Tell Senator Young to Co-Sponsor S.2990!

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Hoosier Chapter outing to the Deam Wilderness on March 22, 2024.

In September of 2023, Senator Braun (R-IN) introduced S.2990, the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023.

S.2990 will more than double the size of the Charles Deam Wilderness Area in the Hoosier National Forest, increasing it by 15,300 acres. It will also establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area on an additional 29,382 acres of national forest land explicitly to protect the Monroe Reservoir drinking water supply.

There is momentum on this legislation, but we need Senator Young to co-sponsor this bill and help build momentum to get the bill considered by the Senate’s Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. This committee has jurisdiction over S.2990 and must sign off on the bill before it can be considered on the floor by the full Senate.

June, 2024 update: We're thrilled to report that Representative Erin Houchin introduced a companion House Bill to expand the Deam Wilderness. The bill has also been reintroduced by Senator Braun as S.4402 in the Senate. Help us maintain the momentum and sign your support!

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Help Expand the Deam Wilderness, please co-sponsor S.2990

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Senator Young, As a proud Hoosier and a passionate advocate for our planet, I am writing to urge your support for pending federal legislation, S.2990, the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023. In September of 2023, Senator Braun (R-IN) introduced S.2990, the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act of 2023. And now, Representative Erin Houchin introduced a companion House Bill to expand the Deam Wilderness. This important legislation will more than double the size of the Charles Deam Wilderness Area in the Hoosier National Forest, increasing it by 15,300 acres. It will also establish the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area on an additional 29,382 acres of national forest land explicitly to protect the Monroe Reservoir drinking water supply. The Monroe Reservoir is the sole source of drinking water for nearly 120,000 residents of Monroe and Brown Counties. As a constituent and from one Hoosier to another, I am asking you to co-sponsor S.2990 so this legislation can move forward. Natural areas like the Deam Wilderness Area and the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area that this bill would establish provide essential services to our state. They allow people to enjoy the outdoors and connect with the land, while also enhancing biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. The bill would enhance the quality of life for Hoosiers by protecting the pristine natural condition of an area of unprecedented size in Indiana for all types of wilderness recreation. It would allow opportunities unsurpassed in the lower Midwest for hiking, backpacking, wilderness camping, horseback riding and mountain biking. Expanding the Deam Wilderness Area and establishing the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area will help maintain Indiana’s only national forest, and will allow Hoosiers to continue to enjoy this beautiful landscape for generations to come. Please join Senator Braun and Representative Houchin in supporting S.2990 and help ensure a legacy of conservation and sustainability for our great state.

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