1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The national parks and public lands are precious natural treasures that belong to all Americans. They provide invaluable ecological services, unparalleled recreational opportunities, and critical habitat for diverse wildlife species. Opening these protected areas to destructive and polluting oil, gas, and mining activities would irreparably damage their pristine landscapes and deprive future generations of their natural heritage. It is deeply concerning that the current administration is actively working to eliminate longstanding protections for national monuments like Bears Ears and Chaco Canyon. These places hold immense cultural, historical, and ecological significance that must be safeguarded. Furthermore, proposals to expand drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and open vast swaths of Alaska's wildlands to extractive industries pose a grave threat to fragile Arctic ecosystems and the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these lands for millennia. I urge you to stand firm in defending our national parks, monuments, and public lands from industrial exploitation. These natural wonders are far too precious to sacrifice for the short-term profits of extractive industries. We must prioritize conservation and sustainable use of our public lands to ensure they remain unspoiled for generations to come. Protecting these cherished places is not only an environmental imperative but also an economic necessity, as they generate billions in revenue through recreation and tourism each year.