Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington
         Dan Dancer
 
 
 

“We know the majority of the American public stands behind this legislation, so we have the power of the people on our side.  WE have that going in, and that’s the strongest power of all in this democracy of ours.” 
 - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)
 
“I think this approach brings sincerity to United States environmental policy and good sense to the taxpayer pocketbook.  We as a country have an obligation to be good stewards of our land, and w as members of Congress have an obligation to be fair and reasonable to the taxpayer.”
 - Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA)

“We need this legislation.  Not only do taxpayers need this legislation, but employees, reform
minded employees who want to do the right thing in the Forest Service need this legislation.”
 - Jeff DeBonis, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, (PEER)
 
 Most Americans believe their National Forests are safe havens, unaware that logging and other
resource extraction takes place on a grand scale.  Once informed of the truth, polls consistently
show that the majority oppose the use of public lands for commodity production.  After years of
failed efforts to reform the Forest Service and the timber sale program, the environmental
community has now called for an end to logging on public lands.

In 1997, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA)
responded to the public’s call for an end to public lands logging by introducing the National
Forest Protection and Restoration Act (NFPRA).  Intended to save taxpayer money, reduce the
deficit, cut corporate welfare, and protect and restore America’s natural heritage, the Act
eliminates the commercial logging program on federal public lands and assists communities
dependent on this program with economic recovery and diversification. Though the Act
effectively addresses public land logging, it does not affect other resource extraction, such as
grazing, mining, and oil and gas development.

The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act would:
 
Mission Statement of Zero-Cut:
The Campaign to End Logging on Public Lands

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