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Support Increased Funding for Trails and Recreation

From Americans For Responsible Recreational Access

Once again we need your help to ensure that adequate funding is provided for trails and recreation. As you may recall, ARRA has urged you to contact members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies to request increased funding for the US Forest Service Trails and Recreation budgets for the past three years. The time to act is upon us again.

The President recently released his proposed budget and again trails and recreation would take a big hit. The proposal would slash the Trails budget by 33% as compared to FY '08 enacted, from $76.4 million to $50 million. The Recreation budget would take a big hit as well, with the President proposing $237 million for FY '09 compared to $263 million enacted in FY '08.

The Trails and Recreation budgets will provide funding for the ongoing implementation of the Travel Management Rule that requires each National Forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicles. As such it is imperative that these accounts are fully funded.

For each of the past three years you have weighed in and Congress has restored funding for the Trails and Recreation budgets, but we must remain vigilant. Please click below to send a letter to your Member who sits either on one or both of the House or Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittees.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):

House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

Senate Subcommittee on Interior, Environment & Related Agencies

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Support increased funding for USFS Recreation and Trails budgets

Dear [decision maker name here],

As a member of Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) I write to urge you to increase funding for the US Forest Service Recreation and Trails budgets. The President's proposed budget recommends slashing the Trails budget by 33% as compared to FY '08 enacted, from $76.4 million to $50 million. The Recreation budget would sustain a large reduction as well, with the President proposing $237 million for FY '09 compared to $263 million enacted in FY '08. We encourage you to restore funding for these programs and to provide an increase over last year's allocations by an amount that at least accounts for inflation.

Of particular concern is that adequate funding be available for the ongoing implementation of the Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use Rule. The Rule requires each National Forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicles. This will be a massive undertaking that will require individual forests and districts to undergo extensive processes to eventually produce a map that details where OHV use may occur. The President's proposal would not provide adequate funds to implement the rule and provide for other recreation and trail related priorities.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[your name]

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