Dear Friends of Just Within Reach and Nick Carter's Oceans Campaign:
As we have shared with you before, one of the most important things you can
do to support a cleaner environment is become active in voicing your opinion
on environmental policies and laws that will protect and preserve. On behalf
of Kev and Nick, we'd like to share this email which they received from the
American Oceans Campaign. Please read it and if you'd like more information,
you can call the American Oceans Campaign at 800/862-3260. If you'd like to
participate and voice your concern, please contact your Congressperson. Kids,
if your parents wish to voice their opinion, have them call their
Congressperson. If you are under 18, please make sure you have permission and
approval from your parents to get involved and to make long distance phone
calls. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202/224-3121 and they can
put you in touch with your Congressperson's office. Please contact American
Oceans Campaign directly if you have further questions as we at JWR do not
have additional information. Thanks.
____________________________________
From the American Oceans Campaign (founded by actor Ted Danson)
Calls to the U.S. Congress are urgently needed! Critical BEACH Act funding
is on the line and many Representatives are hesitating to support
a BEACH Act funding amendment. Please call your member of Congress and urge
him/her to support the Pallone/Saxton BEACH Act amendment.
The U.S. Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202/224-3121.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) are planning to offer
an amendment when the VA/HUD appropriations bill is expected to hit the House
floor today or tomorrow. The amendment would increase funding for state
beach water quality monitoring programs and AOC and TOC are actively seeking
additional help with calls to targeted House offices urging their support of
the amendment on the floor and would welcome your assistance.
Background:
Last year, Congress unanimously passed the Beaches Environmental assessment
and Coastal health Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-284). The BEACH Act authorizes $30
million in EPA grants for coastal states, territories and Tribes to establish
water quality monitoring and notification programs at public beaches.
However, the Bush budget request only contained $2 million and the House
appropriations committee only appropriated $7 million for this important
program. Additional background is available through AOC and can be faxed
upon request.
The Pallone-Saxton amendment would increase this level of funding by $3
million or so (exact number is still being worked out and we will get you
information on the offset as soon as it is available). This is our last
chance to increase EPA's funding for clean beaches because the Senate
committee mark only includes $2 million.
If your Congressperson's office sounds particularly interested please
encourage them to support the amendment. We (AOC) can supply them with
talking points. In addition, Ted Danson is working on a sign-on letter, so if
nothing else, please consider signing on when it comes around. Thanks and we
apologize for such short notice.
The American Oceans Campaign.
*~*~* Nick Carter Ocean Campaign *~*~* Nick Carter Ocean Campaign *~*~*