BILL REQ. #:  H-4676.1 

Read first time 02/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Recreational pack and saddle stock have historically used and ridden on trails both on public lands and the backcountry of these public lands; and
     WHEREAS, In the past ten years, federal land managers have been pressured by outside interests, for reasons not substantiated by scientific evidence or research, to restrict or prohibit access to and the use of trails by recreational pack and saddle stock on those public lands; and
     WHEREAS, A substantial number of these restrictions and prohibitions violate the National Environmental Policy Act because public hearings were not, and are not, held prior to enacting these restrictions and prohibitions; and
     WHEREAS, Federal policies regarding management of public lands have a profound impact on the well-being of the citizens of Washington, and changes to those policies should be conducted in an open public forum; and
     WHEREAS, The United States Congress has a bill in the Senate, S. 781, and an identical bill in the House of Representatives, HR 586, entitled, "Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Land Act of 2005";
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request that the Congress of the United States enact the Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Land Act of 2005, S. 781 and HR 586.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.