Dear Friends of Cape Hatteras,

Here's hoping you have a safe, memorable, and fun Fourth of July!

In the next six weeks a final decision will be made concerning the funding
of the relocation of the nation's most prominent lighthouse: Cape Hatteras.
Congress will probably never revisit this event again.

Your letters and faxes and phone calls are of utmost importance. We have
come a long way, but we must persevere until funds are approved during the
joint session of the House and Senate committees due to meet in August.
Those against the move of this historic structure are taking bold moves to
continue dissemination of misinformation. Full-page newspaper ads urge
defeat of the funds to move the lighthouse to safety.

Please take a moment and let your voice be heard in favor of relocation of
the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Write, fax or call:
Congressman Ralph Regula
2309 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

phone 202/225-3876
fax 202/225-3059
Consider sending copies to his staff member, Debbie Weatherly as well as to
Regula

Ohio Congressman Regula is Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Interior
Appropriations. He stripped all funding for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
from the House version of the budget after NC Congressman Jones asked for
money to build a groin. Regula would not endorse funds for an illegal
groin. There are prohibitions against hardened structures on national
seashore property as well as North Carolina state coastal laws against
hardened structures.

It is time to get moving.

*** We must now convince Regula, as well as all Congressmen, to support the
relocation funding for $9.8 million when the joint session of the House and
Senate meet in late summer. The Senate Appropriations Committee has
already approved funding for the move. Full Senate vote takes place mid-July.

When you communicate with Regula's office, some points you might include:

*Governor Hunt of North Carolina supports the move
*The National Academy of Sciences supports the move
*The Ad Hoc Committee of North Carolina State University, the team of
architectural and environmental experts who prepared the most recent study
in 1996-97, also studied the lighthouse and declared it sound and ready to
withstand the rigors of a move and unanimously supports and urges the move
*Every lighthouse society and every environmental group who have explored
the issue have chosen the move as the best option to save the lighthouse
*The proposed groin is illegal under North Carolina coastal laws and NPS
laws concerning hardened structures in a national seashore
*In June, the House Appropriations Subcommittee defeated any money to
protect the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse; not even money for one sand bag. We
must protect it now; if money is appropriated for relocation, the NPS is
ready to proceed with plans beginning October 1 with the relocation planned
for May, 1999
*Congress will most likely never revisit this subject again; we must save
the lighthouse now
*Thousands of people visit the Hatteras Lighthouse everyday; it symbolizes
the value of all lighthouses all over the nation
*The Hatteras Lighthouse is the great symbol of our maritime heritage and
it belongs to all Americans

Get your letters and phone calls and faxes going NOW! and continue until
relocation funds are approved during the joint House and Senate Committee
meeting some time in August.

You will be notified of any and all updates as they happen.

The agenda for the Appropriations Committee looks like this:
+Full Senate vote on the budget will take place in about two weeks
+Joint conference of the House and Senate in August
+Final bill will be voted on some time in September.

Thanks to all the great people out there who have been working diligently
to get the facts out. Gradually the public is getting the real story and
evaluating this event for themselves. Look at the major North Carolina
newspaper and the excellent local newspapers all over the state: they are
in full support of the relocation as the best environmental, economic, and
long-term protection of the famous landmark. We are getting feedback from
Maine to California, Hawaii to England, Germany and beyond.

The saving of this famous lighthouse is indicative of the grassroots
movement in America: caring more and more for our historic buildings and
saving our history and heritage with pride.
**But it will happen only with individual effort. ***Help make it happen!