The environmental agenda is not slowing down in Congress. Currently, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 2002 (CARA), the community Character Act of 2001, and attempts to create new wilderness areas are of major concern.
According
to Stewards of the Range, CARA (HR 701; S. 1328; S.1318) would provide billions
of dollars to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
for
the acquisition of private property and for new environmental protections
including an expansion of endangered species protection.
Remember: acquisition of private property and the growth of environmental
regulation will continue to escalate unless funding is not available.
The
Community Character Act of 2001 (HR 1438;S.975) is an innocently titled bill
that cities and counties across the country are supporting.
The bill would provide federal dollars for development and updating of
“comprehensive land use planning and community development” i.e.: zoning.
“Environmental resources” and
“regional” and “multi-state land use planning” are given special
priority for funding. This bill is
obviously directed at reducing the grassroots citizen’s input on planning and
zoning, in other words the loss of local control. This is a very strong attempt
to create federal land use planning. Remember: this is the regional government
that FWA has been warning against. If
we give up local control, all is lost.
There
are also 36 Wilderness Area bills now pending in Congress.
Not to mention 
the
fact that agency administrative plans also contain elements of wilderness
provisions. This is a concerted
effort to restrict open access and lock citizens out of western lands.
California Senator Barbara Boxer has joined the party with her own
expanded Wilderness legislation. Remember:
the ownership of private property represents power and is integral to our
survival as a republic.
Take
a look around and see what’s up in your community, your state and your
country.