On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2003 thereby clearing the measure for approval by the full Senate. The committee, which approved a nearly identical measure in the 107th Congress, passed the bill without debate or amendments.
On July 24, 2003, the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing on the Caribbean National Forest Wilderness Act of 2003. The Bush Administration testified in favor of the measure. The bill appears to have no opposition and should easily gain passage in the House this year. A Senate companion measure has not yet been introduced.
The process to develop legislation for public lands in Eastern Nevada is moving forward. Key staff for the Nevada congressional delegation continues to have an open dialogue with all interested parties and is gathering proposals from various groups regarding different components of the legislation. The Nevada Wilderness Coalition has presented the Citizen's Wilderness Proposal for Lincoln and White Pine Counties to the congressional delegation and continues to share it with all interested groups.
In an effort to block the Bush Administration from implementing its new rule that opens the door to untold numbers of illegitimate "RS 2477" rights-of-way claims across federal public lands, Congressman Mark Udall offered an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would have prohibited the Department of the Interior from using funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 to implement this new "disclaimer of interest" rule.
Please let us know about the recent activities and accomplishments of your Wilderness campaign. Keep in mind that this is a Wilderness specific update. Contact the Wilderness Support Center by email or at 970-247-8788.
