| Below are headlines
from the American Horse Council
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| > > > > MEMORANDUM > > > > > > To: American Horse Council Members > > From: Alicia Cunningham > > Re: Summary on Recreation Issues > > Date: July 27, 2004 > > > > > > Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have recessed for the > > August break. Both Houses will come back in session after Labor Day on > > September 7th. > > > > Below please find a summary for the most important recreation issues > > that affect the equestrian community. We encourage you and the > > organizations that you belong to to be involved and contact their > > representatives in Washington, D.C. regarding these important issues. If > > you need information on how to contact your representatives or would > > like to receive a sample letter on any of the issues below, please > > contact Alicia Cunningham at alicia@horsecouncil.org. > > > > Right to Ride Legislation > > > > Representative George P. Radanovich (R-CA) has introduced legislation > > intended to preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock horses > > on public lands. The legislation, H.R. 2966, known as the "Right to Ride > > Bill," applies to all federal lands managed by the National Park > > Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and > > Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service. H.R. 2966 currently has > > twenty-one cosponsors. > > > > Specifically the legislation mandates that public lands should be > > managed by the federal agencies "to preserve and facilitate the > > continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, > > including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically > > designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use." > > > > H.R. 2966 was unanimously passed by voice vote in the full House of > > Representatives Resources Committee, and it was additionally discharged > > by the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. It is now on the > > Calendar of the House of Representatives and ready for consideration on > > the floor once the House leadership schedules it. We will let you know > > when that occurs. > > > > Roadless Initiative > > > > Access to public lands for horseback riders is an important issue to the > > recreational segment of the horse industry. The industry must be > > constantly aware of any efforts, federal, state or local, to close > > public lands to horses. > > > > One of the programs adopted in the final weeks of President Clinton's > > Administration was the so-called "Roadless Initiative," which could have > > prevented recreational activities on 58.5 million acres of federal > > forests and changed the way land is managed in over 120 national > > forests. The Clinton Roadless Initiative would have prevented any > > roadbuilding or logging on those 58.5 million acres, essentially > > creating wilderness areas within national forests. The rule was > > scheduled to go into effect in May 2001, but the Bush Administration > > postponed the rule. It was also delayed through several lawsuits. > > > > The Bush Administration announced on July 12th that the Forest Service > > would reinstate the interim directive to conserve roadless areas that > > were protected under the 2001 rule. The interim directive will remain in > > effect for 18 months until the finalization of a new roadless rule which > > was proposed by the Bush Administration. The proposed rule was published > > in the Federal Register on July 16th. > > > > The new rule emphasizes conserving roadless areas by working with the > > states on state-specific regulations. In essence, the responsibility to > > keep segments of the national forests "roadless" would be the > > responsibility of the states and particularly the state governors. The > > new rule would allow governors to petition the federal government if > > they wished to keep certain areas roadless. Under the proposed rule, a > > governor could also petition for less protection. If the Forest Service > > accepts the petition, it would negotiate a detailed plan with the state. > > > > Once the state finished its petition process, the Forest Service would > > publish a subsequent rulemaking for inventoried roadless areas within a > > petitioning state. Each state-specific rulemaking would go through the > > required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis as well as > > input from the public during the notice and comment period. Peitions > > would have to be submitted within 18 months of the effective date of the > > final rule. > > > > There is a 60-day public comment period on the proposed rule which ends > > on September 14, 2004. Written comments on the proposed rule may be > > mailed to: Content Analysis Team, ATTN: Roadless State Petitions, USDA > > Forest Service, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122; faxed to > > (801) 517-1014; or e-mailed to statepetitionroadless@fs.fed.us. Comments > > also may be submitted from: http://www.regulations.gov. The Forest > > Service plans to issue a final rule after it evaluates public comments. > > > > Health Insurance for the Recreational Rider > > > > On February 14, 2003, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Russell Feingold > > (D-WI) introduced legislation (S. 423) in the Senate that would prohibit > > health insurers from denying benefits to plan participants if they are > > injured while engaging in legal recreational activities like horseback > > riding. Representative Scott