Political Quotes

“I send to the desk the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999. I am introducing this legislation on behalf of the Administration. At this point I am neither prepared to support nor object to any of the specific provisions contained within this legislative proposal. It is my intention however, to hold hearings on this important legislation and the withdrawal renewals contained within it. After those hearings have been held and we have had the benefit of input from the parties most effected by the withdrawals, I am prepared to offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute which makes such needed changes as are identified during the hearing process. This legislation renews the withdrawals contained within P.L. 99-606, enacted by Congress in 1986. This Congressional action withdrew 7.2 million acres of public land for use by the Department of Defense at six installations. The affected bases are the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range in Arizona, Nellis Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada, the McGregor Army Range in New Mexico, and Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely in my home state of Alaska. These withdrawals were for a period of 15 years and expire in 2001. I have a deep abiding recognition of the unique and critical role all of these military bases play in our national defense strategy and on the economies of the states within which they are located.”