May 22, 2003

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1904, the deceptively titled “Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003” by a vote of 256 to 170. The bill now moves to the Senate where it faces a less certain fate. Senate rules require 60 votes in favor to preclude any threatened filibuster.

The bill’s sponsors claim that environmental safeguards must be abolished and citizens must be locked out of national forest logging decisions because bugs and beetles threaten the very fabric of forest ecosystems. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Insects play a crucial role in our forests, as food for birds and as recyclers of wood.

Please - call your U.S. senators today! Ask them to oppose the “Healthy Forests Restoration Act.” To contact your senators, you can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Please call now. When connected to your legislator’s office, say:

“The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 is not healthy for our national forests. Don't undercut the environmental laws that protect our national forests. Vote against H.R. 1904. Putting the Forest Service above the law will not protect our precious national forests.”

Thanks for all your help.


Read the Healthy Forests Restoration Act

Read FSEEE’s analysis of H.R. 1904’s deceptive insect claims