IOWA CHAPTER

• Want to make a difference---then Take Action, now!!!  

• Want to help on the issues below, but don't know how to contact our legislatures???

• See the Iowa Political Info page for a legislature contact list 

• Still have questions? Contact Neila Seaman at the Iowa Chapter office, iowa.chapter@sierraclub.org or 515-277-8868

Wolves Need More Time
Gray wolves once roamed freely in America's Rocky Mountains. But thanks to habitat loss and human intervention, they had virtually disappeared from the region by the 1930s. In an effort to restore balance to the ecosystem, wolves were reintroduced in 1995 and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Since then, wolves have begun to make a comeback. However, scientists are still concerned about the long-term survival of these noble creatures.

Despite concern from scientists, the Bush administration removed wolves from the Endangered Species List last week, leaving them vulnerable to state plans in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho that call for aggressive killing of wolves.

Wolves are a symbol of America's wild legacy, and they still need our protection. Write to the Interior Department and tell them it's too early to remove wolves from the endangered species list. 

Join Americans across the country for a
National Clean Water Call In Day on March 5th!

Over the last 30 years the Clean Water Act's programs have helped us protect the nation's water from pollution. Unfortunately, polluter pressure and recent Bush Administration actions have weakened protections for sources of drinking water, headwater creeks, isolated streams and at least 20 million acres of wetlands.

Congress can restore protection for our country's lakes and streams by passing the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR2421, S1870) now. Please call your Representative and Senators on March 5 and urge them to vote for the clean water.

Making a difference is easy:

1. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected your Representative and Senators.
2. Urge your legislators to protect all of our country's waters by supporting the Clean Water Restoration Act.

Tell Your Senators and Representative to Protect Us from Polluting Factory Farms!

Large factory farms are major sources of pollution. They foul our lakes and rivers and threaten drinking water supplies with pathogens and chemicals.

Call Senators Grassley and Harkin and ask them to oppose S. 807.  Call your Representative and ask him to oppose H.R. 1398, which would exempt the hazardous substances associated with livestock waste (phosphorus, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide) from polluter-pays and toxics right-to-know reporting requirements. 

New research from the University of Iowa shows that large factory farms are major sources of pollution. They foul lakes and rivers, and threaten drinking water supplies with pathogens and chemicals. Factory farms are the largest source of toxic ammonia air pollution in the U.S. The air around these farms is contaminated with suspended dust particles which have been linked to asthma, bronchitis, and other diseases. We need more protection from factory farm pollution -- not less. Please oppose these bills, which would burden communities with the costs of cleaning up drinking water contaminated with livestock waste.

Support State's Rights to Have Clean Cars!

The EPA is currently deciding whether to allow California to implement the landmark Pavley clean car law. The decision will also affect the thirteen additional states across the country -- representing a total of over 40% of the U.S. auto market -- that have adopted California's clean car regulations. With over 1/3 of America's global warming emissions coming from transportation, now is the time for clean car standards that will put our country on a path to reduce U.S. global warming emissions 80% by 2050. That's 2% a year, the level scientists tell us will protect us from the worst impacts of global warming.

Support state's rights to have clean cars!

Say "Yes" to Clean Water!

On May 22, critical, federal legislation was introduced to ensure that the Clean Water Act broadly protects all of our nation's waters, not just those you can float a boat on. With industry actively attempting to hack away at clean water protections and confusion over the scope of those protections, it is imperative for Congress to act now to clarify that the Clean Water Act should protect all of our waters from unregulated pollution and destruction.

Tell your Representative to support the Clean Water Restoration Act!

Stop Attacks on the Endangered Species Act!

Recently leaked documents reveal that officials at the U.S. Interior Department have been rewriting Endangered Species Act regulations, unraveling the federal law that has protected them for the past three decades by making them friendlier to big timber, developers, and industry, and less friendly to the animals they are supposed to protect. Without the Endangered Species Act, many of America's wildlife would have disappeared over the past 30 years. This law is more important now than ever before.

Tell Congress to stop the Administration from gutting the Endangered Species Act behind closed doors!

Incentives for Efficiency!

Increasing our nation's energy efficiency is good for our economy and good for our environment. Now is the time to move quickly and decisively to reduce our use of fossil fuels by extending tax incentives for energy efficiency. Making buildings more efficient will reduce electricity and natural gas use in our homes and offices, and reduce need for expensive new power plants. Energy efficiency is the quickest, cleanest, and cheapest way to fight global warming.

Tell your Senator to cosponsor the Energy Efficiency Incentives Act!

Protect Big Cypress National Preserve!

Big Cypress National Preserve provides countless opportunities to enjoy hiking, camping, sight-seeing and otherwise experiencing the outdoors. Over 450,000 people visit the preserve each year to enjoy the park free of off-road vehicles. Now the expanded use of off-road vehicles is threatening the preserve -- detracting from the natural sounds, sights and smells that give Big Cypress its unique character. Thankfully there is a new proposal that would permanently protect this public preserve.

Tell the Department of the Interior to Protect Big Cypress National Preserve!

PROPOSED RULES AT DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Are you confused about all the rules currently proposed by the DNR?  Find out more about each rule, how to comment and when comments are due.  Rule package summaries are categorized by topic so you don't have to wade through issues that don't interest you as much as others.  Find out more...

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