Senator U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: Reject plans to privatize our national lands!

Dear Senator ,

President Bush's proposed budget for FY2007 includes an outrageous scheme to raise money by selling off what could amount to 800,000 acres of America's treasured public lands. I am strongly opposed to any such sale and I strongly urge you to reject these plans to privatize our national lands.

Our public lands are an American birthright, something that makes our homeland unique. They deserve protection and thoughtful stewardship. They are treasures that we should hand on to our children and to our grandchildren. They are not commodities to be used in a shortsighted scramble for a few dollars.

Late last year the House approved in the budget reconciliation bill a scheme to sell millions of acres out of public ownership and into the hands of mining companies and other developers. The resultant outcry from anglers, hunters and other conservationists, from western governmental leaders, from ranchers and business people, was such that the provision was scrapped before the budget resolution was approved.

The President's land disposal scheme is equally objectionable and warrants the same end. I believe it is crucial for Members of Congress to publicly declare their opposition to this idea and to do so immediately.

Our public lands deserve more than to be treated as a budgetary slush fund. As an American citizen, voter and a lover of our public lands, I count on you to defend them.

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