Federal Wilderness Areas are set aside with the cooperation of both houses of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by the President of the United States. Therefore, it takes, literally, an act of Congress to designate Yellowstone’s Wilderness, even though The Wilderness Act mandated such action over 49 years ago. Wilderness bills can also be vetoed by the President, such as The Montana Wilderness Bill vetoed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1988. This situation, coupled with the fact that wilderness opponents have succeeded in making “wilderness” a dirty word, politically, throughout much of the West, explains why Yellowstone’s Wilderness has yet to be designated. You can help by helping the Yellowstone Wilderness Mag bring this situation to the attention of key members of Congress, most notably delegates from the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, which comprise Yellowstone, and whose support any Yellowstone Wilderness Designation would most likely require. Below are the mailing and email addresses for these key members of Congress. A hand-written letter is most helpful, but a personalized email would also be great. Either way, please compose a thoughtful, well-written statement. Simply click on the links below to email a message asking that Yellowstone’s backcountry wild areas be designated Federal Wilderness, thereby permanently protecting them. The more of these representatives you have time to email, the better. Any personal reasons or stories pertaining to Yellowstone or wilderness in general could help make the message of greater value. Please consider sending messages to all Wyoming representatives, even though they are mostly anti-wilderness, since 96 percent of Yellowstone lies within that state. Also of particular interest is Montana Sen. Jon Tester, Democrat, who seems willing to at least address wilderness issues with an open mind. He possibly could be persuaded to see value in Yellowstone Wilderness Designation, perhaps in conjunction with a Glacier National Park Wilderness Bill. Special attention should also be given to Montana Senator Max Baucus, a powerful Democrat who has the ability to get things done in Washington. Attention should also probably be given to Idaho Representative Walt Minnick, a Democrat, since historically Democrats tend to be more sympathetic to Wilderness Designation. If you reside in any one of these states of Idaho, Montana or Wyoming please contact YOUR representatives. Readers who reside in other states may also wish to contact their own Congressional Representatives, asking them to either A) introduce a bill requiring Yellowstone Wilderness Designation or B) support such an amendment on an existing bill. Click here to easily link to all congressional e-mail addresses. It is our hope that a grass-roots campaign, showing the strength of Democracy in numbers, can finally get this issue to the forefront of the U.S.Government’s agenda regarding Yellowstone National Park.
MONTANA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
United States Senator Max Baucus, Democrat
511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510. (202) 224-2651, from Montana: (800) 332-6106
Click here to send e-mail
United States Senator Jon Tester, Democrat
Senate Dirksen Building, Room B40 E, Washington, D.C., 20510, (202) 224-2644
Click here to send e-mail
United States Representative Steve Daines, Republican
206 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515, (202) 225-3211
Click here to send e-mail
WYOMING CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
United States Senator Mike Enzi, Republican
379A Senate Russell Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510, (202) 224-3424, toll free (888) 250-1879
Click here to send e-mail
United States Senator John Barrasso, Republican
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510-5003, (202) 224-6441
Click here to send e-mail
United States Representative Cynthia Lummis, Republican
1004 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515-5001, (202)225-2311
Click here to send e-mail
IDAHO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
United States Senator Mike Crapo, Republican
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510-1204, (202)224-6142
Click here to send e-mail
United States Senator James E. Risch, Republican
483 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510-1205, (202)224-2752
Click here to send e-mail
United States Representative Walter C. (Walt) Minnick, Democrat
1517 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515-1201, (202) 225-6611
Click here to send e-mail
United States Representative Mike Simpson, Republican
2312 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515-1202, (202) 225-5531
Click here to send e-mail
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR PERMANENT PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK WILDERNESS!
