by Yellowstonian
In a firm and irrefutable rebuttal of claims made by Congressional Republicans that they are acting in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, descendants of the legendary conservation-minded president say TR would be appalled by recent GOP actions to push for hardrock mining to occur in the headwaters of Minnesota’s beloved Boundary Waters.
While Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is not mentioned specifically, it is clear from the Roosevelt family letter they strongly disagree with Zinke’s recent high profile push to whip up support in the US House of Representative to overturn a mining ban. More than anyone else in America, Zinke has tried to project the public image that he is channeling the conservation ethics of Roosevelt.
Read the recent Yellowstonian special report on Zinke’s claims related to Roosevelt that has gained widespread circulation..
On February 6, three different family lines of Roosevelts wrote a joint letter to the US Senate encouraging members of that legislative body, which is currently controlled by Republicans, to reject a H.J. Resoluton 140, championed by Zinke and his GOP colleague, US Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota. That resolution, invoking an obscure law called the Congressional Review Act, seeks to overturn a 20 year ban enacted by the Biden Administration on mining just outside the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area.
Ted Roosevelt IV, who was lead author of the letter, said his great grandfather loved the natural character of Northern Minnesota and took action to protect it in his time from harmful natural resource extraction.
“As TR said at the Grand Canyon in 1903, we now reiterate with the Boundary Waters today: ‘Leave it as it is.’ Vote no on H.J. Res. 140, or any other similar legislation, and seek creative ways to protect the Boundary Waters forever. Frankly, TR would be appalled at H.J. Res. 140 and the misguided and harmful effort to revoke a sound and necessary mineral withdrawal in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters. To understand TR’s perspective on all this, it’s important to review a little of his history, starting with Minnesota.”
Conservationists also say the letter is a not so gentle reminder, and aimed at members of Congress, the Senate, political appointees in the Trump Administration and free market environmental think tanks who are attempting to controversially undo protection for national monuments, federal wilderness and wilderness study areas.
Some of these actions are happening in Montana, Utah and other states. They also include attempts to rescind protection for tens of millions of US Forest Service lands safeguarded by the agency’s Roadless Rule. They’re considered some of the wildest lands remaining in the Lower 48 and Alaska, and are valued by sportsmen because they provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife.
“On both sides of the political aisle, we strongly ask you to vote no on this resolution and any other similar legislation proposed in the future,” the Roosevelts write. “TR was active in preserving our greatest wilderness terrain on both the East and West coasts—it became one of the greatest enduring legacies of his life. It is now time for all of you to get in the Arena with him. We implore you to do your own parts to ensure TR’s common sense approach to conservationism is as strong today as it was more than a century ago.”
The letter was signed by by TR IV, TR’s great grandson Tweed Roosevelt, great great grandson Kermit Roosevelt III and great grandson Mark Roosevelt.
The letter speaks for itself. You can read it below:
