(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District – Kansas) today joined congressional colleagues and singers/songwriters Carole King and James Taylor to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that will continue to preserve environmentally sensitive lands in the Northern Rockies.

“Preservation of natural habitats and ecosystems is vital to maintain our treasured public spaces. We have one chance to get this right. The Northern Rockies region is home to a wealth of unique species. I hope we can keep their habitats safe from intrusion, so future generations can enjoy and protect these native plants and animals,” Moore said at a news conference announcing the bill.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA) will designate over 18 million acres of new Wilderness Areas based on ecosystems, watersheds, and scientific findings. It would preserve sections of public land in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon. The bill also connects existing biological corridors to help ensure preservation of native plants and animals already listed as threatened or endangered. The Northern Rockies region remains one of the few areas in the U.S. still home to grizzly bears, caribou, elk, bison, wolves, bull trout, and salmon.

The bill is sponsored by Reps. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). Moore cosponsored this bill in the 106th and 107th Congresses.