Passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA/H.R. 701) is in jeopardy due to the congressional end-of-session crunch. CARA began as a way to remedy a tremendous inequity in the distribution of revenues generated by offshore oil and gas production from the federal outer continental shelf (OCS). CARA ensures that as this country depletes its non-renewable resources of gas and oil, the monies eared from those resources are reinvested in all 50 states to renew, refurbish and recreate.

Substantial majorities in both houses support the bill. Sixty-three senators sent a letter to Senate leadership to encourage them to schedule this legislation for consideration by the full Senate. The House of Representatives passed similar legislation in May 2000 by a strong bipartisan vote of 315-102.

For a monetary breakdown of what your state will receive if CARA passes, please contact The Wilderness Society at 202-429-8441.