To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Congress: Protect the Valles Caldera National Preserve!
We, citizens of the United States and owners of the federal public lands, including the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico, ask you with urgency to pass Senate Bill 285 to transfer management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve from the soon-to-expire experimental trust to the National Park Service as a preserve. The legislation provides for a high level of protection for natural values and Native American traditional interests, and for quality science-based management. We urge both houses of Congress to pass this bill in 2013 and send it to President Obama for his signature.
Why is this important?
The Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico will lose virtually all protections in 2015 if Congress doesn't include it in the National Park system as a National Preserve. It's urgent that Congress pass Senate Bill 285 as soon as possible to secure the Preserve's future. New Mexico's economy will benefit and this spectacular place will be protected for all time.