BILL REQ. #:  S-3671.1 

Read first time 01/12/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     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, The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, P.L. 108-447, allows the federal land management agencies to charge access fees for recreational use of federally managed public lands by the general public; and
     WHEREAS, These public lands access fees have been highly controversial and are opposed by hundreds of organizations and county governments, by three state legislatures, and by millions of rural Americans; and
     WHEREAS, The Act fundamentally changes the way America's public lands are funded and managed; and
     WHEREAS, The Act includes harsh criminal penalties out of proportion to the harm caused by failing to comply with its provisions; 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 Act was never approved by the United States House, was never introduced, never had hearings, and was never approved by the United States Senate, but was instead attached to an omnibus spending bill as an appropriations rider;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request the Congress of the United States to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, P.L. 108-447.
     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.