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NFC: Fw: [Updates] HELP TAKE THE RIVER BUDET TO THE NEXT LEVEL!



RIVER BUGET FOR FY’01 --- NEXT STEPS

HELP TAKE THE RIVER BUDET TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

The first part of the River Budget campaign for FY’01 is done – producing
the report supported by your organization and more than 435 others and
delivering it to federal agency officials. We are now gearing up for the
second part of the campaign – bringing the River Budget to Congress and
demonstrating to Senators and Representatives the importance of
increasing
funding for these programs.

In addition to providing each member of Congress with a copy of the River
Budget for FY’01, American Rivers will submit letters and written
testimony
in support River Budget programs to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees and relevant Subcommittees. We will list on the letters and
testimony each of the groups and affiliations identified as supporters in
the River Budget. The letters and testimony are written verbatim from the
text of the River Budget, which your organization and more than 435
others
have already reviewed and approved. If you have questions, please contact
Suzy McDowell at smcdowell at amrivers_org or 202-347-7550 x3040. American
Rivers will also request the opportunity to testify at appropriations
hearings in support of River Budget priorities.

Your participation in the advocacy phase of the River Budget campaign is
essential. We need your help in a number of ways:
1.	Write your own letters to your legislators urging them to support the
funding levels outlined in the River Budget. To see a sample letter,
visit
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetaction2letter.html.
2.	Write your own testimony in support of River Budget programs to submit
for the record to relevant House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees.
To
see sample testimony, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetaction2testimony.html.
3.	Testify in person before relevant House and Senate Appropriations
Subcommittees in support of specific River Budget programs. To see a
sample
testimony request letter, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetaction2requestletter.html.

Testifying before Congress.
If you are able to travel to Washington, DC or are based locally,
appearing
before Congress to testify in support of specific River Budget programs
is
an incredibly effective way to convince Congress of the importance of
these
programs and their funding needs. Hearings are usually held in late
February
and March. If you are interested testifying, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetaction2request.html for more information
or
contact Suzy McDowell at 202-347-7550 x3040 or smcdowell at amrivers_org.
Although hearing dates may not be confirmed before February, slots for
testifying before Appropriations Subcommittees are usually filled by the
end
of January.

********************
Suzy McDowell
Outreach Coordinator
American Rivers
1025 Vermont Ave, NW, #720
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7550 x3040
smcdowell at amrivers_org