Letter to Members

Dear AlaLEAVs Members,

With your support, AlaLEAVs had some successes in the 2001 Regular Session—most notably was the defeat of the corporate hog farm bill and the passage of the Alabama Land Recycling and Economic Redevelopment Act (Brownfields Bill). We would like to recognize our environmental friends in the state legislature:

• Rep. John Robinson (Jackson). Robinson sponsored the Aquatic Habitat Protection Act and led the charge against ALFA’s corporate hog farm bill (a.k.a. Family Farm Preservation Act) in the House of Representatives. Robinson is now being targeted for his strong stand against the corporate hog farm bill—we must work especially hard to keep him and others like him in office, fighting for our environment.
• Reps. Todd Greeson, Patrick Jones and Jeff McLaughlin for opposing the ALFA bill.
• Rep. Sue Schmitz (Madison). Schmitz sponsored the ADEM hearing officers legislation for the second year. We can always count on her support for environmental and health issues.
• Rep. Jack Page (Etowah). Page sponsored House Bill 793, which proposes a Constitutional Amendment for a Clean and Healthy Environment; and House Bill 794, which would have established a state wilderness system.
• Senators Lowell Barron and Jim Preuitt, who both strongly opposed the ALFA bill in the Senate.

One way we can help in the fight to keep environmental friends like these in office, and recruit even more, is by supporting the AlaLEAVs PAC. This political action committee was set up so we can compete with large corporate PACs, electing environmental friends and defeating environmental foes. To contribute, make checks payable to the AlaLEAVs PAC Fund.

The AlaLEAVs office is busy this summer. We are almost finished with an informational tri-fold brochure promoting AlaLEAVs. We are confident getting this brochure out will increase awareness of AlaLEAVs and what we do. We are working on reconstructing the website, making it more advanced and up-to-date. Please look for these changes in middle to late July. We also have a student from Auburn University interning with us this summer—Jessica Dilworth is a senior in public relations.

In closing, we want to thank those of you who have either renewed your 2001 membership or have just become a member of the AlaLEAVs family—we really appreciate your support! Without your financial support, AlaLEAVs could not exist. Thank you for taking action in your concern for the environment!

Jeff Martin

Executive Director

P.S. We want to keep all of you as informed as possible, so on the back we have included our 2001 Legislative Summary. Please read over it and call or email with any questions or comments.