WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation to protect one of the nation’s most vital natural ecosystems. This legislation would protect more than 23 million acres of public land in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming — safeguarding endangered and threatened species, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change by preserving millions of trees that serve as a carbon sink.
“Preserving our environment — wildlife, water, air, and land — including the Northern Rockies, is of crucial importance to our nation,” Rep. Dean said. “As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to protect our environment for future generations, and I’m grateful to Senator Whitehouse for his partnership in this effort to protect some of America’s most vulnerable ecosystems.”
“As the climate crisis rages on, we need to take action to protect our natural resources,” said Sen. Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “This legislation would help preserve forests, rivers, and wildlife habitat for generations to come.”
“I’m grateful to Senator Whitehouse and Congresswoman Dean for their strong record of standing up for their constituents on so many issues—and here they are today, introducing NREPA, a climate solution that protects the environment, species, land, water, and air for the benefit of all Americans. Let’s follow their example and never give up,” said Carole King, environmental advocate and award-winning musician.
"We thank Senator Whitehouse and Representative Dean for introducing the North Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act which protects the environment, fights climate change, creates jobs, and saves taxpayers millions of dollars in logging subsidies simply by designating existing roadless areas as Wilderness,” said Mike Garrity, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.
In addition to roughly 20 million acres of federally protected wilderness, the NREPA would also designate:
- Specified federal lands as biological connecting corridors and as special corridor management areas;
- Segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and
- Specified areas as wildland recovery areas.
Wildland recovery plans would be required for each recovery area.
NREPA is endorsed by Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Save America’s Forests, The Rewilding Institute, and the Swan View Coalition, among a plethora of other organizations.
Full bill text is available here.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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