March 2010

Monumental Problem!

A couple of weeks ago, word leaked out about a secret, internal study, ordered by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Salazar, on potential areas that could be declared National Monuments under the Antiquities Act. An Interior Department spokesperson described the list of 17 hot spots as something that came out a brainstorming session held at the department. What a session! Under the Antiquities Act, Mr. Obama could make such a declaration with the simple stroke of his Presidential pen.

Many off-highway motorized trails in America's national forests could deteriorate dramatically or even disappear under the new federal budget for 2011 proposed by President Barack Obama to Congress on Feb. 1.

Under the proposal, which must by accepted by Congress before it becomes law, funding for the U.S. Agriculture Department's Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM) program would be slashed by $100 million from the $538 million appropriated for the current fiscal year, which began October 1, to $438 million for the next fiscal year.

AMA Urges Action to Prevent Trail Funding From Being Slashed in Budget

President's Budget Proposal Would Slash Trail Funding

Take Action!

From a press release issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously (5-0) to extend a stay of enforcement on testing and certification of many regulated children’s products. While enforcement of specific CPSC testing requirements has been stayed, the products must still comply with all applicable rules and bans.

Out with the Old... In with the New

The Obama Administration took swift action on June 17 replacing the current Chief of the Forest Service, Gail Kimbell. The Secretary of Agriculture announced the appointment of a new Chief and in the concluding sentence of the press announcement, thanked Chief Kimbell for her service.

Kimbell, in an email to her colleagues at the Forest Service, said that the news of her dismissal was "sudden." She said simply, "the Administration wanted to make a change." It did so by appointing Tom Tidwell to assume her post.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's acting chairman told her compliance staff Friday not to enfore, for now, rules limiting sales of youth-model all-terrain vehicles that have lead in concealed parts.  Go to the WSJ Online for more information.

Weigh in to Have Your Voice Heard!

The American Motorcyclist Association urges everyone to contact their Representative to vote "No" on the rule and on the final passage of H.R. 146, the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.  This bill was formerly known as S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which would prohibit all motorized vehicle access on over 2 million acres of public lands.  
 

March 13, 2009 – On March 11, 2009, the House of Representatives failed to pass S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act that would ban OHV access to over two million acres of public lands.  ARRA members sent thousands of letters to the House opposing this legislation. We commend you for your hard work and dedication!
 

Washington Newsletter

March 2009

Sticky Fingers in New Mexico

The budget crunch is being felt in cities and states throughout the country. Legislators, governors and mayors are looking for any "free" cash they can get their hands on in order to fund new and existing programs. Strange things happen during difficult economic times and we only need to look to New Mexico for an interesting, but disturbing development.