73rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2005 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 2700
 
                     Senate Joint Memorial 4
 
Sponsored by Senators RINGO, GEORGE
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Urges United States Congress to repeal Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United
  States of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-third Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act,
P.L. 108-447, allows the federal land management agencies to
charge access fees for recreational use of federally managed
public lands by the general public; and
  Whereas these public lands access fees have been highly
controversial and are opposed by hundreds of organizations and
county governments, by three state legislatures and by millions
of rural Americans; and
  Whereas the Act fundamentally changes the way America's public
lands are funded and managed; and
  Whereas the Act includes harsh criminal penalties out of
proportion to the harm caused by failing to comply with its
provisions; and
  Whereas federal policies regarding management of public lands
have a profound impact on the well-being of the citizens of
Oregon and changes to those policies should be conducted in an
open public forum; and
  Whereas the Act was never approved by the United States House,
was never introduced, never had hearings and was never approved
by the United States Senate, but was instead attached to an
omnibus spending bill as an appropriations rider; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to
repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, P.L.
108-447.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to each member of the
Oregon Congressional Delegation.
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