Call to Action: HR 4888 Needs Your Support!

~To All Oregon Cabin Owners: C2 Update from Pete Bailey~

Greetings All,

We are enthused. The Cabin Fee Act (H.R. 4888) is definitely attracting interest and support in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA), now has 16 cosponsors and received a very positive hearing on April 22nd from the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, chaired by Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). All cabin owners are urged to continue to let their U.S. Representatives know how important this bill is to the future of their cabin ownership and to the continuation of the cabin program as a source of affordable, family recreation. If your Representative is a cosponsor of H.R. 4888 (listed below), please be sure to thank him or her. If not, ask your Representative to become a cosponsor. We will provide updates on future cosponsors.

No comparable legislation has yet been introduced in the U.S. Senate and our supporters there are looking for further progress regarding H.R. 4888 in the House. We urge all cabin owners to continue to ask their Senators to support this bipartisan legislation. They should be asked to support companion legislation in the Senate.

If your Senator is a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests or the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, they should be asked to consider introducing this historic legislation. A list of those members is included below. While primary attention is now being focused on the House, cabin owner leaders and representatives have visited and are keeping in touch with key Senators and their staff to encourage bipartisan legislation in that body. Early introduction of a Senate bill similar to H.R. 4888 will facilitate early action there. We request your help in keeping the Cabin Fee Act "top of mind" for Senators, as well as Representatives.

Thanks for your continuing engagement and support. Let’s keep this moving forward.

Please, tell your Representative to cosponsor and support HR 4888.

Please, tell your Senators to support introduction of identical or similar legislation in the Senate.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS AND FORESTS

Democratic Members:

Ron Wyden, OR, Chairman

Email: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Portland office phone: 503-326-7525 Portland office fax: 503-326-7528

Tim Johnson (SD)

Mary Landrieu (LA)

Maria Cantwell (WA)

Bob Menendez (NJ)

Blanche Lincoln (AR)

Mark Udall (CO)

Jeanne Shaheen (NH)

Jeff Bingaman (NM) (Committee Chairman and ex officio member of all subcommittees)

Republican Members:

John Barrasso (WY) (Ranking Subcommittee Member)

Jim Risch (ID)

John McCain (AZ)

Bob Bennett (UT)

Jeff Sessions (AL)

Bob Corker (TN)

Lisa Murkowski (AK) (Ranking Committee Member and ex officio member of all subcommittees)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES

Democratic Members:

Diane Feinstein (CA), Chair

Robert Byrd, (WV)

Patrick Leahy (VT)

Byron Dorgan (ND)

Barbara Mikulski (MD)

Herb Kohl (WI)

Tim Johnson (SD)

Jack Reed (RI)

Ben Nelson (NE)

Jon Tester (MT)

Daniel Inouye (HI) (Committee Chairman and ex officio member of all subcommittees)

Republican Members:

Lamar Alexander (TN) (Ranking Subcommittee Member)

Thad Cochran (MS) (Ranking Committee Member)

Bob Bennett (UT)

Judd Gregg (NH)

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Susan Collins (ME)

A Message from Peter Bailey ~ NFH Director & C2 Legislative Contact Chair

It was a full three days in DC, but the results have been very worthwhile! In addition to preparations and a successful Hearing, we made 11 Congressional office visits Thursday afternoon and Friday.

The Hearing was very well attended with 10 Representatives making appearances. This was acknowledged as very positive, as much lower attendance is the norm. Deputy Chief of the Forest Service, Joel Holtrop, was asked hard questions. The audio says it all. All of our written testimonies and an audio of the Hearing can be found at http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=181123

A tone of cooperation was heard from the Forest Service in testimony and by personnel attending the meeting. The FS apparently will not oppose the bill, but did raise some issues that will need to be better clarified. We agree these issues need discussion and that mutually beneficial solutions should be sought.

1. Revenue projections, to meet the ‘pay-as-you-go’ concerns of the Congressional Budget Office ( CBO), are the most demanding. Suggestions were made to consider different tier levels and/or percentages per tier. We believe the CFA, as written, addresses these issues already and is comparable and defensible.

2. There is a need to reduce FS administrative costs of the Program going forward. Certainly the adoption of the CFA will be a big step in this direction.

3. A plan to address a transition period before full implementation of a new law will be necessary. Right now fees are being determined from three different appraisal cycles, adding to the need for clarifying discussions about any transition.

