Free Republic

WASHINGTON — Congress on Wednesday set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness - from California's Sierra Nevada mountains to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. The legislation is on its way to President Barack Obama for his likely signature. The House approved the bill, 285-140, the final step in a long legislative road that began last year. The vote came two weeks after the House rejected the bill amid a partisan dispute over gun rights. The measure was brought up again in the Senate and approved last week, setting up Wednesday's vote. The bill...

WASHINGTON -- A popular but star-crossed public lands bill that would have extended additional protections to 200,000 acres in Oregon and millions more nationwide was defeated in the House Wednesday by a mere two votes. The measure earned a lopsided 282-144 vote but failed nonetheless because it did meet the required two-thirds majority. Under House rules, the bill needed 284 affirmative votes to pass based on the total number of lawmakers voting. The defeat was a bitter setback to supporters who labored for years and felt confident of victory after the Senate passed the bill in January. In the past,...

Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities. Edited by: John Stewart The Boxer Wilderness Bill - Time To Step Up To The PlateJuly 22, 2002by: Pete Conaty, Executive DirectorCalifornia League of Off Road Voters Environmental extremists, with the enthusiastic support of liberal politicians in Washington, are waging an endless war against Californians, who simply want to enjoy the natural beauties of this extraordinarily state in their off road vehicles.Nearly a decade ago U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, of San Francisco, managed to put 7 million acres of Southern California desert off limits to Californians. Now,...