The Honorable Harry Reid US Senate 522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 November 13, 2013

The Honorable John Boehner US House of Representatives 1011 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner: We are organizations representing millions of members with diverse interests who are united behind a shared belief that our countrys natural, outdoor recreation and historic resources are an essential foundation for the American economy and for the health and well-being of the American people. We believe, as those who preceded us believed-- that the care and stewardship of these resources is not a luxury but our obligation to the next generations of Americans. The cuts and program eliminations in natural resource conservation, outdoor recreation and historic preservation programs proposed in recent appropriations legislation and the uncertainty over re-authorization of the Farm Bill and its Conservation Title jeopardize this generations ability to live up to that obligation. Like you, we are concerned about our nations fiscal health. Conservation, recreation, and historic preservation programs should not be exempt from scrutiny. But all natural resource spending amounts to slightly more than 1% of the federal budget, and this proportion has steadily declined in recent years. Investments in natural resources, outdoor recreation and historic preservation did not cause the federal budget deficit, and even the most drastic cuts to these programs cannot fix the deficit. Thus, we believe that it is necessary to address the structural causes of the deficit in a comprehensive way rather than trying to balance the federal budget by simply cutting discretionary spending including spending for conservation and the environment. Rather than compounding our deficit problems, Americas lands and waters produce exceptional economic value and jobs in communities across the country. Federal programs that enable conservation of public and private land and water, recreation, fish and wildlife, and historic preservation are essential investments that support a very large outdoor recreation industry, agriculture and forestry, safe and plentiful water resources, urban restoration, and protection of communities from storms and droughts all of which have large and quantifiable economic benefits. Federal conservation programs also provide opportunities for healthy activities in the outdoors including hunting and fishing and a sense of belonging to our historically rich and remarkably beautiful nation. As a broad community of taxpayers and voters who care about these benefits to America and its people, we stand ready to work with you to address our nations economic and fiscal challenges. We ask, however, that you find a balanced and sustainable path forward that recognizes the importance of investing in conservation, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and historic preservation as a means of ensuring a prosperous and healthy future for America. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with you.

National Organizations American Camp Association American Chestnut Foundation American Fisheries Society American Fly Fishing Trade Association American Forest Foundation American Forests American Hiking Society American Mountain Guides Association American Recreation Coalition American Rivers American Society of Landscape Architects American Sportfishing Association Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies B.A.S.S. Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Boone and Crockett Club Bull Moose Sportsmen Catch-A-Dream Foundation Choose Outdoors Civil War Trust Coastal Conservation Association Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Conservation Force Defenders of Wildlife Delta Waterfowl Ducks Unlimited International Federation of Fly Fishers International Hunter Education Association International Mountain Bicycling Association Invasive Species Action Network Izaak Walton League of America Land Trust Alliance Master of Foxhounds Association Mule Deer Foundation National Association of Forest Service Retirees Nat Assoc of State Outdoor Rec Liaison Officers National Association of State Parks Directors National Committee for the New River Nat Conf of State Historic Preservation Officers National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Parks Conservation Association National Preservation Institute National Social Studies Supervisors Association National Trappers Association National Trust for Historic Preservation National Wild Turkey Federation National Wildlife Federation National Wildlife Refuge Association North American Grouse Partnership Outdoor Industry Association Pheasants Forever Public Lands Foundation Public Lands Service Coalition Quail Forever Quality Deer Management Association Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ruffed Grouse Society The Conservation Fund The Nature Conservancy The Wilderness Society The Wildlife Society Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Tread Lightly!, Inc. Trout Unlimited Trust for Public Land Union Sportsmen's Alliance Whitetails Unlimited Wildlife Forever Wildlife Management Institute World Wildlife Fund State and Local Organizations and Companies 1900 Lombard, LLC Adirondack Conservation Council Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation Alabama Historical Commission Alaska Historical Society Albany County Conservation Alliance Allegany County Historical Society Allison's Virtual Services ALTSCHA, Inc.