McInnis (R-CO) introduced an identical bill > > in the House of Representatives, H.R.1749, on April 10, 2003. The > > McInnis bill has very strong > > support. > > > > A hearing was held on the Senate bill and changes were made to the > > original bill in order to include more recreational activities. The new > > Senate bill states that: > > > > A group health plan, or a health insurance offering group health > > insurance in connection with a group health plan, may not deny benefits > > otherwise provided under the plan or coverage for the treatment of an > > injury solely because such injury resulted from the participation or > > beneficiary in a legal transportation or legal recreational activity. > > > > The House bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce > > in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and > > Committee on Ways and Means. It has strong support with over 170 > cosponsors. > > > > Trails - Funding and Maintaining Access > > > > Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed federal > > highway funding legislation, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and > > Efficient Transportation Equity Act or SAFETEA. Because there are major > > differences in the two versions, a Conference Committee, made up of > > Members of the House and Senate, has been formed to reconcile the > > differences and bring one bill back to the House and Senate for passage. > > While members of the Conference Committee have met a few times, a > > disagreement between the House and the Senate still exists in regard to > > appropriate funding levels. Therefore, a bill still has not been passed. > > > > This legislation contains all funding for transportation projects, and > > is therefore widely known as the highway-funding bill. Though the bill > > primarily addresses highway and infrastructure funding, SAFETEA also > > contains the authorization for funds for the Recreational Trail Program > > (RTP). The RTP is important to the recreational rider - the program > > creates and improves trails for riders and allows the states to decide > > where the new trails should be or what trails need maintenance work. > > > > We support funding for the Recreation Trails Program of $503 million > > over six years, the level in the House-passed bill. > > > > In addition to the funding for the Recreational Trails Program, the new > > transportation reauthorization proposal contains a provision > > specifically important to the equestrian community. Under current > > federal transportation law, equestrians are not included in the > > definition of allowable activities on "shared use paths". Some land > > managers have used this exclusion to deny access to equestrians, though > > that was never the intent of the federal government. The Senate > > legislation solves this problem. > > > > We support the provision in the Senate-passed bill that specifically > > recognizes that horseback riding is an allowable activity on shared-use > > paths. > > > > Healthy Forests > > > > Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed the Healthy > > Forests Restoration Act, and the President has signed it into law. This > > is important to the equine community because healthier forests equal > > better trails and trail experiences. > > > > The Healthy Forests Restoration Act is a response to several summers of > > devastating forest fires. The intent of the legislation is to give > > forest managers more flexibility to reduce natural forest fire fuels. > > The sponsors of the legislation believed that due to actions taken by > > environmentalists, forest land managers have not been able to thin out > > forests - even doing something as simple as removing dead trees from the > > land. This build-up acts as natural fuel and increases the risk of > > forest fires. The legislation also gives federal land managers more > > power to control destructive insects in national forests. > > > > After the bill was signed into law, the Subcommittee on Forests and > > Forest Health under the House Resources Committee held a hearing to > > examine the difficulties in enacting the "Healthy Forests" legislation > > due to a loss of infrastructure over the last several years. > > > > It was discussed in this hearing that the "thinning" process needed to > > improve forest health will be slowed down due to the loss of mills. > > Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) stated that the timber industry has become > > a victim of government policy. He said that due to the federal land > > managers "hands-off" approach, timber sales collapsed, job losses were > > severe, mills were closed, and communities disappeared. He asked the > > Subcommittee how the federal government can move forward with the > > Healthy Forests Restoration Act if there is no adequate infrastructure. > > > > Representative Scott McInnis (R-CO) stated that there was a great need > > for balanced, common-sense thinning of our forests. He also stated his > > concern, however, that there is an insufficient, skilled labor source to > > do these jobs. > > > > Representative C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) told the subcommittee of the > > loss of entire communities due to all the mills that were shut down in > > Northern Idaho. He stated his belief that harvesting timber can be good > > for the environment and for the economy as jobs come back to local > > communities. > > > > Take Pride in America > > > > The Department of Interior has reestablished the Take Pride in America > > (TPIA) Program, a