submitted by President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Thomas Power. The multi-hour hearing sets the stage for serious consideration of the ecosystem approach. The committees pring a hearing record.

1994
WRAF runs extensive ad campaign against H.R. 2473 and H.R. 3732, the Montana and Idaho wilderness destruction acts.

June 1, 1994
Lee Newspapers releases the results of its statewide opinion poll which shows that 32% of Montanans support NREPA, compared to just 16%, 14% and 14% for the Baucus, Williams and Burns bills, respectively. In just over four years since the founding of the Wild Rockies Action Fund, the amount of people in Montana who support wilderness designation for all roadless areas triples from 10% to 32%.

February 1995
Representative Carolyn Maloney and 20 other members of Congress introduce NREPA to the 104th Congress.

April 23, 1997
NREPA introduced to the 105th Congress by Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). They were later joined by 70 other members of Congress. NREPA reaches all-time high sponsorship.

February 2nd 1999
Christopher Shays and Carolyn Maloney introduce NREPA and as of April 7, 1999 are joined by 29 cosponsors. The cosponsorship drive continues. Please write your congressional representative. WRAF will work to secure hearings for this important bill.