2018
207
206
12
Issues
Representative Don Young (R-AK) offered an amendment to H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, which would exempt federal forests in Alaska, including the Tongass National Forest, the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world, from one of the country’s most important land, wildlife, and water conservation safeguards – the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless Rule protects habitat for wildlife, safeguards clean water for communities, and prevents harmful development in designated areas of our national forests. Eliminating this protection would open up nearly 10 million acres of the Tongass’ wild temperate rainforest to destructive logging and roadbuilding activities. On May 17, the House approved the Young amendment by a vote of 208-207 (House Roll call vote 199). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The House rejected H.R. 2 on May 18.