In June I made my first trip to DC to lobby the Senate on behalf of The Conservation Alliance and the Outdoor Industry Association. We went to encourage members to vote in favor of a package of wilderness bills that we hope will see light on the Senate floor before the election. This is an important piece of legislation during a time when many politicians and industry leaders (not outdoor industry leaders) are calling for lifting restrictions on where, when, and how to open up existing public lands to increased extraction.

My fellow lobbyists were John Sterling - Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance, Amy Roberts – Vice President Public Affairs for the Outdoor Industry Association, and Linda Tom – Cause Marketing Manager for Keen Footwear. We had 12 meetings with mostly Republican Senators or their legislative staff from all areas of the country. I can tell you I learned more in two days on Capital Hill than what I can recall from a year of government class in high school. (I think Schoolhouse Rock was my foundation for how a bill becomes a law.)

The package of bills, called the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2008, A.K.A U.S. Senate Bill 3213, is a bipartisan collection of almost 100 provisions for wilderness designation, wild and scenic river designation, and the National Landscape Conservation System Act. All of the provisions are important, but of specific interest to me, representing Wyoming and Cloudveil, were the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act, which would grant Wild and Scenic River designation to 440 miles of the upper Snake River drainage, and The Wyoming Range Legacy Act. I’d like to commend Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) for continuing the progress on the Headwaters Legacy Act that was first introduced by the late Senator Craig Thomas and for introducing The Wyoming Range Legacy Act which would withdraw 1.2 million acres of land from future oil and gas leasing and create a process to buy out certain existing leases.

Companies like Cloudveil and Keen have an important voice to support the work that all of the non-profits and conservation groups are starting at a grass roots level. Especially when meeting with Republican Senators, the economic impact that the outdoor industry provides to the GDP of the country is quite substantial and something that gets attention. It’s a simple message, no place to recreate, no apparel or gear gets sold, and then I have to go work at a bank or something.
There’s definitely no shortage of opinion on both sides of this issue. Wilderness is important, not because of its economic impact or for the profit of any outdoor industry company, or for the selfish benefit of my job, but it’s important for our heritage, our heirs, our sanity and the long term health of our citizens and our planet. Yeah, kind of sappy, but if you still think we’re going to drill our way to energy independence, then I’ve got the proverbial Wyoming beach front property for you – cheap.

Americans are like college students, you know you have a final coming up all semester, but you wait until the night before to cram. Turn down the petroleum spigot, and we’ll get real innovative, real fast.

S. 3213 could use as much public support as possible. If you care to have your voice heard, contact your senator and send them a short note, or phone call saying you support Senate Bill 3213 and encourage them to do so when it comes up for vote. If the ghost of Thomas Jefferson is really keeping you up at night, you can also call Senator Harry Reid’s office at 202.224.3542 and tell him to “Please schedule time for a vote on S. 3213 during the next Senate session.”

A very interesting two days in Washington, and I’d like to thank John and The Conservation Alliance for allowing me to represent the outdoor industry. And, as for those pictures in the tie standing next to important Senators, there’s a certain judge from Park County Wyoming that once said “Son, you’ll never amount to anything.” Well, reap it sucker.