SEMA Action Network Legislative Alert
Federal Legislation Would Lock Hobbyists Out of CALIFORNIA
Outdoor Recreation Area
U.S. Congress Considers Legislation to
Lock Hobbyists Out of California
Outdoor Recreation Areas
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) newly
introduced "California Wild Heritage Act of 2002" (S. 2535) seeks to close
nearly 2.5 million acres of California public land used by off-highway vehicle (OHV)
enthusiasts by reclassifying these lands as "wilderness" areas. Two companion
bills, the "Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act" (H.R. 4947) and
the "Northern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act" (H.R. 4948), sponsored by
Reps. Hilda Solis (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) respectively, have also been
introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Federal law bans motorized
OHVs from designated "wilderness" areas.
Contact Your U.S. Senators and
Representatives to Oppose California Wild Heritage Wilderness Legislation
 | The California Wild Heritage Wilderness
legislation (S. 2535, H.R. 4947 and H.R. 4948) would ban OHVs from an additional
2.5 million acres of California public land newly designated as "wilderness."
Hundreds of miles of existing roads and trails used by OHV enthusiasts for many
years would be lost to OHV recreation forever. |
| The California Wild Heritage Wilderness
legislation would add even more obstacles to pursuing the legitimate OHV hobby.
OHV enthusiasts are already banned from 21 percent of California's national
forest land and 25 percent of California's U.S. Bureau of Land Management land.
|
| The California Wild Heritage
Wilderness legislation would unfairly discriminate against handicapped,
disabled or elderly outdoor enthusiasts who cannot expect to participate in
backcountry recreation without the assistance of motorized vehicles. |
| The California Wild Heritage Wilderness
legislation will unfairly impact businesses that cater to OHV enthusiasts. OHV
parts manufacturers and distributors, as well as installation and repair shops
will feel an economic pinch as lack of recreational opportunity translates into
lack of business opportunity. |
The California Wild Heritage Wilderness
legislation will have a substantial impact on small rural California communities
that rely heavily on the money that OHV recreation brings into local economies
via OHV-related retail outlets and service facilities, as well as campgrounds,
restaurants, etc.
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives to oppose
California Wild Heritage Wilderness legislation (S.2535, H.R.4947 and H.R.4948).
To find out the name and address of your members of Congress,
call the
SEMA Washington, D.C. office at 202-783-6007 or
click on
http://www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp.
Due to ongoing Congressional mail delivery
problems, please consider e-mailing or faxing your letters to Congressional
offices.
FAX a copy of your letter
to SEMA (202) 783 6024
or
Mail to:
SEMA Washington Office,
1317 F St., NW, Ste. 500,
Washington, DC 20004