Amanda D. Davis Photography American Association for State and Local History American Society Landscape Architects, Nevada Amigos de la Sevilleta Androscoggin Land Trust Angler Nation Annapolis Heritage Commission Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission Annapolis Preservation Commission Appalachian Conservation Biology Appalachian Mountain Club Arizona Preservation Foundation Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation Arizona Wildlife Federation Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Audubon Nebraska Aurora Historic Preservation Commission Baltimore County historic Trust Baltimore Heritage Area Association, Inc. Barrow Preservation Society Barton County Historical Society B.A.S.S. Nation of Washington Beaufort County Open Land Trust Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Bethel Carvings Big Muddy Workshop, Inc. Big Oaks Conservation Society Blue Ridge Conservancy Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited Broome County Conservation Alliance Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Byington Landscape Architects Caladium Consulting California B.A.S.S. Federation Nation California Council of Land Trusts Camp Fire Club of America Canandaigua Lake Duck Hunters Assoc. Capital Region Land Conservancy Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Carver Knoll Studio Cattaraugus County Conservation Alliance Cayuga County Conservation Alliance

Charles W. Wongus, Sr. Museum Charleston Historic Preservation Commission Charleston Ill Historic Preservation Commission Chattahoochee Nantahala Chapter of Trout Unlimited Chautauqua County Conservation Alliance Chemung County Conservation Alliance Cherokee County Historical Society Cherokee Forest Voices Church of the Crossroads Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge City of Arvada, CO City of Benicia, CA City of Dothan, AL City of Englewood, CO City of Fayette Historical Preservation Commission City of Fayette, LA City of Foley Alabama Historical Commission City of Guntersville, AL City of Huntsville, AL City of Manitou Springs, CO City of Opelika, AL City of Steamboat Springs Historic Preservation Co Clean Wisconsin Cleveland County Audubon Society Cleveland Restoration Society Clinton County Conservation Alliance Coastal Conservation Assoc. Of New York Cohutta Chapter of Trout Unlimited Colorado Preservation, Inc. Columbia County Conservation Alliance Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards Comm for Historical and Architectural Preservation Connecticut Forest and Park Association Connecticut Land Conservation Council Conservation Council for Hawai'i Conservation Trust for North Carolina Coosa Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Cortland County Conservation Alliance Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology CSU Stanislaus Central CA IC Cuartelejo HP Associates Inc. Dallas Safari Club Deer Search, Inc.

Delaware County Conservation Alliance Delaware River Greenway Partnership Denver Firefighters Museum Design Story Architects Ding Darling Wildlife Society Dorchester County Historical Society Dothan Historic Preservation Commission Douglas County, CO Downtown Mobile Alliance DreamWeavers Intl LLC Driftless Area Land Conservancy Duchess County Conservation Alliance Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site El Dorado Chapter of Trout Unlimited Elaine Fors-MacKellar, Esq. Elmira Conservation Club, Inc. Encore Sustainable Design, LLC Enhanced Historic Credit Partners Erie County Conservation Alliance Eshelman & Associates Essex County Conservation Alliance Exarte Design Federalsburg Historical Society Finger Lakes Conservation Council Flint River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Ford 3 Architects LLC Forestland Group Foundation for Historical Louisiana Franklin County Conservation Alliance Franklin Land Trust Franklin Township PA Historical Commission Friends of Alaska Wildlife Refuges Friends of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Friends of ARM Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge Friends of Back Bay Friends of Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge Friends of Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Black Bayou Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Bon Secour NWR Friends of Brazoria National Wildlife Refuges

Friends of Camas National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Carr National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Cherry Valley Friends of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge Friends of Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Haystack Rock Friends of Historical Cherry Hill AUMP, Inc. Friends of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges Friends of Maine's Seabird Islands Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges Friends of Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Nevada Wilderness Friends of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Outer Island National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Patoka Nat'l. Wildlife Refuge Friends of Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands Friends of Pool 9 Friends of Pondicherry Division of the Conte Refuge Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Red River National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Salmon River Friends of San Diego Wildlife Refuges Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Silvio O Conte National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