4. The FS requested support for studying those cabins situations that are adjacent to and possess characteristics of urban areas.

With the guidance of Congressman Doc Hastings and the Subcommittee, we hope to address these concerns with constructive dialogue over the next few weeks. Any ‘markup’ session in the Committee will be facilitated if cabin owners and the Forest Service are working together to solve problems with mutual understanding.

Additional reports and timely updates will be on the NFH website blog. A special Thank You to Sharon Karr for reporting much of the blow by blow at: http://nationalforesthomeowners.org/leadership/

Though much remains, the forward movement is very encouraging.

Pete

Peter D. Bailey

NFH Director & C2 Legislative Contact chair

253-383-2388 Home Office

253-312-0777 Cell

HR 4888 SubcommitteeHearing

The subcommittee hearing for HR 4888, the Cabin Fee Act of 2010 or C2, occurred on Thursday, April 22^nd. Sharon Karr was present in Washington, DC. She kindly posted on the NFH website a link to an audio recording and text from Thursday’s hearing. Click on the following link to access either option: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=54&extmode=view&extid=347

Sharon also indicated that Congressional members are hearing from cabin owners about the importance of supporting C2. If you would like to write a letter to be included in the public record for HR. 4888, please send it via email to emily.lande@mail.house.gov. United, active voices are imperative to usher this bill to success! Stay tuned for further updates.

A Message from Peter Bailey ~ NFH Director & C2 Legislative Contact Chair

Email meganprince@me.com to obtain the Problem Overview and Public Benefits of the RRP that will be used as informative pieces for Congressional staff and others. Please read and digest. These papers represents the best effort to date to state the problem simply and comprehensively on just a few pages and tout the public value of the Program. We hope they contribute to everyone’s understanding and appreciation of the Cabin Fee Act of 2010 and why we believe it is the best answer to our cabin fee problems.

A Congressional Hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, April 22nd by the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands subcommittee of the Natural Resources committee. We are sending a six person delegation. At least 3 will be witnesses. Our preparations have been extensive and will continue.

The chair of this subcommittee is Cong. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rob Bishop (R-UT) is the Ranking Member. We expect Bill Co-sponsor, Cong. Jim Costa, to participate. Also, on this subcommittee from cabin states are the following:

Dale E. Kildee, Michigan
Grace F. Napolitano, California
Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
Peter A. DeFazio, Oregon
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Ron Kind, Wisconsin
Lois Capps, California
Jay Inslee, Washington
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota
Nick J. Rahall, II, West Virginia (ex officio)
Don Young, Alaska
Elton Gallegly, California
John J. Duncan, Jr., Tennessee
Jeff Flake, Arizona
Henry E. Brown, Jr., South Carolina
Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
Mike Coffman, Colorado
Cynthia M. Lummis, Wyoming
Tom McClintock, California
Doc Hastings, Washington (ex officio)

Action Request: If you are a constituent of their district, please make the effort (once again) to phone, email or fax your Congressperson with the request for their positive support of the Cabin Fee Act and participation in the Hearing. Feel free to include the two documents as well for their review. Grassroots action works and is needed. Please do it today!

In just a few weeks, we will be convening in Reno, NV for the 2010 NFH Convention, April 15-18. We hope that everyone makes the effort to attend during this challenging time. Please review the latest NFH newsletter for details.

Pete

Peter D. Bailey
NFH Director & C2 Legislative Contact chair
253-383-2388 Home Office
253-312-0777 Cell

Call to Action: HR 4888 Needs Your Support, Send Your Message Today!

The Cabin Fee Act of 2010, HR 4888, is available on the OFHA website by selecting, "Click here to Review HR 4888” at www.oregonforesthomeowners.com

An urgent request has been released for every cabin owner to contact his or her Congressional Delegation. Please see the list of Oregon Senators and Representatives below. If you live out of state, you can locate FAX, email and phone numbers for other offices or other Congressional delegates at: http://www.contactingthecongress.org. Make sure that every representative hears from us, Democrat and Republican alike. Please contact meganprince@me.com to obtain an electronic template to guide your correspondence or devise your own message.

Step 1: FAX, email or even phone your Representative asking them to become a co-sponsor to HR 4888.

