Unfortunately, the Democrat bill under consideration here today is not a realistic step forward for the island, but another empty attempt to halt real progress for our fellow Americans.

I thank the Resident Commissioner for her stalwart leadership and the work she conducts to find real solutions for her 3 million constituents.

The answer, much to my dismay but to the surprise of no one is simple: Democrats would rather listen to their radical special interests groups than to consider the detrimental impacts this reckless proposal will have on the current fragile…

I was very fortunate to be part of an Emery County public lands package that was signed into law this year.

It is my sense that it is also not a reflection on who you are as a community.

The idea that they will be passed in the Senate or signed by a President is delusional, at best.

Three years ago this Committee crafted a bi-partisan compromise between the then Republican-controlled Congress and the Obama administration Treasury Department to help bring stability to Puerto Rico's quickly unraveling debt crisis.

The second is to provide governmental stability, which hasn't happened necessarily in the last several years.

Calling for local ownership and control of public lands does not embody an attack on the Federal Government.

Villainizing Westerners, and those who disagree with management decisions, does nothing to build the bridges of trust and cooperation that is vital to proper stewardship of the land.

Their safety should be, and is, of the utmost importance.

Absolutely no one in this room, on either side of the aisle, condones violence or threats against Federal employees--unfortunately, I feel the need to make that perfectly clear.

It is unfortunate that I feel I need to even make that statement.

It was made possible by the sincere and genuine commitments made by both Democrats and Republicans to put aside politics, realize we were dealing with an unprecedented situation, and work for the betterment of the territory.

I think all of you have spoken today about the importance of building relationships to solve problems without creating more divisiveness.

The Majority has decided to propose an effort that would catastrophically dismantle every bit of the balanced law that Congress and the Obama administration worked so hard to put in place.

Your testimony, you argue that it is important for Federal land management agencies not to create unnecessary tension.

The proposed amendments that have been floated around here are not going anywhere.