I oppose the proposal to fully or partially rescind the roadless area conservation rule. I moved to Washington 15 years ago; I grew up in the Ozarks, an avid outdoor girl, loving nature, hiking, camping, backpacking... I thought I understood wilderness. But then I moved to Southeast Washington. Hiking in the Blue Mountains, in the Wallowa and Umatilla National Forest regions, as I explored some of the most rugged areas in the lower 48 my understanding grew and expanded in a profound way. For the animals who call them home, for the watersheds enshrined here, bringing clean water to hundreds of communities, for those who hunt, hike, wander, and meet the earth in her most intimate quarters? These places are sacred; these places are life; these places are our home. And they are for all of us. Which is why when politicians, thousands of miles away, try to tell us that slapping roads through groves will somehow benefit us? Those of us who live here know this to be a lie. We can tell the difference between people who know the land versus those who only see dollar signs. This land is our land; it is not for sale. Not for roads. Not for capitol. This land is for us, our children, our communities, our heritage, and for the creatures who we share this planet with. To desecrate these spaces will bring shame upon us all. Future generations will see it for what it is; a disgrace. But it is not too late to choose a different future. I raise my voice alongside many, and I oppose the proposal to rescind the roadless area conservation rule.