national partnership established by President Ronald > > Reagan to encourage volunteers to initiate programs to improve our > > parks, recreation areas, refuges and cultural and historical sites. > > Outstanding volunteer efforts will be recognized and rewarded with > > awards, including Presidential recognition. > > > > The program was originally established by the Department in 1985 but was > > de-emphasized in 1993, although several states continued awards programs > > and other outdoor efforts. The American Horse Council is a Charter > > Partner in the initiative. > > > > The Take Pride in American Program has established a State Coordinator > > in nearly each state so that people can have their event recognized and > > learn about other events and activities in which they can participate. > > If you have not done so already, we suggest that you call and introduce > > yourself and your organization to your State Coordinator and discuss > > your activities and what you might want to do. There are a number of > > administrative matters that must be satisfied to participate, but they > > are not overly burdensome. We encourage all members to make contact with > > their State Coordinator as soon as possible to increase the profile of > > the equine community in their state. > > > > This is an opportunity for AHC members and recreational riders to take > > part in a worth-while federal initiative that offer benefits to the > > industry too. Additional information can also be found at the Take Pride > > in America website at www.takepride.gov. > > > > The AHC believes that our members and recreational riders are already > > involved in many volunteer activities that would qualify as Take Pride > > events. These activities could fit nicely into the reinvigorated Take > > Pride effort and offer several benefits. This is an opportunity for > > recreational riders to show our federal officials, who make decisions > > about access to trails for riders, and the public how large the industry > > is, how active it is in volunteering and what we do to improve > > recreational opportunities. > > > > Members of the American Horse Council were also encouraged this Spring > > to take part in the National Award Program presented by the Take Pride > > in America Program. National awards will recognize specific volunteer > > projects and efforts in twelve categories. These awards will be given > > for outstanding stewardship of public lands, to honor those who best > > protect and/or enhance our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs > > and wildlife refuges, as well as our cultural and historic sites, local > > playgrounds and other recreation areas. Finalists and winners are to be > > selected by a panel of reviewers, and the winners will be honored at an > > awards ceremony in Washington, DC. Nominations were due at the end of > June. > > > > > > M E M O R A N D U M > > > > > > > > From: Alicia Cunningham > > > > Re: House and Senate Begin to Conference on SAFETEA > > > > Date: June 24, 2004 > > > > INTRODUCTION > > > > Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed federal > > highway funding legislation, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and > > Efficient Transportation Equity Act or SAFETEA. Because there are major > > differences in the two versions, a Conference Committee, made up of > > Members of the House and Senate, has been formed to reconcile the > > differences and bring one bill back to the House and Senate for passage. > > > > The Conference Committee has begun meeting and will continue to meet > > after the July 4th recess. We need State Horse Councils to contact their > > Representatives and Senators involved in this conference to express > > support for two provisions important to the equestrian community. > > > > BACKGROUND > > > > This legislation contains all funding for transportation projects, and > > is therefore widely known as the highway-funding bill. Though the bill > > primarily addresses highway and infrastructure funding, SAFETEA also > > contains the authorization for funds for the Recreational Trail Program > > (RTP). The RTP is important to the recreational rider - the program > > creates and improves trails for riders and allows the states to decide > > where the new trails should be or what trails need maintenance work. > > > > We support funding for the Recreation Trails Program of $503 million > > over six years, the level in the House-passed bill. > > > > In addition to the funding for the Recreational Trails Program, the new > > transportation reauthorization proposal contains a provision > > specifically important to the equestrian community. Under current > > federal transportation law, equestrians are not included in the > > definition of allowable activities on "shared use paths". Some land > > managers have used this exclusion to deny access to equestrians, though > > that was never the intent of the federal government. The Senate > > legislation solves this problem. > > > > We support the provision in the Senate-passed bill that specifically > > recognizes that horseback riding is an allowable activity on shared-use > > paths. > > > > ACTION NEEDED > > > > Fax numbers of all Members of Congress involved in the conference as > > well as sample letters for the House members and Senate members are > > attached. If a member from your state is on the list, please fax the > > appropriate letter as soon as possible. If you have any questions, > > please contact the American Horse Council at 