Let’s make Senator Ron Wyden’s New Year’s resolution a good one: protect Oregon’s natural treasures!

Sen. Wyden has scheduled Willamette Valley town hall meetings in early January to answer questions and receive feedback from Oregonians (click here to find information on the town hall nearest you). With the most anti-environmental Congress in history waiting to be sworn in, there is no more important time to tell your Senator to stand up for Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters!

If you, your family or friends are able to attend any of these town hall events and have the opportunity to ask a question or make a comment, we urge you to thank the Senator for his time, and perhaps incorporate a quick, relatable anecdote on your personal experience with wild places, forests, or wildlife in Oregon. While it is important to make your voice heard in your own way, it is equally important to do so in an engaging, respectful manner.

Here are a few suggestions of questions Oregon Wild supporters could ask to emphasize the importance of Oregon’s fish and wildlife, clean water, recreation, scenery, and quality of life:

Questions: What are your plans to defend America’s public lands from increased logging, mining, and other development?  Will you oppose plans to aggressively clear cut public O&C lands, like those put forward by Representatives Walden and DeFazio last Congress?

Background: The new anti-environment majority in Congress has made no secret that they plan to prioritize our public lands for logging, mining, gas, and oil extraction over recreation, clean water and wildlife habitat.  Senator Wyden has a mixed record on this issue, though his past proposals to use logging of publicly-owned to bail out county politicians was less egregious than the version proposed by Representatives Walden, Schrader, and DeFazio last session.  Rep. Walden has already announced his intentions to introduce new legislation to clear-cut Oregon’s O&C lands and Backyard Forests in 2015, and chances are we will see even worse plans from other politicians. Learn more about the importance of O&C lands.

Question: Will you be reintroducing or supporting any proposals to protect additional Wilderness in Oregon in the 2015 Congress?  What about the Crater Lake Wilderness proposal in Southern Oregon?

Background: Currently Oregon protects only 4% of its landmass as Wilderness, while California protects 15% and Washington protects 10%. Even Idaho protects 8% of its land as Wilderness. There are many opportunities for designating Wilderness in Oregon, including Wild Rogue and Devil’s Staircase that Senator Wyden has introduced in the past, as well proposals for 20,000 acres of “unfinished business” on Mount Hood and the Crater Lake Wilderness. In 2014, Wyden attempted to link the Wild Rogue and Devil’s Staircase Wilderness proposals to O&C logging legislation – but they should not be used as cover for logging legislation. Learn more about Oregon Wilderness proposals.

Question: Will you oppose efforts to weaken or dismantle the Endangered Species Act, and reject the politically motivated exclusions of protections for specific species?

Background: The environmental laws that have been instrumental in protecting America’s clean water, air, and wildlife over the last 40 years will be in the crosshairs of oil, logging, and mining industry lobbyists and their Congressional allies in 2015.  Already, politicians have stated their desire to dismantle key provisions of the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts, and restrict the National Environmental Policy Act--the law that protects the American people’s right to have a say in how our national forests, grasslands, and other public lands are managed.  Legislation passed in the final hours of Congress in 2014 blocked endangered species protection for sage grouse—substituting the judgment of oil and gas industry lobbyists for that of professional biologists.  Sen. Wyden spoke out againt this so-called "sage grouse rider," but it is very likely we will see additional attacks on other species, from gray wolves to wolverine, and on the laws that protect them. Learn more about Oregon's wildlife.

Town Hall Information

Friday, January 2, 2015
Deschutes County Town Hall
Location: Deschutes County Services Building – Barnes/Sawyer Rooms, 1300 NW Wall, Bend, OR 97701
Time: 10:00AM

Saturday, January 3, 2015
Clackamas County Town Hall
Location: Camp Withycombe, 15300 SE Minuteman Way, Clackamas, OR 97015
Time: 11:00AM

Saturday, January 3, 2015
Multnomah County Town Hall
Location: PCC Southeast Campus, Mt. Tabor Hall
2305 SE 82nd and Division, Portland, OR 97216
Time: 2:30 – 4:00PM
*Free Parking available in the PCC lot off of 82nd Ave. No Permit Required.

Sunday, January 4, 2015
Marion County Town Hall
Location: Marion County Courthouse, 555 Court St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
Time: 1:00 PM

Sunday, January 4, 2015
Washington County Town Hall
Location: Beaverton City Library (Main Branch) – Auditorium, 12375 SW 5th St, Beaverton, OR 97005
Time: 4:00 PM

Monday, January 5, 2015
Benton County Town Hall
Location: Philomath High School – Auditorium, 2054 Applegate St, Philomath, OR 97370
Time: 10:00 AM

Monday, January 5, 2015
Lane County Town Hall
Location: Sheldon High School – Auditorium, 2455 Willakenzie Rd, Eugene, OR 97401
Time: 2:00 PM