Sample
Grassroots Coalition
Letter for CARA Template
Date
Dear
_______:
The
National Council of
Youth Sports represents
more than 38 million
boys and girls in
organized youth sports
programs across the
United States. The
youth sports community
is seeking your support
of legislation that
protects the traditional
priority of stateside
Land and Water Conseervation
(LWCF) funds for accessible
public recreation
enhancement and separately
fund the Urban Park
and Recreation Recovery
Program (UPARR). We
believe that comprehensive
conservation and recreation
legislation represents
the most effective
long-term commitment
to enhancing recreation
and protecting open
space for future generations
and that is why we
ask your support of
the Conservation and
Reinvestment Act (CARA,
H.R. 701)
Right
now, an historic opportunity
exists to create a
lasting legacy for
future generations
by enacting the Conservation
and Reinvestment Act
(CARA, H.R. 701),
landmark, bipartisan
conservation legislation
that would reinvest
revenues from depleting
resources - offshore
oil and gas - to protect
America's natural
heritage for years
to come. CARA represents
a comprehensive approach
to conservation and
recreation, making
a long-term commitment
to parks, wildlife,
coastlines, and cultural
and historic sites,
as well as payment
in-lieu of taxes (PILT)
for communities who
put open space into
community stewardship.
In fact, a vast majority
of the bill's resources
are directed to states
and local communities.
The comprehensive
and reliable nature
of CARA and its inclusion
of conservation and
recreation programs
at the federal, state
and local levels has
been the key to its
enthusiastic support
and success to date.
Last year, an unprecedented
coalition across the
country, including
the nation's governors,
mayors, county officials,
conservation and wildlife
organizations, sportsmen's
groups, park and recreation
advocates, business
and industry groups,
historic preservationists,
zoos and aquariums,
and soccer and youth
sports organizations
were the driving force
behind the strong
bipartisan support
CARA received from
the House of Representatives.
These organizations
and their members
are actively working
for CARA's passage
this year.
Your
leadership now on
behalf of reliable
and comprehensive
conservation legislation
is critical. A one-year
appropriation or a
limited public lands
protection program,
while important, does
not represent the
long-term commitment
to conservation so
crucial to protecting
America's natural
heritage for future
generations. However,
with your leadership
in enacting CARA this
year, America can
begin the 21st Century
with a meaningful
conservation legacy,
like that left by
President Theodore
Roosevelt at the beginning
of the 20th Century.
Let's not let this
unique opportunity
pass.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
