All your hard work to protect our common ground was recognized in a recent Washington Post front-page article [1] highlighting all Congress is doing to designate wilderness. It's a stunning endorsement of the support you have been building for these measures.

Before Congress began its July 4^th recess, Sen. Jeff Bingaman introduced a major legislative package that includes seven wilderness bills, which is a fine gift to give to the country on its birthday. These places are the original America, out of which we carved this great nation and by which we shaped our character as a people.

Though the path to enactment will be strewn with obstacles one might similarly find on any wilderness trail, we believe Congress will get these things across the finish line. Your ardent support for each of the seven makes your senators and representatives want to come through. They want to accomplish this. They know you're counting on them.

And so are our children. The twin notion of serving the public they were elected to serve, and of saving a legacy for future generations, motivates them. You can help them focus on the task by writing your senators to urge them to pass S. 3213.