202-296-4031. > > > > > > Date > > > > > > > > The Honorable . . . > > United States House of Representatives > > Washington, D.C. 20515 > > > > Dear Representative : > > > > As you conference with the Senate on H.R. 3550, the Transportation > > Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (TEA-LU), we ask that you support a > > provision that was included in the Senate-passed legislation which would > > include equestrians in the definition of Shared Use Path and increase > > funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). > > > > We support Section 1607(B) of the Senate-passed bill that provides the > > term shared use path means a multiuse trail or other path that is > > "usable for transportation purposes (including by pedestrians, > > bicyclists, skaters, equestrians, and other nonmotorized users)." > > > > Under the current TEA-21 law, because equestrians are not specifically > > included in the list, some land managers are using this as an excuse to > > exclude equestrians, although that was never the intent of the law. The > > Senate bill corrects this problem by adding "equestrians" to the > > definition. We ask that you support its inclusion in the final > legislation. > > > > A strong equine recreation industry is important to the American > > economy. According to the study The National Economic Impact of the > > Horse Industry over 2.9 million horses are involved in recreational > > riding, 4.3 million people participate providing $23.8 billion to the > > economy and producing 317,000 total full-time jobs. [Include any > > economic information about the economic effects in your state.] These > > recreational riders need more places to ride - not fewer. > > > > We also strongly support the funding level for the Recreational Trails > > Program in the House-passed legislation which provides $503 million over > > six years. Federal fuel taxes are paid by millions of trail enthusiasts > > on fuel used in trailbikes and snowmobiles, ATVs and 4x4s and other > > non-highway recreation devices. The Federal Highway Administration has > > estimated that the collection of federal fuel taxes from these uses > > amounts to $286 million annually. > > > > We ask you to support RTP funding at a level equal to or higher than the > > level provided in the House bill. This funding level will provide > > greater equity to recreationists who now are perhaps the largest > > "donors" under the nation's surface transportation programs, a situation > > that undermines the "user fee" premise of the Highway Trust Fund. > > > > Thank you for your support on these two important issues. If you have > > any questions about the recreational horse industry in [your state], > > please contact us. Thank you. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Date > > > > > > > > The Honorable . . . > > United States Senate > > Washington, D.C. 20510 > > > > Dear Senator : > > > > As you conference with the House of Representatives on H.R. 3550, the > > Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (TEA-LU), we ask that you > > support a provision that was included in the Senate-passed legislation > > which would include equestrians in the definition of Shared Use Path and > > increase funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). > > > > We support Section 1607(B) of the Senate-passed bill which provides that > > the term shared use path means a multiuse trail or other path that is > > "usable for transportation purposes (including by pedestrians, > > bicyclists, skaters, equestrians, and other nonmotorized users)." > > > > Under the current TEA-21 law, because equestrians are not specifically > > included in the list, some land managers are using this as an excuse to > > exclude equestrians, although that was never the intent of the law. The > > Senate bill corrects this problem by adding "equestrians" to the > > definition. We ask that you support its inclusion in the final > legislation. > > > > A strong equine recreation industry is important to the American > > economy. According to the study The National Economic Impact of the > > Horse Industry over 2.9 million horses are involved in recreational > > riding, 4.3 million people participate providing $23.8 billion to the > > economy and producing 317,000 total full-time jobs. [Include any > > economic information about the economic effects in your state.] These > > recreational riders need more places to ride - not fewer. > > > > We also strongly support the funding level for the Recreational Trails > > Program in the House-passed legislation which includes $503 million over > > six years. Federal fuel taxes are paid by millions of trail enthusiasts > > on fuel used in trailbikes and snowmobiles, ATVs and 4x4s and other > > non-highway recreation devices. The Federal Highway Administration has > > estimated that the collection of federal fuel taxes from these uses > > amounts to $286 million annually. > > > > We ask you to support RTP funding at a level equal to or higher than the > > level provided in the House bill. This funding level will provide > > greater equity to recreationists who now are perhaps the largest > > "donors" under the nation's surface transportation programs, a situation > > that undermines the "user fee" premise of the Highway Trust Fund. > > > > Thank you for your support on these two important issues. If you have > > any questions about the recreational horse industry in [your state], > > please contact us. Thank you. > > > > Sincerely, > > > |
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