Jim Saxton: “I rise in support of H.R. 1420, the bill known as the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. When I held the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1420, the bill known as the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. When I held the first hearing on the first version of the bill before the Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee, it sparked a lively debate and was quite contentious. Nevertheless, all witnesses agreed that the problems of the refuge system needed to be addressed. When I suggested that the differing parties should work together to find a common solution, I would not have guessed that these discussions would culminate in legislation supported by such a diverse group of environmental and hunting organizations as we have found support this bill today. Today we have before us a bill that is supported by Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], chairman of the Resources Committee, the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], the ranking member, the gentleman from Hawaii [Mr. Abercrombie], the ranking member of the Fish, Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell], ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Members of both sides of the aisle, and the administration.”