Protect America’s Roadless Areas — Pass the Roadless Area Conservation Act

I am writing to urge you—plainly and urgently—to protect some of the most irreplaceable lands in our country by passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 3930 & S. 2042). These Roadless Areas are not abstract parcels on a map. They are the headwaters that provide clean drinking water to millions of Americans. They are critical habitat for fish and wildlife already under pressure. They are vast carbon sinks in a warming world. And they are places where families hike, hunt, fish, and reconnect with something bigger than themselves. In short, they are among the last truly intact landscapes we have left—and once they are gone, they are gone for good. The current effort to dismantle longstanding protections for these lands is deeply troubling. The original Roadless Rule was built on one of the most extensive public engagement processes in our nation’s history, with overwhelming support from the American people. More recently, hundreds of thousands of Americans again spoke out—nearly unanimously—against rolling back these protections. Yet now, decisions of enormous consequence are being pushed forward through a rushed process that sidelines public input, scientific expertise, and Tribal consultation. That is not how responsible governance should work. Opening these areas to road-building and industrial logging is not just unpopular—it is wasteful and damaging. Taxpayers are left footing the bill for expensive road construction and maintenance. These roads fragment ecosystems, increase wildfire risks, and pollute clean water sources. Logging in these fragile backcountry areas threatens biodiversity and undermines a thriving outdoor recreation economy that supports communities across the country. For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has worked. It has protected nearly 58 million acres of national forest land while still allowing for balanced, sustainable use elsewhere. But without permanent protections from Congress, these lands remain vulnerable to shifting political agendas. This is your opportunity to act with foresight and integrity. Passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act would ensure these lands are preserved—not just for today, but for future generations who deserve the same chance to experience wild, unspoiled America. I urge you to stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who value these places. Protect our clean water. Protect our wildlife. Protect our public lands. Do not allow short-term exploitation to destroy what cannot be replaced.