I am especially pleased that we're having the hearing on the legislation to designate approximately 29,650 acres surrounding the Devil's Staircase Waterfall in Wasson Creek as wilderness.

Years of negotiation and cooperation have resulted in the legislation being introduced today.

Governor Richardson has come out very recently in full support of the bill.

The proposed Devil's Staircase Wilderness Area contains some of the finest old growth forests that remain in Oregon's Coast Range and a wealth of threatened and endangered wildlife.

Thanks to the visionary leadership of Senators Bingaman and Udall, we are closer to an answer.

Senator Jeff Bingaman and his staff stepped up to the plate. They came to our community and listened.

The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, introduced by New Mexico Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, will protect these areas.

Senator Bingaman, through time consuming and thoughtful work found real compromise and balance.

Senator Bingaman and Senator Udall's legislation provides us with much needed clarity on public lands conservation.

This is an important piece of legislation for us in southern New Mexico and for Dona Ana County in particular.

Thank you both for being here.

I can assure you that even the groups mentioned by Mr. Schickedanz--that there are many individuals within those organizations that support wilderness.

I look forward to working with Senator Bingaman and the committee to see if it's possible to resolve some of your concerns.

The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act will protect many of Dona Ana County's most beloved natural treasures.

I think if we focus on the building block of life here on our planet, H2O, water, and ensure that we have affordable, safe, and clean supplies of water, we will have healthy societies, less conflict, and a bright future.

Even those of us who represent land-locked States look forward to those findings and that new data set.

Thank you, Chairman Wyden, and thank you, Ranking Member Senator Murkowski and other members of the subcommittee, for allowing me to speak today about S. 6989, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act.

Senators Bingaman and Udall introduced S. 1689, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act.