Hackle
07-12-2005, 04:02 PM
Ok today was my first full day in DC. I was very impressed with the format and set-up of this OHV Summit. ORBA and Blue Ribbon are going together to put this on.
They had us set up in a conference room in the House Office building and started off introducing everyone. California has a large group here along with reps from PA. CT. VA. Along with a few others that I am sure I forgot. SEMA has several reps here to help out. Sure would have been nice to get more states to send people this could be a very big event for OHV issues in the future. The ORBA/Blue Ribbon Lobbyist was great in giving us ideas and setting up appointments for the days we are here.
We had a rep from Congressman Pombo’s staff come in and go over the new Endangered Species Act reform they hope to have to the floor in bill form by next week. It will not be perfect but it will be an improvement and they should have enough bipartisan support so even the Arizona Repugnant will have a hard time claiming they are out to rape the endangered species. It will give a lot more control to the local governments as to how to put it into effect (so it does not impact jobs as easily). It will also give back private property rights, and the largest improvement will be a higher requirement in the scientific data to 1) put some thing on the list and 2) keep something on the list.
Sandee and I along with John Stewart and Carla B from United and Roy from Blue Ribbon met with the Forest Service National OHV leads for over two hours going over the new OHV Rule they are working on and how the trail inventories will be worked with and our groups input.
We then returned to the House Office buildings and I met with the Land Use Rep and Chief of Staff for Congressman Trent Franks. We talked about the ESA and working with the Agencies such as the BLM and Forest Service and how they could help us. I was received very well and they spent a lot of time with me. If anyone that reads this is in Trent Franks District it would be nice to send them a letter thanking them for their time spent with Sandee and I. This would be a very nice touch. Let them know we are here representing you and you thank them for making time for us.
Tomorrow we have most of the morning to hit the rest of our congressman and then a House Committee meeting at 2:00 PM to go over OHV issues with the Resource Committee. End up the day with a Reception at 5:30 in the House Building to meet more of the staff members and Congressman from all over the country. Should be fun.
Thursday Sandee and I have a meeting with the BLM National Recreation Group then we plan to go to the Senate Building to make the rounds.
I can not send e-mail from here but can post on the web please feel free to send this to the AZVJC e-mail list, AZOHVC e-mail (Bill Hoven), list and any other local stuff you can think of as I can not do it.
Be back in town on Friday.
Jim F.
They had us set up in a conference room in the House Office building and started off introducing everyone. California has a large group here along with reps from PA. CT. VA. Along with a few others that I am sure I forgot. SEMA has several reps here to help out. Sure would have been nice to get more states to send people this could be a very big event for OHV issues in the future. The ORBA/Blue Ribbon Lobbyist was great in giving us ideas and setting up appointments for the days we are here.
We had a rep from Congressman Pombo’s staff come in and go over the new Endangered Species Act reform they hope to have to the floor in bill form by next week. It will not be perfect but it will be an improvement and they should have enough bipartisan support so even the Arizona Repugnant will have a hard time claiming they are out to rape the endangered species. It will give a lot more control to the local governments as to how to put it into effect (so it does not impact jobs as easily). It will also give back private property rights, and the largest improvement will be a higher requirement in the scientific data to 1) put some thing on the list and 2) keep something on the list.
Sandee and I along with John Stewart and Carla B from United and Roy from Blue Ribbon met with the Forest Service National OHV leads for over two hours going over the new OHV Rule they are working on and how the trail inventories will be worked with and our groups input.
We then returned to the House Office buildings and I met with the Land Use Rep and Chief of Staff for Congressman Trent Franks. We talked about the ESA and working with the Agencies such as the BLM and Forest Service and how they could help us. I was received very well and they spent a lot of time with me. If anyone that reads this is in Trent Franks District it would be nice to send them a letter thanking them for their time spent with Sandee and I. This would be a very nice touch. Let them know we are here representing you and you thank them for making time for us.
Tomorrow we have most of the morning to hit the rest of our congressman and then a House Committee meeting at 2:00 PM to go over OHV issues with the Resource Committee. End up the day with a Reception at 5:30 in the House Building to meet more of the staff members and Congressman from all over the country. Should be fun.
Thursday Sandee and I have a meeting with the BLM National Recreation Group then we plan to go to the Senate Building to make the rounds.
I can not send e-mail from here but can post on the web please feel free to send this to the AZVJC e-mail list, AZOHVC e-mail (Bill Hoven), list and any other local stuff you can think of as I can not do it.
Be back in town on Friday.
Jim F.