[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTS THE TROPICAL FOREST PRESERVATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to my colleagues' 
attention a letter from the Sierra Club dated March 13, 1998, in 
support of H.R. 2870, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998.
  There is widespread and growing bipartisan support for this bill, 
which now has over 40 cosponsors. Members of the environmental 
community have also voiced their support. The Sierra Club, on behalf of 
its 550,000 members, praises H.R. 2870 as an ``innovative solution'' to 
tropical forest preservation.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this important bill 
when it comes before us this week.
  The letter follows:

                                                  Sierra Club,

                                   Washington, DC, March 13, 1998.
     Re:H.R. 2870, tropical forest debt swap bill.

     Hon. Robert Portman,
     Hon. John Kasich,
     Hon. Lee Hamilton,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives Portman, Kasich and Hamilton: On 
     behalf of the 550,000 members of the Sierra Club we are 
     writing to support the early passage of your Tropical Forest 
     Debt for Nature Swap legislation. As you know, primary 
     forests are under assault in almost all countries. Tropical 
     forests are being destroyed at the rate of 50 to 100 acres 
     per minute, or 40 to 50 million areas per year--an area the 
     size of the State of Washington. If we do nothing to stop 
     this destruction, the majority of these lush forests may be 
     irreparably damaged within our lifetimes.
       While the causes of this destruction are complex, your 
     legislation demonstrates that innovative solutions to their 
     preservation can be found. H.R. 2870 follows in the tradition 
     of the successful Enterprise for the Americas Act which led 
     to the establishment of national environmental trust funds in 
     many Latin American countries. These trust funds--managed by 
     non-governmental organizations--have empowered local citizens 
     to initiate hundreds of environmental protection projects 
     throughout Latin America. Your bill will bring this creative 
     initiative to the rest of the tropical countries. If properly 
     funded, the trust funds should greatly facilitate the 
     development of long-term solutions, designed to preserve the 
     remaining primary tropical forests.
       We welcome this initiative and urge its quick passage into 
     law. Thank you for your leadership in helping to slow the 
     destruction of these treasure houses of biological diversity.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Larry Williams,
                                  Director, International Program.

     

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