- 11/20/2009
- 11/19/2009
- 11/12/2009
On Decision to Push Lands Package to Next Congress
November 17th, 2008Statement of Mike Matz, Executive Director, Campaign for America's Wilderness
On behalf of the many Americans from around the country who wished to see action on the Omnibus Public Lands Bill, S. 3213, the Campaign for America's Wilderness expresses its disappointment that a short schedule and a still-evolving response to the financial crisis will apparently prevent action by the Senate on that important piece of legislation by this week.
New York Times Editorial Declares "Wilderness Within Reach"
October 27th, 2008Wilderness Within Reach
It looks increasingly likely that both the Senate and the House will return to Washington after the election to address the economy and, possibly, to pass a new stimulus bill. If they do, we urge them to find time for one other piece of business - a public lands bill that, at modest expense, could add nearly two million acres to the nation's store of permanently protected wilderness.
Committee Chairman Raises Hopes for Lame Duck Wilderness
October 20th, 2008House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV) said over the weekend he expects the House will consider a public lands package in lame duck session should the Senate pass the bill. Chairman Rahall's statement opens the door a bit wider for a slate of fifteen wilderness bills to become law before the end of the year.
Congress Prepares Additional Wilderness Legislation for Approval
September 11th, 2008The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee favorably reported eight wilderness bills today, which together would protect special wild places to benefit local economies, enhance the quality of life for people living in nearby communities, safeguard clean air and crystalline water, and provide for hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, and other popular activities.
"This Congress continues to build an impressive record of accomplishment on wilderness protection, much to the gratitude of constituents of every stripe, from Main Street businesses to county commissions, from teachers
Message to Convention Delegates: Wilderness is Our Common Ground
August 22nd, 2008
Over the next two weeks, delegates to the political conventions will see the faces of everyday Americans - from both political parties and different walks of life - in a new advertising effort by the Campaign for America's Wilderness. A rancher, biker, business people, children, and others are asking lawmakers to protect the special wild areas they treasure. The ads will run in the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Minneapolis Star-Tribune and National Journal.
'Living on Earth' features Wilderness Bills
August 18th, 2008Living on Earth (Public Radio International) correspondent Jeff Young takes a hike with wilderness advocate Mark Miller in one of the special places in southwestern Virginia that may be protected as wilderness this year. Mike Matz, Campaign for America's Wilderness executive director, discusses prospects for this Congress to leave a proud wilderness legacy for future generations.
Opinion: Red, white, blue ... and green
August 15th, 2008Sacramento Bee (CA)
August 15th, 2008
When we think of what kind of country we wish to leave our children and grandchildren, we probably would rather not hand down a nation bereft of its natural wonders with its once-abundant resources depleted, gone forever. We need places such as Yellowstone and Yosemite, the Arctic Refuge and the Grand Canyon, just as they are, for future generations of Americans to marvel at, as we have had the good fortune to do.
Wilderness Hits the Airwaves via Outdoor Talk Network
August 7th, 2008Radio host Jim Slinsky and Mike Matz took time recently to discuss wilderness and the status of wilderness legislation in Congress for Jim's sportsman-oriented radio program. Jim and Mike cover a lot of interesting ground in their nearly hour-long conversation. Listen here, and visit the Outdoor Talk Network for more from the perspective of hunters and anglers across the country.
Voice of America with Mike Matz
July 28th, 2008
Mike Matz recently spoke with “Voice of America” for a July 25 piece on pending wilderness legislation in Congress. Matz discussed the broader picture of wilderness and why it is important to protect places like the Eastern Sierras in California, Tumacacoris in Arizona and West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.
Vast Majority of Americans Believe Protecting Wilderness is Important
July 21st, 2008Nearly nine in ten Americans believe that protecting public land as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System is important, according to a new Zogby International poll of 1039 likely voters across the country. These voters view as “very important” (57 percent) or “somewhat important” (30 percent) the protection of publicly owned land as wilderness, leaving it just as it is. The support cuts across political parties, regions, age groups, and ethnic and religious backgrounds. Twelve percent said it was not important to protect the nation’s wilderness.
