Norman D. Dicks: “I rise today on the rule for the omnibus appropriations bill to support the motion to recommit that will be offered by…”

“I rise today on the rule for the omnibus appropriations bill to support the motion to recommit that will be offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). The motion to recommit would direct the conferees to strip three controversial provisions added to the Interior section of the omnibus during conference negotiations and ask that certain critical natural resource programs are increased to levels requested by the President. The three legislative provisions include section 335, which exempts the Tongass National Forest plan from all administrative or judicial review; section 323, which significantly expands the Forest Service's stewardship contracting project to a permanent program with little agency oversight of private-contract timber harvest; and language that removes the House provision restricting funds for activities related to oil drilling in ANWR. Additionally, the motion to recommit would direct the conferees to add back funding to key programs in the Interior title to bring them up to the level requested by the President in his request for fiscal year 2003. This motion would direct the conferees to add not less than $193 million above the level provided in this agreement for key natural and cultural resources programs funding through the Interior appropriations bill.”