Wild Sky Passes House

Press Release

Wild Sky Passes House

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007, co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08), passed the House of Representatives today by voice vote. The legislation would designate 106,577 acres of national forest as wilderness to permanently protect 106,000 acres of prime terrain in Washington's north Cascades.

"I was pleased to work with others in our state's delegation to co-sponsor and pass a bill with such broad support in Washington State and in Congress," Congressman Reichert said. "The Wild Sky's special lowland forests and watersheds represent the essence of the Northwest, and are an important component of our state's outdoor recreational economy as well. This bill represents an ideal balance of protecting our environment, while looking out for the business and community interests that rely on this land for their recreation and livelihood. I hope it will be used as a model for future legislation."

The Wild Sky area offers hikers, backpackers, paddlers, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts breathtaking views, outstanding whitewater, majestic old growth and towering mountains. The protection of Wild Sky is also important to the economy. Active outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion to the U.S. economy every year. According to a recent nationwide report released by the Outdoor Industry Foundation, outdoor recreation is a key component of the economy of Washington State. Active outdoor recreation generates $8.5 billion annually in retail sales in Washington State. Active recreation also supports 115,000 jobs in the state and contributes $1.3 billion in state and federal tax revenue. In total, active outdoor recreation contributes $11.6 billion to Washington's economy.

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