Step 2: FAX, email or phone both your Senators asking them to support a companion bill in the Senate.

Senators:

Ron Wyden (D)

Email: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Portland office phone: 503-326-7525

Portland office fax: 503-326-7528

Jeff Merkley (D)

Email: http://merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Portland office phone: 503-326-3386

Portland office fax: 503-326-2900

Representatives:

Peter DeFazio (D)

Email: https://forms.house.gov/defazio/IMA/contact.html

Eugene office phone: 541-465-6732

Eugene office fax: 541-465-6458

Earl Blumenauer (D)

Email: http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=206

Portland office phone: 503-231-2300

Portland office fax: 503-230-5413

David Wu (D)

Email: http://www.house.gov/wu/email.shtml

Portland office phone: 503-422-4003

Portland office fax: 503-326-5066

Kurt Schrader (D)

Email: http://schrader.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=7&sectiontree=47

Salem office phone: 503-588-9100

Salem office fax: 503-588-5517

Greg Walden (R)

Email: http://walden.house.gov/ContactGreg.Home.shtml

Bend office phone: 541-389-4408

Bend office fax: 541-389-4452

Cabin Fee Act of 2010 assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources as bill HR 4888

~A Message from Sharon Karr~

HR 4888

Title: To revise the Forest Service Recreation Residence Program as it applies to units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain by implementing a simple, equitable, and predictable procedure for determining cabin user fees, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hastings, Doc [WA-4] (introduced 3/19/2010) Cosponsors (11)

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

11 Co-sponsors:

Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 3/19/2010

Rep Chaffed, Jason [UT-3] - 3/19/2010

Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 3/19/2010

Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 3/19/2010

Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] - 3/19/2010

Rep McClintock, Tom [CA-4] - 3/19/2010

Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 3/19/2010

Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 3/19/2010

Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] - 3/19/2010

Rep Rehberg, Denny R. [MT] - 3/19/2010

Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 3/19/2010

If you reside in the district of any of these co-sponsors please consider sending an email or fax, thanking them for their support.

We will be asking everyone to re-engage his or her Congressperson. We will need as many additional co-sponsors as possible, with an emphasis on the Democrats. We will be contacting everyone early next week with the C2 plan for soliciting more co-sponsors. Your efforts in your local districts will be the difference in our success or not. Critical mass comes from your involvement.

Thanks for your support.

Sharon Karr

C2 Representative - Diamond Lake

2010 National Forest Homeowners Vote-By-Mail Election ~ Insights by Sharon Karr

The NFH annual election is in process. The ballot and candidate statements are included with the spring NFH "Call to Convention" newsletter that is arriving in your mailbox this week. There are multiple candidates for each of the NFH positions that are open.

The Pacific Northwest has a strong slate of candidates. I'm requesting that you review the Oregon, Washington and Idaho candidate statements. I have either worked with or reviewed work by each candidate over the past two years on Cabin Coalition 2. I can personally recommend their commitment and steadfastness to NFH and the cabin program. Among the strongest, and a proven and able leader within NFH and C2 is Pete Bailey, candidate for NFH President. Pete deserves your vote.

Oregon cabin owners have not had NFH representation for several years. Oregon is second only to California in the number of cabins within its borders and we need representation. Brad Aspell with life-long roots at Lake of the Woods, is running for a NFH Director position, and myself, Sharon Karr from Diamond Lake, is running for NFH Treasurer. I ask for your support of fellow Oregonians.

I also highly recommend Barry Davis and George Cardinet as exceptional candidates. I believe equal geographic representation is imperative in understanding and addressing the issues before cabin owners nationwide. And don't overlook the Nominating Committee. They locate, meet, interview and bring forward the very candidates I'm asking you to vote for. Again the Pacific Northwest has able leaders up for election to this important committee.

If you have questions for any of the above candidates, I can put you in touch via email or phone. If you have your NFH ballot and do not know your NFH member number, there will be a postcard containing the number in your mailbox within days. Also, your ballot will be counted if it is received by the April 2, 2010 deadline even if you don't have your NFH number. So with or without your member number, VOTE!

Your vote counts and is IMPORTANT!

Sharon Karr
sekarr@asktechwriter.com
C2 Rep. - Diamond Lake tract, Oregon

CUFFA 2 Update (AGAIN)

Well folks reform takes time, but doing it right is almost always more important than doing it fast.  To that end we've received a blurb telling us that the proposal to amend the fee structure and bring it back down to earth is still in the formation stage, but soon to be introduced for discussion in Washington. 