Friends of Taunton Bay, Maine Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuges Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Friends of the Bosque Del Apache Friends of the Connecticut River Paddler's Trail Friends of the Duck Stamp Friends of the Nat Conservation Training Center Friends of the Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island Friends of the Patoka River Wildlife Refuge Friends of the Potomac River Refuges Friends of the Refuge Headwaters Friends of the San Luis Valley Wildlife Refuge Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges Friends of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuges Friends of the Upper Mississippi Friends of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Friends of Tolson's Chapel Friends of Trinity River Refuge Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Upper Mississippi Wildlife Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Friends of West Virginia National Wildlife Refuges Front Range Research Garrett County Economic Development GENE-ALL-OF-US Family Heritage Research General Information Services, Inc. Genesee County Conservation Alliance Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited Georgia Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited Georgia River Network Gibbons-Fitts Inc Gold Rush Chapter of Trout Unlimited Grand Canyon Wildlands Council Great Birding Products Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association Green Lake Conservancy, Inc. Greene County Conservation Alliance Half Moon Lake Conservancy, Inc. Harford Historic Preservation Com Harris Center for Conservation Education Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Hilltown Land Trust Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History Historic Charleston Foundation Historic Denver Historic Hawaii Foundation Historic Landmarks Commission, Deschutes County, Oregon Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Commission SBSJC Historic Routt County Historic Savannah Foundation Historic Seattle Historical Society of Talbot County History Colorado Howard County Government Dept of Planning & Zoning HPC Commission Phx. Az Hudson Highlands Land Trust Idaho Outdoor Business Council Idaho State Historical Society Illinois Council Trout Unlimited Indian Nations Council of Trout Unlimited Ironwood LLC Island Heritage Trust Jefferson County Conservation Alliance Kanawha Valley Historical & Preservation Society Kanooka Chapter of Trout Unlimited Karen M. Footner LLC Kestrel Land Trust Kilauea Point Natural History Association Land Trust for the Little Tennessee Land Trust of Virginia Landmarks Illinois Leather stocking Assoc. Lewis County Conservation Alliance Little Pend Oreille NWR Living Landscape Observer Livingston County Conservation Alliance Los Alamos Historical Society Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation Lower Columbia Preservation Society Mad River Club Association Madison County Conservation Alliance Maine Audubon

Maine Coast Heritage Trust Marsh Consulting LLC Maryland Commission on African American History Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Ornithological Society Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition McDoux Preservation LLC Michigan Historic Preservation Network Middle Georgia Chapter of Trout Unlimited Midwest Environmental Advocates Milwaukee Riverkeeper Minnesota Forestry Association Minnesota Historical Society Mississippi Department of Archives and History Modern Phoenix Modus21 Monroe County Conservation Alliance Montana Preservation Alliance Montpelier Mansion Historic Site Mt. Zion Historical & Cultural, Educational Co Mud-Hudson Valley for Harvesters Muskego Lakes Land Conservancy Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance Narragansett TU Chapter #225 Nassau County Conservation Alliance Natural Resources Club at Central Lakes College Natural Resources Council of Maine Naturaland Trust Nature Abounds North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nebraska Chapter of the Wildlife Society Nebraska Land Trust Nebraska Resources Council Nebraska Rural Living Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation Nebraska State Historical Society Nevada Humanities Nevada Preservation Foundation New Houndsmen Conservation Association New River Land Trust New York Bow Hunters Inc. New York Conservation Officers Association