There had previously been an announcement from Congressman Doc Hastings that he would be introducing the revised approach to the cabin user fee fairness act.  It's advisable that interested parties visit the National Forest Homeowner site to to familiarize themselves with the proposal, rather than be surprised later.  We've written about it here a bit and will cover it again (and again) as the 'cement begins to firm up'. You'll find a link to the NFH at this site.

The introduction of the new CFA has not yet taken place, yet.  The delay is due in part to concerns about which committee the Bill would be assigned to. Focus has been on the Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Park, Forests and Public Lands.  Mr. Jim Streeter, who is working for Cong. Doc Hastings and is the minority Staff Director for the Natural Resources Committee, believes that the bill, as written, would probably be referred instead to the Agriculture Committee and then assigned to a sub-committee that has few members representing cabin states.  There is concern that this subcommittee's interest level in our concerns would be less than with the Forests Subcommittee.  Therefore, a few slight changes have been made that MAY encourage the House Parliamentarian, who refers all bills to designated committees, to send the CFA to Natural Resources.  

None of the substance of the bill will be changed, only that we are suggesting a study to include Bureau of Reclamation cabins and targeting cabins on the Forest Reserves because the Natural Resources Committee has that jurisdiction.  These are minor technical and/or temporary revisions to the bill that hopefully will influence the assignment in our favor.

A tentative hearing date was set for February 25.  However, with the question about committee assignments and the total shutdown in DC due to record snow and the Congressional recess (just like in grade school) planned for next week, it's likely there will be a change in that date.  Regardless, C2 has been pressing ahead with planning and organizing for that hearing date.  Testimony is being written, supporting documents are being finalized and organized and potential witnesses are being identified.  Our NFH is doing their best to present a clear, concise picture of the problem to Congress and present a solid defensible solution in the CFA.
 

As we are updated we'll share what news we get here. In the meantime, you can be preparing your next appeal to your Congressmen and women to support and co-sponsor the CFA.  

Questions or concerns?  The best contacts are either of these hard working folks....
 

Peter D. Bailey
NFH Director & C2 Legislative Contact chair
253-383-2388  Home Office
253-312-0777  Cell

Aubrey C. King
NFH Washington Representative
11914 Grason Lane
Bowie, MD 20715-4012
O 301.464.8060
F 301.464.5232
C 202.251.6845
aubking@aol.com

Desparately Seeking Sponsors! Cabin Fee Act of 2009

In the next few weeks, Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA), Ranking Republican on the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, will introduce in Congress the Cabin Fee Act (CFA) that has been developed by cabin owners to replace CUFFA and establish a much more equitable and reasonable basis for determining cabin permit fees. We believe the following Representatives, who have many cabin owners in their Districts, should be willing to join Representative Hastings in introducing this historic legislation.

Cabin Owners and your Families, please make every effort to communicate with your Representative (and any others you may know) and urge him or her to join in introducing the Cabin Fee Act.
Your Representative's staff can contact Jim Streeter, Minority Staff Director of the Natural Resources Committee, at 202.226.2311, for information about the new bill and when it will be introduced. As always, let us know about your efforts and what you hear from your Representative.

Though we still have much work to do, let's hope that this is the year that results in a long-term solution to cabin fees. Many continuing thanks to you, your contacts and your communication network for getting us to this point.

In Oregon contact:

Republicans --
Greg Walden
843 E. Maint St. Suite 400
Medford, OR 97504
541 - 776-4646
http://walden.house.gov

Democrats -
Peter DeFazio
405 E. 8th Ave #2030
Eugene OR 97401
(541) 465-6732
http://www.defazio.house.gov/
Washington DC Office:
2134 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6416

Earl Blumenauer
729 NE Oregon St. Suite 115
Portland OR 97232
(503) 231-2300
http://blumenauer.house.gov/
Washington DC Office:
2267 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-4811

David Wu
620 SW Main Suite 606
Portland OR 97205
(503) 326-2901
http://www.house.gov/wu/
Washington DC Office:
2338 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-0855

Kurt Schrader
112 8th Street
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 557-1324
http://schrader.house.gov
Washington DC Office:
1419 Longworth House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-5711