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Assoc. New York Field Archers & Bow hunters Assoc. New York State Outdoor Writers Assoc. New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame New York State Whitetail Management Coalition New York State Muzzleloaders Association New Hampshire B.A.S.S. NATION Niagara County Conservation Alliance Niagara Frontier Chapter NWTF Norristown, PA HARB North Central Conservancy Trust North Country Trail Association Northern Virginia Conservation Trust NYS Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation Oconee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited OECH/SHPO Puerto Rico Ogeechee Audubon Society, Inc. Ohio Archaeological Council Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative Ohio Historical Society Oklahoma Trout Unlimited Old Dominion Land Conservancy Olympia Heritage Commission Oneida County Conservation Alliance Oneida Lake Association Onondaga County Conservation Alliance Ontario County conservation Alliance Orange County Conservation Alliance Oregon B.A.S.S. Nation Oregon Natural Desert Association Orleans County Conservation Alliance Oswego County Conservation Alliance Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Assoc Otsego County Conservation Alliance Pelican Island Preservation Society Peninsula Open Space Trust Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited Pine Bluff Historic District Commission Potala Company LLC Prairie Learning Center Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Preservation Alliance of West Virginia Preservation Dallas

Preservation Detroit Preservation Durham Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Preservation Louisville Preservation Pennsylvania Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans Preserve Rhode Island Providence Revolving Fund Putnam County Conservation Alliance Quakertown Alive! Quality Deer Management Assoc., NYS Chapter Quindaro Ruins / Underground Rail Exercise 20 R.A. Speir & Associates Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited Ralstar Enterprises, Inc. ReCitizen, L3C RedVine Consulting Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance Restore Oregon Richland County Conservation Commission River Alliance of Wisconsin Riverside Historical Society Rockland County Conservation Alliance Rocky River Trout Unlimited Ryden & Associates Salem Audubon Society Sam Davis Memorial Association San Antonio Conservation Society Sangre de Cristo Resource Conservation and Develop Santa Clara County, CA Santa Monica Conservancy Sarah Marshall History Consultants Saratoga County Conservation Alliance Savannah River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead Save the Dunes Save the Manatee Club Sewee Association Scenic Rivers Land Trust Schenectady County Conservation Alliance Schoharie County Conservation Alliance Scope Inc. Sebasticook Regional Land Trust

Seneca County Conservation Alliance Sharon Leighty & Co. Shenandoah Valley Network Site Acquisition Resultants, Inc. Soda Mountain Wilderness Council Somerset Woods Trustees South Carolina Conservation Credit Exchange South Carolina History Advocates South Carolina Wildlife Federation Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Southwest Conservation Corps Spain & Gillon LLC St Marks Refuge Association St. Lawrence County Conservation Alliance St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Easton, MD St. Michael's Episcopal Church Ste. Genevieve Downtown Renewal Project Stewben County Conservation Alliance Suffolk County Conservation Alliance Sullivan County Conservation Alliance Sullivan County Long beards Chapter NWTF Sunapee View Bed and Breakfast LLC Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House Sustainable Retrofitting Sycamore Land Trust, Inc. Tailwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited Tapteal Greenway Tennessee Historical Commission Tennessee Ornithological Society Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Tennessee Preservation Trust Texas Land Trust Council The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, Inc The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County The Land Conservancy of New Jersey The Parks Companies The Trumpeter Swan Society The Trustees of Reservations The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia Thurmont Historical Society Tompkins County Conservation Alliance Town and Country RC&D

Town of Berthoud, Colorado Town of Holliston, MA Town of Princess Anne, MD Triangle Land Conservancy Tribes Hill Fish & Game Assoc. Tri-Village Bow hunters Assoc. Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited-Green Bay Truppi Consulting LLC Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust Ulster County Conservation Alliance United Mine Workers of America Local 717 Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited Upstate Forever Valley Conservation Council Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Vermont Land Trust Virginia Chapter-American Society of Landscape Architects Virginia Conservation Network Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust Ward Architecture Warren County Conservation Alliance Warrington Historic Commission Warrington Historical Society Washington County Conservation Alliance Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Wayne County Conservation Alliance West Wisconsin Land Trust Westchester County Conservation Alliance Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Association Wild Bird Habitat Stores Winter Wildlands Alliance Winyah Rivers Foundation Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation Wisconsin Historical Society Wisconsin Wetlands Association Wrentham, MA Conservation Commission Wyoming County Conservation Alliance Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures York Land Trust Ziger/Snead Architects